AGM & Conference 2024
Thank you to our Members, Partners, and Special Guests who attended our AGM & Conference 2024!
Our event took place at the InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto on 11th November and our Members, association Partners and Special Guests were invited to attend.
🔶 Rob Thiess, Chair and Managing Director of the SAA and Managing Director of Construc Pty Ltd, took us through our country’s scaffolding standards and codes, the SAA’s role on the Australian Standards Committee BD-036 Scaffolding, our nomination for the Australian Standards Committee BD-092 Temporary Edge protection, and an update on the status of the SAA’s Best Practice Guidelines project.
🔷 Danny Zarb, Vice Chair & Secretary of the SAA and Principal Consultant at Miad Consulting took us through the SAA’s Membership and Partnerships, SAA Insure (the SAA’s group insurance facility) our Strategic Plan update and our associations governance practices.
🔶 Jordy Adshead, SAA Executive Board Member and Victorian Chair and National HSEQ Manager at Base Industries gave us an update on the Victorian scaffolding and construction industry and the initiatives they are championing there, as well as some guidance on unauthorised modifications of scaffolding onsite.
🔷 Scott Barber, CEO of Working at Heights Association (WAHA) presented his amazing AI Adaptive Learning project and the potential for competency verification in falls prevention.
🔶 Mark Corkery, SAA NSW State Chair and Managing Director of Scaffold Studio gave us an update on the NSW scaffolding and construction industry, our exhibit at the WHS Show Sydney and NSW Scaffolding Industry night on Darling Harbour, as well as the NSW Committee’s plans for 2025.
🔷 Di Barry, SAA SA State Chair and owner of Grove Scaff updated us on the scaffolding and construction industry in South Australia, what the SA Committee are finding on their worksites, their success with the Reporting of Unsafe Scaffolding project and their plans for 2025.
🔶 Tina Lung from Hall & Wilcox, the SAA’s Legal Partners, presented on Worker to Worker claims, examples of scaffolding risks, WHS obligations and offenses, some recent scaffolding case updates and the Incident response and advice provided from Hall & Wilcox to our members.
🔷 Damian Beausang, SAA WA State Chair and Managing Director of Access Engineering Group presented on the scaffolding, construction, oil and gas, mining and residential industries in Western Australia and the fact that the Australian High Risk Work Licencing system for scaffolding does not adequately support these industries, and their hope that as an association we can strive to update this element of our industry to improve safety and career outcomes.
🔶 Emma Edwards from Edwards HR advised us on the recent “Right to Disconnect” legislation, it’s industry impacts and concerns and practical tips for compliance. She also went into the criminal offense of Wage Theft including what entails as an underpayment, why it matters and what the consequences are.
🔷 Damian Boyce, SAA QLD State Chair and of Hutchinson Builders took us through the scaffolding and construction industry in Queensland, with special focus on the skills shortage and industry forecast as we head towards the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games. Damian also presented a handy tool as a solution to literacy issues in the industry and using AI to improve comprehension of safety documentation.
🔶 Erryn O’Brien, General Manager of the SAA presented our Australia’s Best Scaffolding Projects including our winners in each state and our national winner, Australian Scaffolds!
Our conference was then followed by a fabulous 3-course meal for all attendees at the Alluvial Restaurant.
We thank all of our Members, Partners and Special Guests who attended and contributed to this important event for our association and industry!
