Accredited Professionals and Panels - a view to the future

LG Leader June 2018

In the coming months, we should see the release of the Accredited Professionals Scheme under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016, which will apply to Assessment Panel members, Assessment Managers, private certifiers (known as Accredited Planning Professionals, Land Division Accredited Professionals and Building Certifiers) as well as Council building officers undertaking building inspections.

The Scheme will be implemented in two stages; Assessment Panel members will be required to be registered as Accredited Professionals by mid-2019.  Assessment Managers, building officers and other Accredited Professionals will be required to be registered when the PDI Act commences full operation in mid-2020.

Council CEO’s, General Managers and Directors may wish to keep a close eye out for the release of the final Scheme later this year; it may be the case that one or more Assessment Panel members appointed by your Council are no longer eligible to hold office.  The draft Scheme which was released for public consultation proposed two pathways to accreditation:

  • holding a planning degree or qualification in an allied field and 2 years full time or equivalent experience; or
  • holding Full or Associate membership with the Planning Institute of Australia.

The Scheme will not apply to the elected member appointed to an Assessment Panel.  It is also possible for an ex-elected member to be appointed to an Assessment Panel.

Please note that Assessment Panel members are required to apply to DPTI to become registered as Accredited Professionals; registration will not be automatic.

For more information please contact Victoria Shute on (08) 8113 7104 or at vshute@kelledyjones.com.au.