Following the introduction of the Professional Standards Act 1994, the Institution of Surveyors NSW Inc., the Association of Consulting Surveyors NSW Inc., and the Association of Consulting Surveyors Insurance Society Limited (now ACSIS) prepared a scheme to limit professional liability for the surveying profession, under NSW legislation.
To facilitate the scheme, a new Association called the Professional Surveyors Occupational Association NSW Inc (the PSOA) was formed in 1996. The first scheme was gazetted on 13 June 1997 and ran from 14 August 1997 to 31 May 2001. The last scheme was gazetted on 25 May 2001and commenced on 1 June 2001. Amendments to the definitions of the persons covered were gazetted on 28 September 2001 to commence on 15 October 2001.
An extension to the last Scheme was introduced in 2006 whilst waiting for a new Scheme application to be considered. The Scheme expired on 31 May 2007.
In October 2006 the AGM approved a new Constitution that recognises firm members and sole traders only. Individual members were covered until the expiry of the Scheme. The Scheme application based on the new Constitution was not gazetted to provide continuity to members. The Constitution has since been amended to meet requests made by the Professional Standards Council.
A new Scheme known as The Professional Surveyors Limitation of Liability Scheme governed by The Professional Standards Act (NSW) 1994 commences on 12 November 2007.
Membership of the PSOA is available to individual surveyors who are sole traders or partners and corporate entities.
Membership is dependent upon the applicant holding professional liability insurance to a specified capping amount. Three classes of membership are available depending on the annual gross fees for professional services of the related practice. A Class 1 member has professional indemnity capped at $1,000,000, Class 2 member has professional liability capped at $2,000,000 and a class 3 member has professional liability capped at $5,000,000. A member can apply for a higher class of cover at the discretion of the Board.
The Application for Membership form includes the Code of Ethics, Code of Practice, CPD Policy and Complaints & Discipline Regulations that apply to PSOA members.
The PSOA Board
The PSOA is controlled and managed by the office bearers and
others members comprising the Board. The Board has seven persons
(2 nominated, 2 appointed and 3 elected).
The Board is well equipped to deal with matters including discipline, and internal and external auditing for the surveying profession.
Contact: All matters in relation to the PSOA are to be directed to the Administration Officer, Diane North:
Level 6/321 Pitt Street Sydney NSW
P O Box A1155 Sydney South 1235
Phone: (02) 9267 9728
Fax: (02) 9267 9226
E-mail psoa@psoa.com.au