Civil/Structural Engineering

c
ivil/structural engineering is the oldest form of the discipline and involves the planning, designing or construction activities associated with a project. Designing buildings and structures that have the requisite strength and stability to withstand the rigours that they are exposed to requires the professional skills and knowledge of structural engineers. Civil engineers play an important role in the development of the infrastructure that societies require on a daily basis and for many, the motivation to undertake this career is to be found in the satisfaction they derive from seeing the physical manifestation of their labours, the eventuation of a useful resource and a landscape which bears testimony to their expertise and sensitivity to the natural and built environment. There is currently a healthy demand for graduates with these qualifications who provide an important interface and service to the mineral processing industry which is extremely buoyant contributing significantly to the prosperity of the WA economy.

The scope of civil/structural engineering

With the need to replace existing infrastructure there has been a renewed demand for civil and structural engineers who are involved in the research, design, construction, operation and maintenance of projects such as buildings, airports, railways, buildings, bridges, roads, dams and drainage systems. In this capacity engineers may be responsible for preparing material specifications, devising working drawings and plans, assisting with the scheduling of work and undertaking inspections as the work is performed. On-going liaison with building contractors and project managers is essential to the success of a project and helps to synchronise activities to ensure tasks are completed by due dates. Environmental engineers specialise in the design and construction of water sewage and owing to the boom in the housing industry and the demand for their expertise in the provision of this infrastructure for housing sub-divisions there are significant employment opportunities in this field. Project engineers have the knowledge and skills to coordinate projects and work closely with the building and construction industry to manage key assignments. Essentially they undertake the contract management and provide technical support to others in the organisation. The portability of engineering qualifications is now greater than ever and there are opportunities both locally and abroad for graduates in this field.

What civil/structural engineering qualifications offer you

The Diploma of Engineering (Civil/Structural) qualification will provide you with the practical skills and knowledge to draft engineering plans to Australian and New Zealand standards. You will learn about civil construction techniques, drafting steelwork, materials testing, soil mechanics, engineering maths and physics, and surveying computations. You will also learn skills in computer aided design (CAD), engineering drafting, computing, writing technical documents, and safety in the workplace. The Advanced Diploma of Engineering (Structural) will further develop your practical skills and knowledge in the design and you will learn about different areas in civil engineering, including construction, maintenance, project management, design and testing. Subjects include those covered in the Diploma of Engineering (Civil/Structural), plus you will learn about the design and drafting of concrete and steel work as well as environmental engineering.

Employment opportunities
Successful completion of the Diploma of Engineering (Civil/Structural) provides you with the opportunity to become an engineering draftsperson or engineering technician. Successful completion of the Advanced Diploma of Engineering (Structural) provides you with the opportunity to become a structural engineering draftsperson, associate or project engineer. Civil and structural engineering associates may work in offices, technical laboratories, workshops or on-site. Civil engineers may seek employment as consultants or construction contractors or even pursue an academic career lecturing at universities. There are also opportunities for civil engineers to secure employment in senior management and executive positions.

Personal attributes that will enhance your chances of success in this career include:
problem solving and analytical abilities capacity to perform work methodically flair for computing and design practical and creative able to work independently as well as part of a team well developed sense of responsibility capacity for spatial visualising

Entry requirements
Diploma of Engineering (Civil/Structural) Communication Skills Maths Skills For more information of TAFEWA entrance requirements please visit www.tafe.wa.edu.au

Further study options

 dvanced Diploma of Engineering (Civil) or (Structural) provides a A pathway to university studies in this field.

Further information
Contact our Information and Career Advisory Officers on 1800 621 445 or (08) 9780 7070 Email: courseinfo@bunbury.training.wa.gov.au Website: www.swrc.wa.edu.au