News Room

ALGA Member Update:

CEnvP Scheme -
COVID-19 Update and Changes

COVID-19 is having a wide-reaching impact on people, communities, and businesses at global, national, state, and local levels. In addition to personal disruption, the Board and Program Office for the Certified Environmental Practitioner Scheme recognise the negative effects the pandemic is having on businesses and the economy, as well as the cancellation of face to face events and activities.
The following update is provided to Certified Environmental Practitioners (CEnvPs) and interested parties on two relevant CEnvP matters:

Annual certification fees
The maintenance of continued professional development (CPD) in accordance with the requirements of the CEnvP scheme terms and conditions

Annual Certification Fees
The CEnvP Board recognise the potential for financial hardship arising from COVID-19 related impacts to both businesses and individuals. With the slow down in economies and the limitations on travel and border restrictions we recognise environmental and social professionals may  be affected. 
The following update is provided on the matter of annual certification and re-certification fees:

It is confirmed 2020-2021 fees will be maintained at pre-2020 levels. 
In the case where practitioners may be experiencing financial pressures, the CEnvP Program Office will consider payment planning on a case by case basis. You are encouraged to speak with or email the Program Office team (contact details below), and all matters will be considered in the strictest confidence. 

Continued Professional Development (CPD)
The CEnvP Board and Program Office have recognised the widespread cancellation or postponement, due to COVID-19 restrictions, of many avenues for continued professional development; in the form of face-to-face events such as conferences, seminars, presentations and courses. The CEnvP Board and Program Office has carefully considered the risk of reduced access to CPD events arising from cancellation, the potential for negative financial impacts to practitioners and the impact these may have on the ability of CEnvPs  being able to maintain their minimum required CPD.  
In accordance with CEnvP Scheme requirements, certification is premised on commitment to and maintenance of CPD, with a minimum of 100 points of relevant CPD required to be logged within each 2-year period (calendar year basis) of certification.  This is to ensure the standard of knowledge and skills in environmental practice remains at, or above, certification expectations.
Pleasingly, many professional organisations and service providers are rapidly responding to COVID-19 restrictions and making changes to CPD delivery options.  Webinars and other online resources for CPD are increasingly becoming more available as alternatives to face-to-face CPD. The CEnvP Scheme commends the many organisations contributing to making these online learning, technical and professional development options available, and as we learn of those available is adding suggestions to our CPD Guidelines webpage.
The CEnvP Scheme recognises however, that some CEnvPs may not have other or enough options for CPD relevant to their certification or area of expertise, and/or may face negative financial impacts. 
Changes to CPD for 2020 calendar year
In response to COVID-19 related restrictions and negative impacts, the standard CEnvP 2-year CPD period will be extended to 3 years; that is 100 points over 3 years, for all CEnvPs. This is a 1-year extension on standard CPD requirements and is a short-term measure only.  It will apply to the current 2-year period only, i.e. 2019-20 and 2020-21.
When the CPD log for your current CPD period is due to be submitted, you will be emailed by the CEnvP Program Office that the CPD time period is extended for a subsequent year and the new date confirmed. That is, a total of 3 years is available to achieve 100 points of relevant CPD.  
At the completion of the 3-year period, your CPD log will be requested for submission, as per Standard CEnvP Scheme processes.

Ongoing
Furthermore, the CEnvP Board and Program Office will monitor matters through COVID-19 and into post-COVID-19. For example, we are keeping abreast of changes to CPD delivery options by professional organisations and service providers, and identifying ways we can support more flexible options into the future.  We will keep you posted.
For further information on CEnvP CPD please refer to the our CPD Guidelines webpage  and  the CEnvP homepage for updates. If you know of relevant CPD options available please feel free to share the weblink with the Program Office.
Should you have any queries about either these fees and/or CPD updates please contact the CEnvP Program Office on program-office@cenvp.org / AUS 03 9001 6948 / NZ 03 741 3102.

Kind Regards,
The CEnvP Board and Program Office.

The Australasian Land & Groundwater Association (ALGA) Ltd announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Annalisa Haskell as Chief Executive Officer, effective 4 May 2020.

ALGA Chair of the Board, Craig Cowper, said Annalisa was chosen after a very robust selection process.

“Annalisa comes to the Association with not only many years of experience in senior executive roles but also with credentials in developing strong professional member associations through a deep personal commitment to professional collaboration.” 

“Previously as CEO of Local Government Professionals Australia, NSW, in addition to growing the membership association through some of its most challenging years in NSW, she created a world-leading council program by designing and developing one of the largest comparative performance benchmarking programs across many Australian and New Zealand local governments.”

“This appointment marks the start of an exciting new chapter for ALGA, and the Board is looking forward to working with Annalisa to ensure ALGA continues to deliver its strategic plan and fulfils the Association’s mission for Australasia to be the leader in the sustainable management of contaminated land and groundwater”, Mr Cowper said.

Commenting on the appointment, Ms Haskell said she was very excited to be taking on the role.

“I always enjoy building lasting, professional relationships across government, business and the professional community so that exceptional industry outcomes can be achieved for members.  I am excited to be offered this opportunity to lead ALGA at this important time when the sustainability of human health and wellbeing is paramount, and I look forward to working with the Australian and New Zealand contaminated land and groundwater industry as it plays a strong role in helping lead in the economic recovery post COVID-19.  I couldn’t think of a more important task than supporting our members at this time of human and societal challenges, as well as ensuring strong and collegiate relationships exist between government and industry to enhance our progress and solve the big issues”.

About ALGA

The Australasian Land and Groundwater Association (ALGA) was formed to provide a forum and identity for the Australasian contaminated land and groundwater industry, and to support the many professionals working in the field. The core focus of this Association is to support advances in the prevention, assessment and remediation of contaminated land and groundwater.

ALGA's mission is to promote the protection, restoration and management of land and groundwater for the benefit of human health and the broader environment across Australasia.

ALGA has a broad base of members including landowners, property developers, industry, consultants, scientist, contractors, regulatory agency staff, government, the legal profession, laboratory staff, financiers, insurers, researchers and academics.

For more information or media enquiries, please contact:

In April ALGA's Branch Committees launched a series of Virtual Branch Events as an alternate solution to our face-to-face events.

The Virtual Branch Events were set up in order to continue to deliver industry knowledge sharing and training to its members in a safe manner.

At the moment, you can’t come to us, so let us come to you – wherever you may be! In the office, at the dining table, on the deck outside or on your daily bush walk – anytime, anywhere!

How do Virtual Branch Events Work?

1.     Register for the event via ALGA’s website or the emailed invitation

2.     The pre-recorded presentation will be released on Friday morning – you will be sent an email with the link

3.     Watch the presentation at a time convenient to you before the live Q&A session – remember to submit any questions or comments in the Questions Tab

4.     Log in to the live Q&A session at 2pm Tuesday – you will be sent an email reminder with the link

5.     During the Q&A session the presenter will address any pre-submitted questions, and as time permits, will ask the viewers for any additional questions. The Q&A session will run for a maximum of one hour

6.     That’s it! The Virtual Branch Event is complete!

7.     Missed out? Don’t worry, all presentations will continue to be available OnDemand after the completion of the Live Q&A.

The first Virtual Branch Event was hosted by the Christchurch Branch: Remembering Sharon and Rebecca – An Example of Best Practice in Community Engagement and Communication.

It was presented by Graham Aveyard, the Science Team Leader for Contaminated Land at Environment Canterbury.

The follow-up question and answer session was lead by Sarah Smith, principal scientist with Envira Consulting Limited in Invercargill. There were lots of questions from viewers, which Graham answered with ease. We’ve had great feedback and both viewers and ALGA are very appreciative of Graham sharing his insights.

Stay tuned to our website and weekly newsletter for upcoming Virtual Branch Events. We welcome your feedback and suggestions for improvement to future sessions.    

Hi! My name is Craig Cowper, the ALGA team asked me to answer a few questions from them about coping during CoVid19!

• What makes you happy?

Working mostly from home, which means spending less time travelling to and from the office.
Seeing a LOT more of my wife and kids during the day, rather than coming home to them at the end of a day with a head full of stress.
Seeing that our home WiFi network is managing to survive, running at full tilt 10,000 RPM all day, with 6-8 devices connected to it.

• How you stay professionally productive and positive?

I've tried to replicate my desk setup at home, which helps adapting to my 'new normal'. We've set up a Zoom 'happy hour' on Friday afternoons, to help maintain the social relationships in the team.

• How are you managing home schooling? What survival tips can you share with your fellow members?

Home schooling - I've learnt quickly how to juggle and multi-task! My "working hours" are spread further across the day so I can have gaps in the middle to understand how online learning works, the new ways to do maths, and finding stuff around the house as ingredients for art and craft projects. Survival tip - go with the flow, online learning is as new to the kids as it is to you. Its a great way for all involved to learn new adaption skills. 
Work survival tip - make sure you stay in touch with all things ALGA. Plenty of online stuff like the webinars are a perfect opportunity to stay in touch with things in our industry.

• How have you and your business adapted to the new circumstances?

We work from home now. We are in constant contact via mobile, Skype, email and Zoom. Business partners are more than happy to meet via video conference, which also means reducing less productive hours travelling to and from meetings. On site, its just about building in additional hygiene practices into the day, and keeping distance from others on site.

• What crazy stuff are you up to at home - show us those dance moves!

No crazy stuff dance moves here ... but I've started a new line of WFH corporate business attire, which has been a mix of shorts, t-shirts and thongs, slowly migrating into tracky dacks, hoodies, ugg boots and other high end fashion items as the cooler months approach. I'm looking forward to seeing what this year's Spring collection will bring in September.

• Have you witnessed any good deeds in your community or workplace?

Work colleagues, clients, suppliers all being understanding of the changes in the way we are all doing business now ... but most importantly, working together to adapt to new delivery models.  

I wish all to be safe and well in a tough time for us all!

Regards

Craig Cowper

Hi! My name is, Ken Mival. I am a Environmental Auditor for Contaminated Land.

I work for EHS Support and for the last four years have worked part time from my home office, so isolation due to Covid 19 hasn’t changed my life much at all, except for the cancellation of site visits and social activities.

How I stay productive and positive is to maintain my usual routine – which includes an early morning walk along the King Parrot Creek with my two dogs – Molly the Collie and Barnaby the Kelpie (Barney for short or just Brown Dog), then work in short bursts on my audits until lunch around 1pm, and again until tea and then dinner, keeping the work periods modest and allowing for some exercise on my 3 acre property between sessions.  Morning coffee and afternoon tea are taken on the verandah with my wife – something Barney now expects every day!

Survival – stop watching TV reports on the spread of the virus – stay calm and talk frequently to my friends/colleagues and my children and their families at regular intervals.

EHS Support has not had to adapt much as we all work from home anyway.  It seems the rest of the world may be catching up with our business model.

Barney is missing his dog training sessions and Agility practice.   As a 4 year old he is hitting his peak for agility – so the photo shows us practicing on our home jumps to keep him from going insane!  Molly the Collie is ancient (nearly 14), half blind and totally deaf - so does not do agility anymore – but it still gets her excited when the young tyro is doing his stuff.

As a member of the local Flowerdale Landcare committee, I fully supported one of our committee who took our fencing trailer to Corryong to help the locals with repairs to fences just after the fires.  The local farmers were very grateful for the assistance which was an immediate assistance to stop stock wandering, and 3 weeks before Blaze Aid got going. 

I wish everyone the best during this difficult time - stay safe - stay home if you can!

Regards

Ken Mival