NER Engineers Australia was introduced in 2015. It is a comprehensive directory, and a way to recognize those competent engineers who satisfy the high standards of skill, qualification and professionalism that are expected in the industry.
This directory offers a national framework of registration for professional engineers, engineering technologists and engineering associates across the private and public sectors.
It is a publicly-searchable database and gives individuals and businesses access to a qualified pool of engineers, endorsed by Australia’s engineering peak body.
Competencies:
You need to prove that you can work independently by showing the following five NER Australia competencies:
Element of competence | What this competence means in practice |
Dealing with ethical issues | means you anticipate the result of your intended action or inaction and understand how the consequences are handled collectively by your organization, project or team and means you show a capability of identifying ethical issues when they arise and to act as per the requirement. |
Practising competently | means you evaluate, acquire and use the competencies and resources appropriate to engineering activities. |
Developing safe and sustainable solutions | means that you apply and implement current workplace health and safety needs and means that you identify the social, economic and environmental impacts of engineering activities and means that you anticipate and manage the short and long-term engineering activity effects. |
Identifying, assessing and managing risks | means that you operate and develop within a hazard and risk framework appropriate to engineering activities |
Local engineering knowledge | means that you attain and use local engineering knowledge and means that where appropriate, you use engineering knowledge contributed by other people including consultants, suppliers, contractors and independent experts. |
PI requirement:
When applying for registration on the NER Engineers Australia, you have to fulfill the requirement that you maintain PI Insurance and that you will maintain PI Insurance that fulfills the NER requirements (have the benefit of PI Insurance) on getting registered and for the duration of your registration.
At the time of the yearly Engineers Australia membership renewal, a registrant needs to confirm that they have maintained PI Insurance meeting the NER requirements. The registrant may have to provide EA with a Certificate of Currency (or if unavailable a Policy Schedule) in relation to their PI Insurance at renewal or when requested.
Having the PI Insurance benefit means that:
1. If you are a sole practitioner and have a current PI Insurance policy in your own name; or
2. If employed by a corporation or partnership (including sole practitioners whose business is incorporated) you are covered by the corporation’s or partnership’s current PI Insurance policy, or
3. If employed by a Commonwealth/State/Local Government agency or tertiary institution, you are covered under the indemnity arrangements that these entities have in place to cover their employer for the work they do in their normal occupation as a government/tertiary institution employee.