Why this course?

Description

Course Title:
Essential Quantity Surveying Skills of Australia: Construction Laws and QS Standards for Global Civil Engineers & Construction Professionals

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Course Description

This comprehensive course is designed for civil engineers, construction professionals, and quantity surveyors from around the world who aspire to build a successful career in Australia’s dynamic construction industry. Whether you’re planning to migrate, already working in Australia, or seeking to align your skills with Australian standards, this program provides a step-by-step guide to mastering the core technical, legal, and professional competencies required for quantity surveying in the Australian context.

The course is structured into 15 detailed modules, each focusing on a critical aspect of quantity surveying and construction law as practiced in Australia. Through real-world examples, practical templates, and scenario-based learning, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence to navigate the complexities of the Australian construction sector, from initial project planning to final account settlement and ongoing professional development.

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Module 1: Introduction to Quantity Surveying in Australia

Begin with a thorough overview of the QS profession in Australia, tracing its evolution and unique value in the local context. Learn how a QS adds value to major projects, such as a $50 million infrastructure development, and understand the expectations for QSs working with Tier 1 contractors. Explore the landscape of the Australian construction industry, including key market sectors—residential, commercial, and infrastructure. Map out a typical project lifecycle in a major city development and use industry sector analysis tools to identify opportunities. Discover the main professional bodies (AIQS, RICS, Standards Australia), compare membership requirements, and develop a tailored professional development plan for international QSs. Assess your own competencies and use a skills matrix to plan your career progression.

Module 2: Australian Construction Law Fundamentals

Master the legal framework governing construction in Australia, including federal, state, and local regulations. Learn to navigate complex approval processes for multi-state projects and use compliance checklists to stay on track. Dive deep into the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and National Construction Code (NCC), understanding their structure, application, and updates. Apply fire safety requirements to real-world scenarios, such as hospital projects. Get to grips with key construction legislation, including the WHS Act and environmental laws, and see how to manage compliance on high-rise sites. Explore the basics of contract law, from contract types and essential elements to dispute resolution, using practical tools for contract review and risk assessment.

Module 3: Standard Methods of Measurement

Understand the principles and application of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Method of Measurement (ANZSMM). Learn how to prepare Bills of Quantities (BoQs) for projects like school extensions and use compliant measurement sheets. Gain hands-on experience measuring building works—earthworks, concrete, brickwork, steelwork—and civil works such as roads and drainage. Use digital measurement tools, including BIM and software like CostX, to automate take-offs and ensure accuracy, supported by digital QA checklists.

Module 4: Cost Estimation and Budgeting

Develop expertise in cost planning, including elemental and detailed cost plans and lifecycle costing. Work through real examples, such as cost planning for a hospital, and use templates to summarise costs. Master a range of estimating techniques—unit rates, parametric, comparative—and apply them to projects like warehouse developments. Learn to manage budgets with cash flow forecasting and cost reporting, using practical budget tracking spreadsheets. Explore value engineering, learning how to facilitate workshops and implement cost-saving proposals, especially in areas like façade redesign.

Module 5: Procurement and Tendering

Examine procurement strategies, including traditional, design & construct, and management contracting. Learn how to select the best route for complex projects like PPPs, using analysis matrices. Discover the essentials of tender documentation—BoQs, specifications, drawings, schedules—and prepare comprehensive tender packages. Master tender evaluation and negotiation, scoring tenders for government projects and using negotiation tips and scoring sheets. Understand post-tender activities, from clarifications and contract award to debriefs, and manage negotiation logs effectively.

Module 6: Contract Administration

Gain a deep understanding of contract types in Australia, including AS 4000, AS 2124, GC21, and bespoke contracts. Compare their key features and use contract comparison tables. Learn how to manage progress claims and payments, assess subcontractor claims, and use payment schedules and assessment forms. Master the process of identifying, valuing, and documenting variations and scope changes, using variation registers. Explore dispute resolution pathways—negotiation, adjudication, arbitration, litigation—and understand the adjudication process under the Security of Payment Act with clear flowcharts.

Module 7: Risk Management

Learn to identify and assess risks using qualitative and quantitative methods. Develop risk registers for projects like bridge construction and use assessment matrices. Understand best practices for risk allocation in contracts, especially for ground conditions in D&C contracts, and use risk allocation schedules. Explore the types and requirements of insurance in construction, manage claims, and maintain insurance registers. Manage legal and regulatory risks, including compliance, penalties, and mitigation strategies, using legal compliance checklists.

Module 8: Construction Technology and Innovation

Explore modern construction methods such as prefabrication, modular building, and sustainable practices, with real examples from remote mining camps. Assess technology adoption using practical tools. Dive into Building Information Modelling (BIM) for QS, including 5D cost planning and real-time quantity tracking. Implement digital tools for estimating, measurement, and reporting, using software implementation plans. Understand sustainability and green building standards like Green Star and NABERS, perform lifecycle analysis, and track sustainability costs.

Module 9: Project Cost Management

Master cost control strategies, including monitoring, benchmarking, and KPIs. Use dashboards to review monthly costs for projects like shopping centres. Learn robust change control processes, with clear documentation and approval procedures, and manage changes in hospital refurbishments. Prepare and reconcile final accounts for major infrastructure projects, using negotiation and settlement techniques. Conduct post-project reviews, analyse costs, and capture lessons learned for continuous improvement.

Module 10: Measurement and Documentation

Develop the ability to read and interpret drawings—plans, elevations, sections, and schedules—and extract quantities accurately. Use drawing review checklists to ensure thoroughness. Learn to prepare BoQs with correct structure and coding, using editable templates. Set up effective document control and management systems, including version control and archiving, and maintain document control registers. Implement quality assurance in documentation through checks, audits, and compliance processes, using QA checklists.

Module 11: Communication and Stakeholder Management

Build effective communication skills for reports, presentations, and meetings. Learn to present cost plans to client boards and use meeting minutes templates. Master stakeholder analysis and engagement, mapping influence and management strategies, and develop stakeholder engagement plans. Enhance your negotiation skills with proven techniques and strategies, practice with real scenarios, and use negotiation worksheets. Learn to identify, manage, and resolve conflicts, mediate disputes, and maintain conflict resolution logs.

Module 12: Ethics and Professional Practice

Understand the ethical standards for QSs, including codes of conduct, integrity, and confidentiality. Learn to manage conflicts of interest and use ethics declaration forms. Explore anti-corruption and compliance policies, identify and report bribery risks, and maintain compliance incident reports. Plan, record, and evaluate your continuous professional development (CPD), with a focus on international QSs relocating to Australia. Promote diversity and inclusion in construction, implement best practices, and develop diversity action plans.

Module 13: Australian QS Standards and Regulations

Get an overview of Standards Australia, its role, key standards, and updates. Apply standards like AS 2124 to new infrastructure projects and use compliance trackers. Navigate regulatory bodies and compliance requirements, including AIQS and state authorities, and manage licensing processes. Map international standards (RICS, FIDIC, ISO) to Australian equivalents, using crosswalk tables. Stay updated with standards by monitoring, subscribing, and engaging with professional networks, and maintain a standards update log.

Module 14: Specialist Areas in Quantity Surveying

Specialise in infrastructure and civil projects, such as roads, bridges, and utilities, and develop cost plans for major upgrades. Master building services measurement (HVAC, electrical, hydraulics), with practical measurement sheets. Learn about facilities management and asset lifecycle, including maintenance, replacement, and asset registers, and perform lifecycle costing for complex assets. Explore forensic quantity surveying for claims, disputes, and expert witness work, and prepare structured forensic QS reports.

Module 15: Career Development and Working in Australia

Discover pathways for global professionals, including skills assessment, migration, and recognition processes, with checklists for overseas QSs. Build a professional network by joining industry bodies, attending events, and using online platforms. Succeed in the Australian workplace by understanding culture, communication, and expectations, and use orientation guides. Prepare for professional accreditation (AIQS, RICS, CPD), develop your portfolio, and use accreditation preparation checklists.

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Who Should Enrol?

• International civil engineers and construction professionals planning to work in Australia

• Local graduates seeking to align their skills with industry best practice

• Experienced QSs aiming to upgrade credentials or move into specialist roles

• Project managers, estimators, and contract administrators wanting a deeper understanding of Australian standards and law

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What You’ll Gain

• Confidence to work on Australian projects from day one

• Recognition of your skills by employers, clients, and professional bodies

• Practical tools, templates, and checklists you can use on real projects

• A clear pathway to professional accreditation and career growth

• The ability to manage risk, cost, compliance, and stakeholders in any construction environment

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This course is your bridge to a successful, rewarding career in the Australian construction industry. With step-by-step guidance, real-world scenarios, and hands-on resources, you’ll be ready to take on any project, anywhere in Australia.