The Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators Network (AELERT) is a network of environmental regulatory agencies who are responsible for the management of natural resources or the protection of the environment.
In November 2003 representatives from twelve of these regulatory agencies from around Australia met in Canberra to discuss the challenges they were confronting. It was recognised that regulatory agencies share many common challenges, including:
- confronting the cross-jurisdictional nature of environmental issues
- improving the level of co-operation between agencies
- promoting cultural change both internally and externally
- reforming legislation to improve enforceability and ensure compliance
- improving consistency and accountability in decision making
- improving training standards and opportunities for staff
One of the objectives of the AELERT group was to improve training standards and opportunities for staff within these regulatory agencies. In striving towards this goal the AELERT National Committee sought to develop national standards for training and best practice in environmental regulation.
Subsequently the National Committee established a Training sub-committee.The Training Sub-Committee (TSC) is currently chaired by the Australian Government’s Department of the Environment and Heritage. The TSC comprises representatives from almost every State and Territory.
Its work to date has focussed upon developing and customising of current National Training Standards at the Certificate IV level for the environmental regulators (Cert IV in Statutory Compliance and Cert IV in Investigation).
ICETS cofounders, Rob Rolfe and Craig Doran, in consultation with the AELERT Training Committee, customised the Certificate IV in Government (Investigation) and the Certificate IV in Government (Statutory Compliance) to tailor their practical application to the environmental regulator’s needs.
The AELERT group currently has membership of 33 regulatory agencies throughout Australia. As an AELERT member, agencies can access the customised nationally accredited courses (Certificate IV in Statutory Compliance and Certificate IV in Investigation).
ICETS is currently delivering courses to AELERT member agencies such as
- Department of Environment & Heritage (Cmwth)
- Department Natural Resources Mines & Water (Qld)
- Department Natural Resources (NSW)
- Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Cmwth)
- Queensland City Councils (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Toowoomba)
In September 2009 ICETS was invited to attend the 6th Annual AELERT Conference in Tasmania. ICETS continues to be a sponsor and strong supporter of the AELERT conference and is proud to have been a part of this training initiative.