Mark Vender
In response to the COVID-19 restrictions that have halted construction work in New South Wales, Standards Australia is offering temporary free access to a compulsory e-learning module.
“The recent COVID restrictions have forced New South Wales into lockdown again, and for the first time, have put the brakes on the construction industry, impacting almost 250,000 trades professionals,” says Standards Australia.
“While tools are down, Standards Australia, in partnership with the NSW Office of the Building Commissioner and TAFE NSW, has decided to temporarily give free access to the e-learning module The Value of Australian Standards.”
The module provides an overview of Australia’s building and plumbing regulatory framework, Standards Australia’s responsibilities to the NSW government and the National Construction Code, how and why standards are used in construction, and the implications of not adhering to relevant standards. Participants also receive insight into standards development and the different types of existing standards.
The online course has a duration of two hours. Once enrolled, participants have six months to access it and obtain a certificate upon completing the assessment quiz.
The course was created late last year through a partnership with Standards Australia, the NSW Office of the Building Commissioner, and TAFE NSW. The launch of this module represents an in-depth resource on construction standards and where they sit in Australia’s regulatory framework.
On July 1, 2021, the module became mandatory for design and building practitioners before registration. It is not mandatory, however, for professional engineers.
“In order to show our support of the construction industry during this challenging time, we have decided to provide free access to this online module,” says Standards Australia Chief Executive Officer Adrian O’Connell. “We are committed to providing access to this module so that industry professionals can have the opportunity to understand standardisation and its impact on the safety of our community.”
NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler has also urged practitioners to take advantage of the free access.
“With tools temporarily down, now is a great time for construction professionals to develop new skills from the comfort of their homes,” says Chandler.
For more information and to access the course, click here.
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