ANZSCO proposed changes to better reflect geospatial and surveying occupations

ANZSCO, geospatial, Skilled Migration, surveying,

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The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is conducting a detailed review of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).

The goal is to update the classification to better represent today’s labor market and more effectively address the needs of stakeholders.

Stakeholders collectively expressed concerns regarding the existing representation of geospatial and surveying occupations within ANZSCO, underscoring its inadequacy in capturing the contemporary growth and diversity within this field.

They voiced a strong desire to differentiate between surveying and spatial science occupations. In their submissions, stakeholders were keen to highlight the extensive and diverse range of geospatial occupations present in today’s workforce.

However, accurately reflecting these specialised job titles within the classification poses challenges due to the dispersion of geospatial skill sets across various other professional fields.

A specific request was made to include a specialisation, ‘Indigenous Heritage Surveyor,’ for Occupation 232212 Surveyor. After careful consideration, it was determined that the tasks performed by Indigenous Heritage Surveyors align more appropriately with the proposed Occupation 272415 Heritage Consultant. Consequently, a new specialisation, ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Surveyor,’ has been suggested under the Heritage Consultant occupation.

Given the rapid evolution of the geospatial industry, it is anticipated that future reviews of the classification will be essential to ensure its continual alignment with the labour market and the changing dynamics of the field.

In August, the Geospatial Council of Australia actively engaged with the Australian Government’s review process of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). Their goal was to secure greater recognition for geospatial professions, an initiative spearheaded by Danika Bakalich, who serves as the Executive Manager of Workforce and Strategy.

The ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) is implementing significant updates to ANZSCO, aimed at enhancing the classification’s reflection of the geospatial workforce within Australia. These proposed adjustments are pivotal for the accurate categorization of geospatial roles and include several crucial modifications.

The proposed changes are as follows:

Retire the occupation “Surveyor” (232212) and replace with proposed occupations:

  • Engineering Surveyor (232215)
    • Specialisation:
      • Construction Surveyor
  • Land Surveyor (232216)
    • Specialisation:
      • Registered or Licensed Land Surveyor
  • Mine Surveyor (232217)
  • Surveyors and Spatial Scientists nec (232299)
    • Occupations within this group include:
      • Geodetic Surveyor
      • Hydrographic Surveyor

Proposed change to the principal title “Other Spatial Scientist” (232214) to “Geospatial Specialist” (232214). 

  • Specialisations include:
    • Geospatial Analyst
    • GIS Consultant
    • GIS Manager

Proposed change to the title “Surveying or Spatial Science Technician” include:

  • Geospatial Technician (312123)
    • Alternative title:
      • Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Officer
  • Surveying Technician (312124) more detail around tasks. Both occupations sit at Skill Level 2
    • Specialisation:
      • Survey Draftsperson

Retire the classification “Surveyor’s Assistant” (821915) and replace with proposed occupation:

  • Surveyor’s Assistant (821916)
  • Alternative Title:
    • Surveying Assistant

All the proposed changes can be viewed here.

Source: Geospatial Council

Source: ABS, Commonwealth of Australia

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