REGISTER

Les Brearley BE (Elect), Grad Dip Bus, FIRSE, RPEQ

Manager, Systems Safety and Quality Union Switch & Signal Pty Ltd

The technology supplied by the railway signalling industry requires the support of appropriate education and training to deliver safe and efficient systems for railway operations. In the past there has not been a common, formally structured course available for the signalling engineering profession in Australia. The need for such a course has increased with the ongoing changes in the rail industry structure over the past decade and the agingprofile of signalling engineers in Australia.

To fulfil this need, the Co-operative Research Centre for Engineering and Technologies (Rail CRC) has sponsored the development of a project based, distance learning course for railway signalling in Australia using innovative teaching approaches to meet the needs of individual States. The objective of the signalling course is to develop in the students the skills and knowledge required by competent signal engineering practitioners.

The course is being developed with wide input from industry and will require further support during the delivery phase. The successful establishment of this course is a vital element in ensuring that there is sufficient competent signal engineering staff for the future. This in turn is a fundamental requirement in ensuring the effective implementation of signalling technology for railways.

This paper builds on a paper presented to the Institution in August 2002 and sets out the stakeholders in the course and the innovative education approach that is being adopted to meet the industry's needs.