Background
The SIA National Board of Management created the College of Fellows within the Institute following consistent feedback through the late 1990's from Government and industry leaders that the SIA needed to change its image, improve its approaches to lobbying for change and raise the calibre of input to peak safety decision-making forums. Those people who had responsibility for health and safety policy in Government and industry perceived the need for a credible pool of expertise, at the peak of the OHS profession, that could be called upon to provide input to regulatory development and industry policy setting activities. It was also apparent that most jurisdictions were no longer treating safety as a science but as a tool for bureaucratic manipulation in which mistakes of the past were being repeated and lessons not being learned.
In October 2002, The SIA Patron, His Excellency The Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, The Right Reverend Dr Peter Hollingworth, inducted Geoff Dell CFSIA as the inaugural Dean of the College of Fellows and the task of developing the College activities began in earnest.
Patron: Her Excellency, Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia
Criteria
Membership of the College is automatic for all SIA members who attain Fellowship Grades: Chartered Fellows, Fellows and Honorary Fellows. It is yet another reason for people to advance their membership in the Institute as their qualifications, experience and careers in health and safety develop.
As a Fellow or Chartered Fellow, you are automatically a Collegial Fellow, however, you must maintain your CPD points to remain in the College. You are considered at the peak of your professional standing when you are a Fellow or CFSIA.
The Acting Dean of the College is Mr Neville Betts CFSIA. Each year a delegation of newly appointed Fellows or Chartered Fellows are invited to Government House Yarralumla or Admiralty House, Kirribilli to be invested into the College by the SIA Patron, the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia.
College Activities
The activities of the College are oversighted by The Dean who provides direction and links to equivalent peak regulatory and scientific activities in Australia and overseas. The Dean is assisted by the Scientific Advisory Group from the College of Fellows.
Membership of the Scientific Group of the College of Fellows consists of:
Dean, College of Fellows
Chair, National Technical Panel
Co-Chair, National Technical Panel (Chemical)
Magazine "OHS Professional" Chair
Peer Reviewed "Journal of Health and Saftey Research and Practice" Editor
College of Fellows Membership Development
SIA Membership Grading Chair
SIA Ethics Committee Chair
Auditor Program Development Chair
International Liaisons Chair
Colloquia Chair
Professional Development Chair
Also the following ex-officio:
Chairman, Congress of Occupational Safety & Health Association Presidents
Mr David Skegg CFSIA
INSHPO Executive:
Mr Phillip Lovelock, CFSIA (President Elect)