A performance audit into the effectiveness of Access Canberra’s construction occupation licensing arrangements has found the service had mature processes in place but there was room for improvement.
In his report 1/2023 Construction occupations licensing, Auditor-General Michael Harris said Access Canberra had mature processes for the assessment of applications for licences.
“The audit report does, however, identify a number opportunities to improve the processing of licence applications,” Mr Harris said.
“The audit found Access Canberra’s management of the licensing of construction practitioners is hampered by its use of multiple information systems, which are not integrated,” he said.
“As a matter of priority Access Canberra needs to determine a strategy for its information systems for construction occupations licensing.”
Mr Harris said that under the Mutual Recognition Act 1992 (Cth), Access Canberra must grant an ACT licence to a construction practitioner that was ‘equivalent’ to a licence that they had been granted in another jurisdiction.
He said there were a number of instances where direct equivalences of qualifications could not be made across States and Territories.
“An opportunity exists for licensees to take advantage of the mutual recognition scheme to be issued with a licence in their home State or Territory, without the qualifications and work experience that would otherwise be required; ‘shopping and hopping’,” the Auditor-General said.
“This represents a risk to the integrity of the licensing of construction practitioners in the ACT,” he said.
Mr Harris made 13 recommendations for the improvement of Access Canberra’s: Information systems; Policies and procedures; Management information reports; and the Documentation of skills assessments.
The Auditor-General’s 85-page report can be accessed at this PS News link and the Audit Team was Laura Thomas, Martin Handley and Stella Pakpahan.
