CAREERS

Builder’s Registration – How ready are you?

Tim Clark, Technical and Engagement Officer

Many of our members have looked into the benefits of obtaining Practitioner Registration with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) and wondered if it was something they could do on their own or whether they might need some extra support. Regularly, we hear our members stating that they have received conflicting and confusing stories about the registration and assessment process, leading them to simply put the prospect of obtaining registration in the too hard basket. Obtaining a Builder’s Registration with the VBA can open so many opportunities for new projects. Being registered helps you adhere to the strict legislative requirements of the Building Act 1993. That is why the process of obtaining registration is something Master Builders Victoria highly recommends for our members. To assist you in your registration journey, our Careers and Registration team has launched a new online Builder Registration Awareness Module, now available at no cost for existing MBV members. This industry-unique program will outline in detail the registration process with the VBA, including: • Domestic and Commercial registration categories, • How to complete the application forms and technical referee reports, • How to select your portfolio projects and compile supporting documentation, • An overview of the VBA multiplechoice questions and plan reading

assessments, • How to prepare for the VBA interview along with good interview techniques, • How to obtain a letter of eligibility for Domestic Building Insurance (Domestic only). Also included within the Builder Registration Awareness Module is a series of questions aimed to assess your readiness to undertake the registration process with the VBA and help you decide whether the support offered by our comprehensive Builder Registration Program is for you. Questions include: • Have you completed any formal training (i.e. Certificate IV or

Diploma)? • How many projects have you completed in the last three years? • What is your primary role on site (i.e. tradesperson, supervisor or manager)? • Do the following tasks make you feel concerned or anxious? » Collating all the information required to support your application. » Sitting a legislative and compliance-based exam on a computer.

» Attending a three-hour face-toface interview with a VBA assessor. • How do you think you would go with the following tasks? » Calculate and annotate timber frame bracing units from AS 1684.4. » Calculate and annotate raft slab components from AS 2870. » Determine whether a project requires a building permit under the Building Act 1993. • How well do you know your legislation, compliance codes and standards? » What is the minimum height of a swimming pool fence? » What is an SWMS, and when do you need one? » What deposit can you claim for a project valued over $20,000? » What is a Class 10c building? Suppose you find any of the above questions or tasks a little difficult. In that case, we encourage you to contact our Careers and Registration team, who will outline ways that MBV can assist you on your path to achieving a builder’s registration. Contact our team via (03) 9411 4555 or registration@mbav.com.au