Steve is Navy’s first Chartered Engineer

By Annie Casey

Chief Naval Engineer CDRE Barter, WO Steve Hazell, John Boshier, Engineers Australia Head and Mike Evans, Canberra Branch President.

Warrant Officer Stephen Hazell, currently based at Garden Island Perth, is the first member of the Royal Australian Navy to achieve Chartered Engineering Officer (CengO) status under the RAN February 2002 agreement with Engineers Australia - giving external national and international recognition to relevant experience and qualifications gained in the Navy.

The RAN has joined forces with the Institute of Engineers Australia (now known as Engineers Australia) to enhance the development of the Naval Engineering team and assist Navy in promoting competent independent practitioners of engineering.

WO Hazell has gained this highly regarded ranking after 22 years’ experience of naval training.

He was assisted in this process by the Professional Development Program administered by the Directorate of Navy Professional Requirements (Engineering & Logistics) DNPR (E&L) within Naval Systems Command.

WO Hazell said “By achieving Chartered status it’s recognisable proof that when measured against civilian benchmarking, we are at least as good as engineering practitioners in the outside industry.

“In turn, that boosts self-esteem and pride in what we do on a day to day basis in our jobs.”

In presenting WO Hazell with a certificate marking the achievement CDRE Barter, Chief Naval Engineer, said, “I would like to thank WO Hazell for setting this example.

I think it’s tremendous that a Warrant Officer is the first person to achieve formal recognition because I hope it will embarrass a few engineering officers to get off their butts including myself.

“One of the four core principles of the Technical Regulatory System is that design, construction and maintenance is to be done by competent personnel.

This program bases the measurement of competence against the IEAUST competency standards. For Navy to do its job, we need officers and technicians who have been assessed against these standards,” he said.

Steve submitted his entire Engineering Practice Report (the compilation of Career Episode Reports) and successfully completed a Professional Interview by Engineers Australia to achieve the Chartered status.

If you want your qualifications and Navy experience assessed it’s easy to join the Professional Development Program (PDP). For more Information and a joining pack contact LS Rachel Simpson phone 02 6266 4071 or fax 02 6266 2388, or e-mail rachel.simpson@defence.gov.au

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