Licensing Requirements
Please note that information provided here is intended to be used as a guide only and may not be comprehensive or current. Users must contact regulators in their jurisdiction for up-to-date licensing information.
While states and territories may have specific surveying licensing requirements, there are no overall licensing requirements for individuals working in the Spatial Information Services (SIS) Sector in Australia.
At present, State and Territory Surveyors' Boards accredit cadastral surveyors via registration or licensing systems. The Institute of Surveyors Australia (ISA) is investigating a voluntary accreditation system for professional surveyors working outside the jurisdictions of Surveyors’ Boards. This scheme is being established jointly with other associations under the banner of Spatial Sciences Accreditation Australia.
ANZLIC, the Spatial Information Council, is the peak intergovernmental organisation providing leadership in the collection, management and use of spatial data in Australia and New Zealand. Its role is to facilitate easy and cost effective access to the wealth of spatial data and services provided by a wide range of organisations in the public and private sectors.
ANZLIC has prepared a suite of inter-related policies and guidelines aiming to assist organisations achieve ‘best practice’ in spatial data management. For more information about spatial data policy and licensing arrangements in your state or territory jurisdiction, visit their website on www.anzlic.org.au or contact the ANZLIC Contact Officer in your area, details available at www.anzlic.org.au/contactus.html
The following pages provide, where possible, information on spatial licensing requirements for each state and territory based on information sourced from relevant websites for each regulator. Users are advised to consult the relevant occupational licensing authority in their state or territory to determine the specific licensing requirements for various SIS Sector occupations.
Remember you must contact or visit the websites of individual regulators to confirm licensing requirements in your state or territory.
Licensing Line News is Australia's leading source of information on occupational licensing. The website provides the latest news and information on occupational licensing and regulatory matters which impact on training and assessment.
For the latest licensing news click here: www.licensinglinenews.com
Mutual Recognition Arrangements
The Council of Reciprocating Surveyors Boards of Australia and New Zealand (CRSBANZ) has a commitment to the principles of mutual recognition of professional registration between the jurisdictions of all Australian States and Territories and New Zealand. Details are available from their website at www.surveyor.asn.au
Australian Capital Territory
Surveying Licensing
Registration is compulsory for cadastral surveyors in the ACT under the Surveying Act 2007 . Surveyors are registered with the NSW Board of Surveying and Spatial Information and registration is transferred to the ACT upon application.
Registration is available for land surveying (cadastral, land and town planning) and mine surveying. A Surveying Technician or Survey Assistant is not required to be registered whilst working under the supervision of a registered surveyor.
Spatial Licensing
There is no common licensing regime for the use of spatial data in the ACT. Government agencies, individual organisations and businesses have their own separate agreements and licensing arrangements in place.
The Office of Spatial Data Management (OSDM) is charged with implementing the Australian Government Policy on Spatial Data Access and Pricing for use of public sector information. OSDM manages a list of Australian Government spatial datasets that are available under the terms of the Policy on Spatial Data Access and Pricing , referred to as the Schedule. A generic licence (sample licence) is available for adaptation to individual requirements at the following link: www.osdm.gov.au/OSDM/Policies+and+Guidelines/Spatial+Data+Access+and+Pricing/Sample+Licence+Internet/default.aspx
ACT Regulator
Surveying:
Board of Surveying and Spatial Information
PO Box 143
Bathurst NSW 2795
Telephone: 02 6332 8238
Website:
www.bossi.nsw.gov.au/
Spatial:
Office of Spatial Data Management
GPO Box 378
Canberra ACT 2601
Telephone: 02 6249 9111 (Geoscience Australia reception)
Website:
www.spatial.odsm.gov.au/odsm/
New South Wales
The Board of Surveying and Spatial Information is constituted under the Surveying Act 2002 to provide for the registration of land and mining surveyors, to regulate the making of surveys and to advise the Minister on spatial information.
Registration is available for land surveying (cadastral, land and town planning) and mine surveying. A Surveying Technician or Survey Assistant is not required to be registered whilst working under the supervision of a registered surveyor.
There is no common licensing regime for the use of spatial data in New South Wales. Government agencies, individual organisations and businesses have their own separate agreements and licensing arrangements in place.
NSW Regulator
Board of Surveying and Spatial Information
PO Box 143
Bathurst NSW 2795
Telephone: 02 6332 8238
Website:
www.bossi.nsw.gov.au/
Northern Territory
Surveying Licensing
The Surveyors Board of the Northern Territory of Australia is constituted under Section 8 of the Licensed Surveyors Act to regulate the practice of land boundary surveying and the registration of land boundary surveyors.
Registration is compulsory for cadastral surveyors. As in other jurisdictions, a Surveying Technician or Survey Assistant is not required to be registered whilst working under the supervision of a registered surveyor.
Spatial Licensing
There is no common licensing regime for the use of spatial data in the Northern Territory. Government agencies, individual organisations and businesses have their own separate agreements and licensing arrangements in place. An example of this is the Northern Territory Land Information System (NTLIS) which is a cooperative arrangement between NT Government agencies designed to deliver better outcomes for government, the community and industry from the use of spatial data resources. For information on their licensing arrangements, please contact the NTLIS on (08) 8995 5306 or email gis.support@nt.gov.
NT Regulator
Surveying:
Surveyors Board
GPO Box 1680
Darwin NT 0801
Telephone: 08 8995 5359
Website:
www.nt.gov.au/lands/lis/surveyorsboard/index.shtml
Spatial:
Northern Territory Land Information System (NTLIS)
Telephone: 08 8995 5359
Website:
www.nt.gov.au/ntlis/
Queensland
Surveying Licensing
The Surveyors Board of Queensland (SBQ) is constituted under Section 7 of the Surveyors Act 2003 . It keeps a Register of Surveyors who have been assessed as competent. Registered surveyors are required to adhere to a Code Of Practice.
Registration for Surveying Associates or Surveying Graduates is a requirement if carrying out any form of cadastral surveying, even if supervised by a registered surveyor. Registration is compulsory for cadastral surveyors.
Surveying Associates and Surveying Graduates may not be required to be registered if carrying out other forms of survey work, however it is recommended this is confirmed by the Surveyors Board of Queensland.
Spatial Licensing
A project initiated by the QSIC resulted in the Government Information Licensing Framework (GILF) which makes it easy for people who use public sector information to understand the rights of use associated with the material.
GILF provides seven licensing options comprising six Creative Commons (CC) licences and the GILF Restrictive Licence template (RL). Together with an appropriate copyright statement, they provide the conditions of use and access.
The six Creative Commons licences incorporated within GILF are the preferred method of licensing for the management of government intellectual property. Use of the Creative Commons licences fosters availability and accessibility, and encourages the re-use of government information.
The Restrictive Licence template was developed by the GILF project team in consultation with Crown Law in the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General. The Restrictive Licence template has been developed specifically for material that contains personal or other confidential information. It may also be used for other reasons, including material that is to be licensed under some form of limiting or restrictive condition (such as a time limit on use, or payment arrangements other than an initial once-only fee).
QLD Regulator
Surveying:
Surveyors Board of Queensland
PO Box 656
Spring Hill QLD 4004
Telephone: 07 3839 7744
Website:
www.surveyorsboard.com.au/
Spatial:
Queensland Spatial Information Council (QSIC)
Department of Environment and Resource Management
Landcentre, Woolloongabba
Brisbane QLD 4102
Telephone: 07 3896 3774
Website:
www.gilf.gov.au/
South Australia
Surveying Licensing
The Surveyors Board of South Australia is a sub-committee of the Institute of Surveyors Australia (ISA). It is responsible for the registration or licensing of land boundary surveyors under the Survey Act 1992 of South Australia.
Registration is compulsory for cadastral surveyors. As in other jurisdictions, a Surveying Technician or Survey Assistant is not required to be registered whilst working under the supervision of a registered surveyor.
Spatial Licensing
There is no common licensing regime for the use of spatial data in South Australia. Government agencies, individual organisations and businesses have their own separate agreements and licensing arrangements in place.
SA Regulator
Surveying:
Surveyors Board of South Australia
GPO Box 1349
Adelaide SA 5001
Telephone: 08 8227 1937
Website:
www.isaust.org.au/stateSA/SurveyorsBoardofSA/
Tasmania
Surveying Licensing
The Tasmanian Land Surveyors Accreditation Board (TLSAB) is the body which assesses the professional competence of a person seeking registration to practise as a land surveyor under the provisions of the Surveyors Act 2002 . The requirements for registration as a land surveyor are stipulated in the Surveyors Regulations 2003 .
As in other jurisdictions, registration is compulsory to undertake cadastral surveying but not required for Surveying Technicians or Survey Assistants working under the supervision of a registered surveyor.
Spatial Licensing
There is no common licensing regime for the use of spatial data in Tasmania. Government agencies, individual organisations and businesses have their own separate agreements and licensing arrangements in place.
The Information and Land Services Division, within the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, is the custodian of the Tasmanian data licensed for use by various agencies for mapping purposes. This division delivers a variety of land-related data to users and subscribers through its internet-enabled Land Information System Tasmania (The LIST). Details of licensing terms and conditions are available by contacting The List by email on listdatasales@dpiw.tas.gov.au
Tasmanian Regulator
Surveying:
The Tasmanian Land Surveyors Accreditation Board (TLSAB)
GPO Box 1194
Hobart TAS 7001
Telephone: 03 6224 0794
Website:
www.regboardstas.com/TLSA.htm
Spatial:
Land Information System Tasmania (The LIST)
GPO Box 44
Hobart TAS 7001
Telephone: 03 6233 6039
Website:
www.thelist.tas.gov.au/
Victoria
Surveying Licensing
In Victoria, a surveyor who performs cadastral surveys must be licensed under the Surveying Act 2004 and be registered with the Surveyors Registration Board of Victoria. Cadastral surveying is the process of determining the legal boundaries of property. A licensed surveyor is the only person legally entitlted to undertake such a survey.
If you are registered as a licensed surveyor in another jurisdiction (national or international), you may apply for registration in Victoria under the Mutual Recognition Act 1992 or via the Bureau for Assessment of Overseas Qualifications (BAOQ).
Spatial Licensing
There is no common licensing regime for the use of spatial data in Victoria. Government agencies, individual organisations and businesses have their own separate agreements and licensing arrangements in place.
The document Spatial Information Pricing and Licensing Guidelines for Victoria provides custodians of public sector information with a basis for setting a price for spatial information as well as licensing its use. Spatial information developed and managed by the private sector is not covered by this document.
For further information on data licences, and to view a generic spatial information licence agreement, consult the Spatial Information Pricing and Licensing Guidelines for Victoria available at www.land.vic.gov.au/
Victorian Regulator
Surveying:
Surveyors Registration Board of Victoria
Level 17
570 Bourke Street
Melbourne VIC 3001
Telephone: 03 8636 2555
Website:
www.surveyorsboard.vic.gov.au
Spatial:
Land Victoria
Spatial Information Infrastructure
Level 13
570 Bourke Street
Melbourne VIC 3001
Telephone: 03 8636 2333
Website:
www.land.vic.gov.au/
Western Australia
Surveying Licensing
In Western Australia, a surveyor who performs cadastral surveys must be licensed under the Licensed Surveyors' Act 1909 and registered with the Surveyors' Licensing Board of Western Australia.
As in other jurisdictions, registration is compulsory to undertake cadastral surveying but not required for Surveying Technicians or Survey Assistants working under the supervision of a registered surveyor.
Spatial Licensing
There is no common licensing regime for the use of spatial data in Western Australia. Government agencies, individual organisations and businesses have their own separate agreements and licensing arrangements in place.
The Western Australia Land Information System (WALIS) is a dynamic partnership of government agencies working with business, education and the general community to manage and promote the State’s geographic information. The WALIS Office formulates strategies and produces general standards and policies for data management and access, and delivers information through the Shared Land Information Platform (SLIP). For more details on SLIP, visit the WALIS website at spatial.agric.wa.gov.au/slip/
Licensing agreements for commercial and non-commercial purposes are available for viewing at the WALIS website at www.walis.wa.gov.au/Resources/CPSISC/policies/licensing_agreements
WA Regulator
Surveying:
The Land Surveyors' Licensing Board
PO Box 2222
Midland WA 6936
Telephone: 08 9273 7104
Website: www.lslb.wa.gov.au
Spatial:
WALIS Office
PO Box 2222
Midland WA 6936
Telephone: 08 9273 7046
Website: www.walis.wa.gov.au/