Professional Employees Award
New Industrial Award Sets Minimum Standards for Professional Employment in Australia
Under the new "Fair Work Australia" policies of the Commonwealth Government, a new award setting minimum standards for professional employees comes into force nationally from 1 January 2010. The award covers both engineers and scientists.
Under the award, a Professional Scientist is a person possessing a diploma from an Institute of Technology as a minimum qualification. Within this definition, additional categories of Experienced Scientist and Qualified Scientist are also defined.
Quality Auditors in both the scientific and engineering fields receive specific attention, in terms of both education and experience requirements under the award.
Employers are required to ensure that copies of this award and the National Employment Standard are available to all employees to whom they apply either on a noticeboard which is conveniently located at or near the workplace or through electronic means, whichever makes them more accessible.
The award includes provisions for dealing with major workplace changes and dispute resolution between employees and employers, termination of employment and redundancy.
A copy of the award is available here.
Andrew Waltho
31 December 2009
AIG's bursary programme for undergraduate and postgraduate students is generously supported by sponsors including:
Digirock Pty Ltd
Sydney Mineral Exploration Discussion Group (SMEDG)
AIG State Branches
Gnomic Exploration Services Pty Ltd
Geoconferences (WA) Inc
Office of Minerals & Energy PIRSA
Terra Search Pty Ltd
Cryptodome Pty Ltd
