Blogs

Australasian Association for Engineering Education (AAEE) awards now open

By Helen Fairweather posted 21 days ago
The AAEE Awards are now open, and I wanted to encourage you to consider applying or to pass this on to someone whose work deserves recognition. Importantly, the eligibility criteria have been updated this year to include professional and technical staff, so the awards are open to a broader range of colleagues contributing to engineering education. There are three awards that are presented through the Technical Society association with Engineers Australia. These are: Australian Council of Engineering Deans National Award for Engineering Education Excellence for demonstrated excellence in Engineering Education Engineering Education Research Design Award ...

Volunteers bring engineering to life at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix

By Nicole Patten posted 29-04-2026
Last month Engineers Australia hosted the Innovation Hub during Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix held at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, where a passionate team of EA volunteers brought engineering to life for thousands of students and race fans. Across the four-day event, a passionate team of Student Ambassadors, Victorian Division Committee representatives and Engineers Australia members volunteered their time to engage students visiting the site, answer questions and share their own engineering journeys with their conversations which helped turn curiosity into inspiration. For many students visiting the hub, it was their first time ...

YEA Committees in Action: Welcoming the Next Generation of Engineers

By Nicole Patten posted 01-04-2026
Throughout February, Engineers Australia hosted Graduate Welcome Events across the country, bringing together recent graduates, early career engineers, industry leaders, EA staff, and, importantly, our Young Engineers Australia (YEA) Committees. These events are designed to start the year strong, helping graduates build meaningful professional connections while celebrating their achievements and exploring the opportunities ahead. From networking and volunteering to understanding the pathway to Chartered status, the evenings offer a well rounded introduction to what it means to be part of the engineering profession. Committees Leading from the Front YEA ...

Volunteers in action: Engineers inspiring the next generation at the Royal Canberra Show

By Nicole Patten posted 12-03-2026
From 20– 22 February 2026 , volunteers from Engineers Australia (EA) helped inspire young minds as part of the Royal Canberra Show Science Extravaganza at Exhibition Park in Canberra ( EPIC). The Science Extravaganza is a popular attraction within the wider Royal Canberra Show , bringing science to life through hands- on activities, demonstrations and interactive experiences for families and children. EA volunteers were proud to be part of the event, contributing their time and expertise to help engage visitors ...

Beyond tools: why GenAI calls for teamwork-based assessment in non-invigilated tasks

By Helen Fairweather posted 09-03-2026
This article , authored by Behzad Fatahi and Karen Whelan , explores the challenge of collaboration in assessment, particularly how to design for collaboration with Gen Ai as a virtual team member. The authors suggest that this shifts the student from being a passive participant to being the team leader. There are two simple ideas explored in the article: 1. Treat GenAI as a virtual teammate, not a tool 2. Design non-invigilated assessment using group-work principles You can also listen to a podcast unpacking Behzad and Karen's approach: Beyond tools: why GenAI calls for teamwork-based assessment in non-invigilated tasks – Education ...

Celebrating Our 2025 OneEA Award Recipients

By Nicole Patten posted 17-02-2026
OneEA Award - Celebrating collaboration and impact Collaboration between our employees, Office Bearers and volunteers is central to achieving our purpose of advancing society through great engineering. When we work together as OneEA, we amplify our impact across the profession and the community. The OneEA Award recognises one Engineers Australia employee and one Office Bearer or volunteer who demonstrate outstanding contribution toward this shared purpose. The 2025 STAR Awards were held late last year where we proudly celebrated the recipients. EA Employee Winner: Angela Harrison – General Manager, Canberra Division Since joining as General Manager ...

Empowering our Office Bearers and Volunteers: New frameworks and hub refresh

By Nicole Patten posted 02-12-2025
We are pleased to share a set of new tools and resources developed to help our Office Bearers and volunteers create even greater impact in their roles. Over the past few months, we have introduced three new frameworks to guide involvement across Engineers Australia’s key areas of activity: Events, Policy and Advocacy, and External Communications. These frameworks have been designed to provide clarity, consistency and confidence for our volunteers as they plan, engage and represent the engineering profession. Events Framework Our new Events Framework outlines the different pathways for delivering events across Engineers Australia, whether ...

WA Division Update: Advocacy, Engagement and Recognition Driving Impact

By Natalie Scully posted 28-10-2025
Written by General Manager WA Division, Adam Kinnest The past few weeks have seen strong activity across Engineers Australia’s WA Division, reflecting our continued commitment to delivering impact. We were proud to welcome our new General Manager, Adam Kinnest, as Susan Kreemer-Pickford transitions into her new national leadership role as Principal Engineer. This marks a new chapter for the Division, with a renewed focus on advocacy, member engagement and professional recognition. Our advocacy efforts have been front and centre, with six ministerial and departmental meetings across key portfolios including Defence, Energy, Workforce, Environment, ...

Shape the Future of Engineering: Expressions of Interest Now Open

By Nicole Patten posted 01-09-2025
Engineers Australia is proud to be home to more than 130,000 members from across the profession. Our members’ interests are as diverse as their backgrounds and skills, from students and graduates to experienced industry leaders. Wherever you sit in the broad world of engineering, our engineering communities provide a place to connect, collaborate and contribute. Through our College Boards and their branches, College National Committees and their branches, National Committees and Special Interest Groups , members have the chance to engage with peers who share their passions, exchange knowledge and advance the profession together. The importance of ...

Volunteers in action: National Membership Committee

By Nicole Patten posted 28-08-2025
Ever wondered how Engineers Australia assesses and recognises the most accomplished members of our profession? What does the National Membership Committee do and why is it important? The National Membership Committee is made up of senior Fellow members of Engineers Australia. Their main role is to review and assess applications for the Fellow and Companion membership grades. Using detailed CVs and supporting documents, the Committee ensures only the most qualified members are recognised. What’s involved in the Fellow application process? Committee members act as peer reviewers – taking a thorough and balanced view of each applicant’s background. They ...

Volunteers at the heart of National Science Week

By Nicole Patten posted 22-08-2025
National Science Week brings Australians together to celebrate discovery, innovation and the wonder of STEM. This year, Engineers Australia volunteers across the country shared their passion, time and expertise to ignite curiosity and inspire the next generation of engineers through hands-on activities, community events and inspirational conversations – showing that engineering is a profession with purpose. Science Week is not just about celebrating science, it’s about celebrating the people who bring science and engineering to life for their communities. To our volunteers, thank you for inspiring Australia’s future engineers. Canberra: Launching ...

Volunteer spotlight: Sidhika leads with purpose in central Australia

By Nicole Patten posted 15-07-2025
As part of National Volunteer Week, we’re proud to shine a spotlight on one of our dedicated volunteers: Sidhika Srinivasan, GradIEAust, Chair of Engineers Australia's Alice Springs Regional Group and member of the Northern Division Committee. Sidhika’s volunteering journey began as a student ambassador and has grown into a leadership role focused on strengthening connections among engineers, architects and professionals throughout central Australia. A typical day in her role involves brainstorming engaging events for members, collaborating with committee members and reaching out to local professionals to explore new opportunities for collaboration. “Volunteering ...

The Latest News on the Energy Transition - June Edition 2025

By Clementine West posted 01-07-2025
The pace of change in Australia’s energy system is picking up, and so is the conversation around what needs to happen next; from big tech breakthroughs to community trust, policy gaps and game-changing investments. Here are the articles we’re keeping an eye on this month, and why we think they’re worth your time. 1. Australia's energy storage forecasts are broken Why read it: Storage is essential for a reliable, renewable-powered grid. This piece argues that Australia is seriously underestimating how much storage we’ll need. It makes a strong case for urgent correction in our energy planning. 2. The clean energy transition won’t ...

40 years of engineering volunteering

By Lauren Jones posted 26-06-2025
South Australian Fellow Leo Noicos FIEAust CPEng NER is wrapping up 40 years of volunteering with Engineers Australia. He has given his time and expertise to many Engineers Australia committees and on top of that, has mentored engineers throughout the years. Engineers Australia South Australia General Manager Jan Irvine said she’d like to thank Mr Noicos for his outstanding service and commitment to the profession. “Leo is a brilliant example for anyone looking to get into volunteering at Engineers Australia. His enduring volunteer work has impacted South Australia and the engineering profession for the better,” she said. ...

Engineering underpins much of NSW 25/26 Budget

By Lauren Jones posted 25-06-2025
Engineering remains at the heart of infrastructure and energy delivery as part of the NSW Budget 2025–26. Treasurer Daniel Mookhey’s third Budget maintains fiscal caution but reinforces the pivotal role of engineering in shaping NSW’s future. Some key figures include: 🔧 $118.3 billion infrastructure pipeline over four years will support housing, transport, and essential services — with $4 billion in new investment for Western Sydney, including major road and water projects. 🚉 $55.6 billion for public transport, including Sydney Metro, Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2, and regional upgrades. ⚡ $2.1 billion for energy ...

The Latest News on the Energy Transition - End of 2024 Edition

By Hannah Watkinson posted 19-12-2024
Welcome to the final energy transition news for 2024. For this final energy transition blog we see the proposal and the passing of some new energy transition rules, as well as a lot of productive team-ups between companies to create innovative solutions. This longer edition has a lot of new technology and reports so settle in for the holidays and let your eyes sink into this end-of-year energy transition news. We will see you next year when we will provide you with more of the latest news on the energy transition. 👋 Partnership to boost SAF industry Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) ...

From the Chair and National President of the Engineers Australia Board: Why I became an Engineer.

By Raj Aseervatham posted 09-12-2024
After some months in the role of National President and Chair at Engineers Australia, I am still taken aback, on a nearly-daily basis, by the transformative power of engineering and the sheer acceleration of technology. I get to see a lot of engineering, routinely, that makes me feel proud, and worthy, of being an engineer. I also have a deep pang of impostor syndrome most weeks, because the engineering I’ve done is – to be frank – quite mundane compared with some of the exemplary engineering I get to see in this rewarding role. I am often asked why I studied engineering. First, I experienced its impact. I grew up in Africa ...

Celebrating Fremantle’s Engineering Heritage: a successful tour launch

By Lauren Jones posted 06-12-2024
Written by Rohan Thomas and Bridget Pethick On 1 November, Engineers Heritage Australia proudly launched a guided walking tour through Fremantle, highlighting some of the significant engineering heritage sites in the area. The event was a success, drawing in enthusiastic participants to explore and learn about Fremantle’s rich engineering history. The tour experience Led by the Chair of Engineering Heritage WA Perry Beor, the guests were taken on a journey through time, with stops at key sites including the Fremantle Railway Station, the historic Horse Trough and the iconic C.Y. O’Connor statue. Each location was brought to life with engaging stories ...

Balustrade safety considerations

By Lauren Jones posted 27-11-2024
Written by Dr Geoff Boughton, Chair of the WA Building Safety Taskforce. Balustrades and barrier systems are essential safety features in buildings. Unfortunately, a recent audit by Western Australia's Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety - Building and Energy division, revealed insufficient design and construction of these crucial barriers, which can lead to serious safety hazards such as the risk of significant injury or even loss of life. This serves as a reminder for engineers (and anyone involved in the selection, design and installation of balustrades) to be mindful of the dangers associated with balustrades and to prioritise ...

Webinar on Graduate Membership, your early career perfectly engineered

By Winnie Liu posted 13-11-2024
Curious about the values and benefits of Graduate Membership? Join us for an upcoming webinar! Engineers Australia s is excited to deliver a webinar on Graduate Membership, your early career perfectly engineered. Discover how our program is designed to provide guidance, resources, and connections to help you build a strong foundation in the engineering world. 📅 Thursday, 14 Nov 🕛 1:00pm AEDT 💻 Online Register today by following the link https://lnkd.in/gmCJUQ65 ...