Member-driven advocacy

Priorities

Our Defence Roundtable oversee our engagement with Defence. Participants discuss the challenges and rewards of Defence work. Through the Defence-Industry CoLab participants drive increased collaboration between Defence and industry (consultants and contractors).

Latest 'top 3 takeaways'

Every meeting our roundtable participants summarise the 'top 3 takeaways' from the meeting which we share with the rest of the membership. Here at the top 3 takeaways from the Q2 meeting of 2021:

1. CollabX Event - The Roundtable is keen to assist Defence to form the CollabX Event program into something worthwhile and effective for both industry and Defence. 
2. Capacity - Capacity of the market was discussed and noted as a worthwhile topic to discuss with Defence at the next Defence Industry Co-Lab quarterly meeting. 
3. Defence contracts and insurance - The roundtable agreed that more discussions are needed with Defence on contracts, particularly the insurance impacts, although the roundtable acknowledged the significant changes that have happened already. 

Current participants

Below is the list of the current roundtable participants. Want to get involved? Contact Kristy Eulenstein.

Priorities

Our Infrastructure Roundtable oversees our nationwide activities relating to infrastructure governance, funding/finance and procurement. Participants share best practice procurement and contracting used in infrastructure projects.

Latest 'top 3 takeaways'

Every meeting our roundtable participants summarise the 'top 3 takeaways' from the meeting which we share with the rest of the membership.

1. Opportunity to improve procurement practices in response to COVID-19. Improving procurement practices remains a focus for the roundtable. A new paper on opportunities in response to COVID-19, and tangible best practice examples, will be released shortly.
2. Presentation by Australasian Procurement and a Construction Council (APCC). Participants and APCC discussed COVID-19 as an impetus to improve practices. Consult Australia will closely engage with APCC on these potential opportunities.
3. Pipeline transparency. Pipeline transparency and the role of the pipeline to support the COVID-19 economic recovery is another roundtable priority. New papers on the pipeline and stimulus and improving how work is packaged will be released shortly.
   

Current participants

Below is the list of the current roundtable participants. Want to get involved? Contact Kristy Eulenstein.

Priorities

Our People and HR Roundtable oversee our nationwide activities relating to people and skills including; mental health, skills and inclusion. Participants share best practice initiatives on workplace issues and help develop member resources to assist particularly SMEs in this area.

Latest 'top 3 takeaways'

Every meeting our roundtable participants summarise the 'top 3 takeaways' from the meeting which we share with the rest of the membership.

1. Pulse Survey on safety metrics 
The roundtable will shortly undertake a pulse survey on safety metrics. The purpose of this survey is to provide industry-wide benchmarking data for member businesses.  

2. Return to work and WFH approaches
Attracting employees back to the office was flagged as a challenge facing many member businesses. The roundtable discussed potential strategies to encourage more staff back into the office, along with broader reflections if there has been a permanent shift to the working preferences of employees. 

3. Professional's Australia presentation
Professionals Australia's CEO and Head of Legal joined for a conversation on the Professional Employees Modern Award. It was agreed that Consult Australia and Professionals Australia could work together on developing a guide on this award. 

Current participants

Below is the list of the current roundtable participants. Want to get involved? Contact Kristy Eulenstein.

Priorities

Our Liability & Contracts Roundtable oversee our nationwide activities relating to fairness in contracting, insurance as well as legal and regulatory risk. The roundtable includes legal practitioners and commercial managers. Participants share best practice initiatives on contracting and support state/territory committees to tackle local issues. Roundtable participants help develop member resources to assist on law reform issues, legal requirements and contracting issues.

Latest 'top 3 takeaways'

Every meeting our roundtable participants summarise the 'top 3 takeaways' from the meeting which we share with the rest of the membership. Here are the 'top 3 takeaways' from the June meeting of 2021:

1. Engagement - Members of the roundtable are committed to taking action on the issues of concern and assisting Consult Australia in state and territory jurisdictions engage with government clients.
2. Level of activity - Members value the volume of client briefings and member guides being developed by Consult Australia and will continue to use the client briefings in industry push-back on onerous contract terms. Consult Australia materials also assist members demonstrate to clients that the issues are not particular to their business but are an industry concern.
3. Qld Pre-qualification - Members are concerned by the proposed Qld procurement pre-qualification scheme being consulted on by Energy & Public Works and will be pushing back through their businesses on the concerning aspects of the scheme. It was noted that the Qld Committee have been heavily involved and could use the support of legal teams.

Current participants

Below is the list of the current roundtable participants. Want to get involved? Contact Kristy Eulenstein.