building licence assessments

Consultant assessment raises building industry standards

TAFE NSW – South Western Sydney Institute has assisted the building industry raise standards for consultants, assessing more than 55 candidates over a two-year period on behalf of the NSW Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

Following the introduction of a licence for
Pre-purchase Building Consultants, the OFT approached the Building Section at South Western Sydney Institute, Granville College to prepare an assessment and run the program throughout the State.

Since then, Jeff Thompson, Head Teacher, Building, South Western Sydney Institute, has been carrying out assessments on a regular basis. Including those who have had to re-sit the assessment, more than 160 assessments have been carried out over the last three years.

The assessment is a four-hour examination with candidates assessed in four key areas:

• knowledge of construction
• report writing skills
• knowledge of the Building Code of Australia and
• ability to recognise building defects.

Building Consultants are employed to provide professional advice for residential buildings and to ensure a successful completion of the project.

Assessments are held at the Institute to meet demands in metropolitan areas. They are also held at various Office of Fair Trading premises throughout the state. Standards are high, with an overall mark of 75 per cent needed in order to pass.

‘The assessment process has been a great success,’ Mr Thompson said. ‘It ensures that any builder who becomes a Building Consultant is worthy of holding that licence, and capable of producing high quality pre-purchase building reports.’

He said the assessments were also helping consultants highlight and address areas of weakness.

The arrangement between the College and the Office of Fair Trading is continuing, with the assessment now used for anyone holding a NSW Builders Licence wishing to become a Building Consultant.

‘The Office of Fair Trading took the decision that if someone had 5 years’ experience in the industry a licence would be granted straight away, but the only avenue to get into the business is to sit our assessment,’ Mr Thompson said.