REGISTER

Les Brearley BE (Elect), Grad Dip Bus, FIRSE, RPEQ
Javier Gonzalez B E (Hons)
Lee Tran BE (Elect), MIRSE, MIEAust
A/Prof Ken Kwong B E (Hons), PhD, FIEAust, FIEE

Risk management is about identifying what can go wrong, assessing the risk of the undesirable event and putting into place corrective action to reduce the risk. An essential risk mitigation control for all of phases of a signal and communications system lifecycle is the use of competent signal engineering staff. However where and how do you obtain competent staff? When experienced signal engineers are in short supply you need to train suitable staff in the specialist signal engineering skills. However in the past there has been no broadly based signal engineering course that is widely available in the industry to form the foundation of a training program.

This significant shortfall in risk management controls available to the industry has been recently filled by the development of a Post Graduate Diploma in Railway Signalling by the Cooperative Research Centre for Railway Engineering and Technologies (Rail CRC). This provides a broadly based program in railway signal engineering to fill the void in the provision and recognition of signal engineering knowledge.

This paper provides an update on the progress to date with development of the program and the experience gained in running the course for the first time. This paper has been prepared jointly by:

• Les Brearley who provides an overview of the program and the current progress with development
• Javier Gonzalez who provides a student’s perspective
• Lee Tran, a workplace mentor, who considers the program from both a supporting organisation and mentor’s perspective
• Associate Professor Ken Kwong, the Program Coordinator who provides the perspective of the delivery organisation, Central Queensland University.

The program is being developed with wide input from industry and will require further ongoing support during the delivery phase. The successful establishment of this course is a vital element in ensuring there is sufficient competent signal engineering staff for future industry needs.

This paper builds on previous papers presented to the Institution in August 2002 and November 20031,2.