Note: Completion of a TAFE SA course does not guarantee an employment outcome. Formal requirements other than educational qualifications (eg licensing, professional registration), may apply to some occupations.
| Job Prospects | Average; employment growth has remained steady over the past 5 years with a slight growth expected up to 2010. |
|---|---|
| Salary Range | $40,000 to $60,000 plus |
| Brief | Building Surveyors ensure that building plans and documentation comply with the building legislation and codes set by Government. Without someone enforcing these standards, the built environment could be potentially hazardous. There are approximately 470 Building Surveyors working in South Australia. Employment is largely full-time with most working in the construction and property and business services industries. Most persons in this occupation are male and most are employed in the Adelaide metropolitan area. This occupation has an older age profile than most occupations with almost half of building surveyors aged 45 years or older. |
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TAFE SA courses that may be relevant for:
Building Surveyor
Diploma of Building
Diploma of The Built Environment
Certificate IV in Building
Introduction
After the Great Fire of 1666 in London, a government authority was established to survey the damage caused and to create fire separations between houses. This event clearly established the need for professional building surveyors. Ensuring that buildings are fire-safe, remains an important role of a Building Surveyor, who also approves applications to build and monitors every aspect of the construction process. When construction is completed, a building surveyor checks that the building conforms to the approved plans and specifications.
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Education Requirements
Of those people currently employed, 26% of Cartographers and Surveyors have Bachelor Degrees, 22% have Advanced Diplomas or Diplomas, 18 % have a Certificate III or IV and 13% have Graduate Diplomas or Graduate Certificates. A further 13% of people employed in this occupation have no post-school qualifications. Entry into this occupation is generally through a Bachelor Degree or higher qualification. Relevant experience is also required in some instances. It is recommended that you gain the available qualification to get the best possible chance of employment.
It has been suggested that in the future, a nationally recognised level one Building Surveyor must complete a Bachelor Degree in Building Surveying or its equivalent. A level two Building surveyor must have completed an Advanced Diploma in Building Surveying. A level one Building Surveyor may approve any building, whilst a level two Building Surveyor may only approve buildings up to 3 storeys high, with a maximum floor area of 2,000 square metres.
TAFE SA offer the following courses to help you get employment in this occupation; Certificate IV and a Diploma in Building; Diploma of the Built Environment. Still unsure! then enrol in a short course also offered through TAFE SA such as in Building and Furnishing. For further information go to the TAFE SA website http://www.tafe.sa.edu.au.
The University of South Australia offers the following courses that may assist in finding employment in this occupation: Associate Deegree and a Bachelors Degree in Built Environment and a Bachelor of Construction Management and Economics.
Career Path
Most employment opportunities arise in local government bodies - shire, town and city councils. There are some opportunities to apply the skills acquired in this occupation to other jobs in banks and building societies and in building management companies. Building surveyors may become self-employed and subcontract to major building companies.
It is a relatively small occupation with job prospects determined by the level of building activity. Recently, building surveyors have been in high demand nationally in both the public and private sectors.
If a proposed law allowing the private certification of Building Surveyors is passed, Building Surveyors, instead of working for local governments, will be able to work privately for Building Surveying organisations and/or for themselves. It is expected that this change will happen over the next two years.
Industries
Construction, Property and Business Services
Interview
To be updated.
Nature of the Job
Building Surveyors are the auditors of the built environment. We check building plans against regulations and make sure that short-cuts that could jeopardise safety aren't being taken,' says an Executive Member of the Institute of Building Surveyors. Before construction takes place, the plans and the application to build are submitted to the relevant local government authority and reviewed by a Building Surveyor. The Building Surveyor must have sufficient expertise and knowledge in all areas of construction to ensure that national standards contained in the Building Code of Australia are met. Fire safety installations, planned amenities, access for people with disabilities and engineering details such as beams and columns are all examined.
Typical Physical Working Environment
If the planned building does not comply, Building Surveyors must advise the applicant of this either by telephone or in writing. So it is essential that they have good communication skills. If the plans are approved, then the Building Surveyor may undertake inspections before, during and after construction, depending on the requirements of each local government. This may involve some travelling to building or construction sites. Building Surveyors consider inspections to be very important, believing that they protect ratepayers from shoddy building work. Usually inspections are problem-free, but if for example, the house is not set out according to the plans or if the footings aren't placed properly, the Building Surveyor will insist that the problem is rectified. Overall, bulding inspectors must enjoy technical work.
Typical Occupational Example
A Building Surveyor also spends some time in the office, handling telephone inquiries from the public on all planning and development questions. They also deal with fencing issues, building applications and property boundary issues. Because of the human contact, you have to be diplomatic. You have to be prepared to explain difficult things to people, such as why a dream home can't be built or why a builder has to pull down a wall. Some believe that to be a good Building Surveyor you need to have the community's interest at heart and be interested in technology because it is a highly technical profession.
Earning Potential
There are opportunities to progress to the position of a Principal Building Surveyor who is responsible for administering building licences. However, under the current law, there is only one principal position per local government authority and it is usually filled by someone with a number of years experience. The occupation is heavily dependent on the level of activity in the construction industry. The average salary per year starts at approximately $40,000 and may reach as high as $60,000 plus. Principal Building Surveyors may earn up to $70,000. In smaller country towns, an environmental health officer may undertake a building surveyor's role.
For further information, contact:
Local Government Association of South Australia
GPO Box 2693 Adelaide SA 5001
Ph: (08) 8224 2000
Fax: (08) 8232 6336
Email: lgasa@lga.sa.gov.au
Website: www.lga.sa.gov.au
Australian Institute of Building (National Office)
GPO Box 1467 Canberra ACT 2601
Ph: (02) 6247 7433
Fax: (02) 6248 9030
Email: ausbuild@aib.org.au
Website: www.aib.org.au
Australian Institute of Building Surveyors
GPO Box 7588 East Brisbane Qld 4169
Ph: (07) 3891 5862
Fax: (07) 3891 5899
Email: ntc@aibs.com.au
Website: www.aibs.com.au
Big Plans
Website: www.bigplans.com.au
Further Information
For further information about all TAFE SA Courses, phone 1800 882 661 or email tafeinfo@saugov.sa.gov.au
This Career Profile information was last modified: 24/10/2007 2:00:03 PM
The information was accurate at the time of publication. TAFE SA and their agents reserve the right to make any changes necessary
