The Works Officers Study Award has been developed
for the benefit of furthering the education and development needs of
Works Officers in NSW.
Works Officers who are members of IPWEA (NSW
Division) have the opportunity to apply for this special study award
through the Institute by submitting an application by the closing date.
Nominations are called for in the year of the Works Officers Conference
only.
Applicants are encouraged to ensure that all
suitable and appropriate information is supplied with their application.
The success of each application will be judged on the appropriateness of
the information supplied, the selection of the particular scheme, the
proposed achievement and reason for applying for the award.
The applications will be judged by a Committee set
up specifically for this award and the winner will be announced at the
Dinner of the Bi-Annual Conference of Works Officers, the next
conference being held in Coffs Harbour in October 2008.
All applicants are encouraged to discuss their
applications with their Supervisors and/or Council to obtain the
necessary approvals, support and encouragement when submitting their
application.
The value of this Award/Endowment will be up to
$5000 for financial members of the NSW Division of the Institute and it
is to be used towards the costs of registrations to conferences,
including travelling, accommodation, meals, course fees or additional
conference costs, whichever is relevant to the application. Attendance
at approved training course/s, conferences interstate or overseas;
and/or host or Exchange programs are all possible options for this
endowment.
The amount may not be sufficient to cover the
total cost of the proposal submitted, and the applicant may need the
support of his/her respective council or they will be responsible for
any shortfall.
Award/Endowment proposals are expected to be of
short duration to minimise intrusion into your council's working
programme. It would be envisaged that the selected programme
should not exceed two weeks, however an extension may apply on
review.
Past winners of this award include:
John Marshall, Orange City Council (2002) -
Study tour in UK.
Ian Firman, Clarence Valley Council (2004) -
Attendance and presentation of paper at international conference in
America.
Peter Kennedy, Gwydir Shire Council (2006) - Study Tour and
Work Experience in Western Australia.
SUGGESTED OPPORTUNITIES
The selection of a suitable training programme or
conference should be targeted towards enhancement of the
applicant’s career and his professional development. There are
several organisations and institutions that provide a number of courses
specifically aimed at increasing the skills and professional development
of Works Officers. The applicant would need to assess all suitable
avenues prior to finalising their application and would need to include
all relevant information of the contents of the selected course,
outcomes and resultant benefits with the application for the selection
committee to assess.
Application for a "Host" or "Exchange" programme
will be expected to make all relevant contacts and tentative
arrangements with the intended host council or authority prior to
submitting a "host" or "exchange" programme application.
It would be envisaged that the successful
applicant for an "Exchange" programme will be actively involved in a
supervisory role with a host council or authority. Ideally but not
necessarily, they could exchange jobs with a counterpart in a host
organisation. The exchange applicant would be expected to trade skills
and techniques with management in the host organisation. These
applicants for the exchange programme would need to identify one or two
"Key Issues" to be studied that would enhance his/her skills or
professional development.
In suggested undertakings (item iii) To deliver a Paper to our Annual Conference could also be added to their Bi-annual Conference - fellow Works Officers would see the benefits and the award would gain more credence.
Endowment Requirements
As with other Foundation Endowments, the following
minimum qualifications exist:
i) Minimum age twenty five years (25);
ii) Applicants must be a financial member of the
Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (NSW Division) for a
minimum period of two (2) years; and
iii) Applicants must have a minimum of two (2)
years practical experience as a Works Officer/Supervisor/Foreman either
in Local Government Engineering or in work associated
therewith.
Undertakings for Approved
applicants
A number of undertakings are required to be given
by successful applicants to ensure that the benefits of study research
and experience can be made available to other members and to the
industry.
For endowments, the undertakings are
–
- To continue in employment in Local Government in
New South Wales for a minimum of two (2) years following the Endowment
Study.
- To deposit with the Secretary of the Foundation
within six (6) months of the Endowment Study, two (2) copies of a Report
of the study, research, investigation, practices, techniques or
conference attendance undertaken or seen during the visit and to vest
the copyright of such a report in the Trustees on behalf of the
Foundation. This report should take the form of either an article
suitable for publication in the Institute's Journal or a technical
report suitable for distribution to the Institute's members.
- To deliver a Paper to the IPWEA NSW Works
Officers Biennial Conference.
- That no investigation on behalf of any body or
bodies will be undertaken without the express consent of the Trustees
and subject if consent is given, to such a Body depositing the
additional cost involved with the Trustees prior to commencement of the
endowment.
- That the Endowee accept the mode of travel
determined by the Trustees provided that with the consent of the
Trustees an alternative method of travel may be adopted subject to any
additional cost being borne by the Endowee.
- That no claim will be made against the Foundation
or the Trustees for any costs or expenses incurred additional to the
amount of the endowment.
For more information on this Award,
please view the Works Officers Conference information.