September 2025

Navigating contracts

It’s not every day that construction professionals line up to praise contracts training. But when tailored content meets real-world relevance, even seasoned practitioners take notice.

 

Consult Australia’s flagship professional training courses, Contracts for Consultants and  Role of the Superintendent, are both available directly for in-house delivery.

Led by barrister and construction law expert Tony Horan, the tailored training offers sharp legal insights and practical strategies for navigating contract administration as well as your own professional services agreements.

While individuals can still register for public courses (both in person and online), in-house delivery offers flexibility, cost savings and the ability to tailor content to each firm’s policies, processes and project experiences.

“These are not off-the-shelf lectures,” says Linda Gaunt, Consult Australia’s Head of Engagement. “We work closely with members to shape sessions that speak directly to each team’s needs, experience levels and day-to-day realities.

“Tony Horan brings the law to life, using real-world case studies and court-tested scenarios that resonate across the full spectrum of experience.”

 
The Role of the Superintendent

Orion Group is one of many firms to take up the in-house option, recently hosting Role of the Superintendent for their team.

The course provides a structured deep dive into the responsibilities and risks that superintendents face, with content exploring the scope of the superintendent’s duties, contract administration under standard and bespoke forms, dispute resolution, legal liability and case law.

Project Engineer Mandi Salakas said the course encouraged participants to “reflect on how we've performed and where we can improve in relation to our understanding of contracts”. Civil Engineer Gavin Sian agreed, adding that the training “gave me perspective on how I have performed, aspects where I could improve, and a greater understanding of AS4000”.

 
Contracts for Consultants

With increasing pressure on consultants to manage complex projects, administer contracts fairly, and avoid legal pitfalls, Consult Australia’s training is both a professional development and risk mitigation strategy, says Linda.

“Contracts are evolving quickly in response to risk, regulation, sustainability and technology. In-house training offers essential continuous learning that supports confidence, consistency and compliance.”

The Contracts for Consultants and the Role of the Superintendent courses have trained more than 2,000 people over the last 15 years and are Consult Australia’s most popular offerings.

A new one-day refresher is now available for past participants looking to update their knowledge.

Whether it’s new superintendents needing foundational skills, or senior professionals looking to refresh their contract smarts, keeping pace with change is key. Or, as Orion’s Caio Hanai put it: “It’s a great reminder to always ask: ‘What does the contract say?’ ”

Check out Consult Australia’s current education offerings or, for more information on in-house education, email education@consultaustralia.com.au.