WISA • CEO’S COMMENT
Professionalisation will drive accountability Dr Lester Goldman,
This year, WISA will focus on driving the professionalisation of key jobs as well as increase the level of professionalism within our industry. By Dr Lester Goldman, CEO, WISA
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ttorneys, doctors and engineers are classic examples of professionalisation. They require extensive training and have formal barriers to entry (a degree, pass a bar exam, be registered with a professional body like LSSA, HPSA and ECSA). They can claim to perform work that people outside the profession cannot do (represent a client in court, operate on a patient, approve a structural design). If they behave unprofessionally, they risk being deregistered as an attorney, doctor or engineer, and will no longer be able to work in that occupation.
Professionalisation is a means to protect the public
Professionalisation standardises the education and training required for an occupation. This means that the public can at least anticipate the standard of
CEO, WISA
the service provided. Professionalising key positions within the water sector will ensure that the right person is in the right job and once they are in that job, they are professional. It will narrow down nepotism and political appointments. This can be done by simply identifying key legislation that needs to be changed. I am in no way advocating a guillotine approach. There are people in posts that are highly competent with no qualifications. In those cases, we can use the RPL (recognition of prior learning) process with the professional bodies.
Professional bodies and rogue members
A key way the public can hold a person within our industry accountable is if they belong to a professional body. A professional body such as WISA looks after the professional needs and reputation of its members. If the actions of one of our members lack integrity and tarnish the reputation of our industry and profession, we are obliged to act. Like most professional bodies, WISA does not have capacity for investigations, so we can only act once the member has been prosecuted or an external investigation or report has been completed. By removing rogue members from our professional bodies, we influence the recruitment and appointment
process. That rogue member may have been found guilty in court and issued a fine but will still be eligible to work somewhere else in a similar position. However, if rogue members are removed from professional bodies – and registration with a professional body is a prerequisite for certain occupations – they will never practise that occupation again. WISA will become involved in sector discussions and processes to improve professionalisation and professionalism.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISATION AND PROFESSIONALISM Professionalisation This is a social process where an occupation transforms itself into a true ‘profession of the highest integrity and competence’. When an occupation is professionalised, certain criteria (education, training, experience and knowledge) must be met. Professionalism Someone who exhibits professionalism is essentially doing a good job in providing a social service that is valued and useful.
M A R /A P R 2021
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