As Victoria’s building and plumbing regulator, the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) has a role in ensuring practitioners understand compliance measures and how to apply them to their trades and professions while denouncing risky, harmful or illegal behaviour in the building and plumbing industries.
We recently published our new Regulatory Policy Statement, which outlines our aims and approaches to regulating Victoria’s building and plumbing industries.
The construction of safe and high-quality buildings is a responsibility that is shared by all players in the system practitioners, building surveyors and partner regulators.
VBA’s Regulatory Policy Statement (the Policy) provides greater clarity to these practitioners and consumers about the role of the organisation as lead regulator in the building system.
When practitioners deliver quality and compliant work, minimal regulatory intervention is required
The Policy emphasises the importance of practitioner responsibility. It is practitioners who are expected to keep up-to-date with standards and possess the technical knowledge required to produce safe and high-quality buildings.
As the regulator, the VBA is committed to playing its role in practitioner education. We strongly encourage practitioners to engage with our Practitioner Education Series webinars, Practice Notes and published industry guidance to remain at the forefront of key industry change and maintain competency.
Effective industry regulation enables consumers to enjoy a safe and quality built environment
The Policy highlights the importance of consumer outcomes by prioritising consumer safety and wellbeing.
Practitioners who intentionally and persistently fail to meet the required standards will face disciplinary action. We have no tolerance for rogue practitioners, including unqualified people. The VBA will not hesitate to use our full suite of tools and powers to support safe and compliant consumer outcomes.
The VBA’s role is supported by other regulators, agencies and partners
Victoria’s building system is complex, and the VBA collaborates with multiple entities in the building system, emphasising our co-regulatory approach to delivering safe and high-quality buildings for consumers.
The building and construction industry is critical to Victoria’s economic prosperity. Poor building and plumbing work pose a significant risk to human life, property, economic wellbeing and the environment.
The Policy is crucial to embedding the VBA’s work as a Trusted Regulator and is entwined with our harms-based approach and Compliance and Enforcement Strategy.
The VBA will continue to work closely with practitioners, building surveyors, industry associations and bodies, and regulatory partners to improve consumer outcomes and foster a safe and high-quality built environment in Victoria.
You can now view the Regulatory Policy Statement on the VBA website.
We look forward to the year ahead and wish you a safe and happy holiday season.
Anna Cronin Chief Executive Officer Victorian Building Authority | Andrew Cialini State Building Surveyor Victorian Building Authority |
In this edition…
Latest Compliance and Enforcement report is now available
The VBA’s Compliance and Enforcement Report is designed to give industry, practitioners and the community an insight into our activities.
This latest report focuses on activities achieved by the VBA in the first half of 2023.
Plumber fined $14K for non-compliant gas installation
A Victorian plumber has been penalised more than $14,000 for signing off on the improper installation of a gas ducted heating unit at a home in Elwood.
Consumers are reminded to use the VBA’s Find a Practitioner online tool to check whether the builder or plumber they are looking to use is registered with the VBA and whether they’ve faced any disciplinary action.
Latest Proactive Inspections Program report is now available
The VBA’s Proactive Inspections Program involves checking building and plumbing works under construction throughout Victoria.
The program seeks to reduce non-compliant building and plumbing work in Victoria to address significant failures earlier, resulting in better outcomes for practitioners and consumers. Rectification greatly decreases the possibility of negative impacts on the safety, health and amenity of future occupants, especially when compared to a building where the compliance risk remains undetected or unresolved.
Look for the WaterMark on plumbing products
Victorians looking to purchase a plumbing product for a licensed or registered plumber to install should look for the WaterMark trademark, before splashing the cash.
The VBA and the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) are urging consumers to make sure any products they buy are certified and authorised for use in Australia.
Builder penalised for failing to fix poor quality work
A Melbourne based builder has been penalised $10,000 by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) for failure to comply with a Direction to Fix order.
The VBA has an online consumer resource portal with information for anyone who is experiencing issues with builders or plumbers.
Evaluation of emerging technologies for remote inspection of building work – research insights
The VBA supported research by Monash University and The University of Melbourne through the Building 4.0 Cooperative Research Centre, to evaluate emerging technologies that complement or enhance conventional inspections of building work.
The research aimed to offer evidence-based recommendations for maximising the benefits and mitigating the risks associated with remote or assistant-based inspections of building work.
You can learn more about the research insights and access the full report from the VBA website.
VBA posts record number of plumbers for 2022-23
The VBA posted a record 30,942 Victorian plumbers in 2022-23, with more than 600 new registrations and licenses.
This represented a two per cent increase in the number of registered or licensed plumbers compared to 2021-22.
Prepare for fire season warns regulator
As days get hotter and summer comes closer, the VBA is reminding homeowners to prepare for the 2023-24 fire season.
Find out how to keep your home and family safe ahead of this fire season, with useful tips and information.
