This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
REAL estate agents and auctioneers in Queensland will be required to undertake new training requirements, following an independent review of the national property services training package.
The Office of Fair Trading has approved new training requirements for the real estate industry, following consultation with the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ), Australian Resident Accommodation Managers Association (ARAMA), and the Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association (ALPAA).
Property agent licensees operate under the Property Occupations Act 2014 and chattel auctioneer licensees operate under the Motor Dealers and Chattel Auctioneers Act 2014 (MDACA). The new training requirements do not impact people who hold current registrations and licenses.
There will be a transition period with the OFT continuing to accept qualifications from the previous training package until 30 September 2021. From October, only the new training package will be accepted as the eligibility requirement for a licence or registration.
This applies to:
- auctioneer (property)
- chattel auctioneer
- limited real estate agent – affordable housing
- limited real estate agent – business letting
- real estate agent
- real estate salesperson and
- resident letting agent.
OFT executive director Brian Bauer said it is important to ensure qualifications for licence requirements are contemporary, meeting the needs of industry and expectations of people using critical real estate services. The new training requirements also remove units of competency that are obsolete and duplicative.
“Queensland has 14,647 licensed real estate agents and 19,659 registered salespersons, and the OFT issues approximately 5,000 new real estate agent licences and registrations annually.
“People using services provided by the real estate industry need to be confident their property and financial interests are protected by licensees operating with the right blend of integrity, expertise and professionalism.” Bauer said.
REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella supports the new training requirements.
“It’s pleasing to see the Office of Fair Trading’s new training requirements not only recognise the significance of the work undertaken by real estate professionals but also better reflect modern day real estate agency practice.
“The introduction of higher scholastic standards provide an enhanced understanding of consumer protections, improved professionalism and ultimately, a higher calibre of educated Queensland real estate professions,” she added.
“When you’re charged with selling or managing what’s likely to be our most important asset, people have an expectation for the credentials that qualify you to that role.” Mercorella said.
ARAMA CEO Trevor Rawnsley said these improvements will result in better education for agents and ultimately better outcomes for the consumer.
“The review and subsequent updating of licensing education for resident letting agent’s in Queensland has resulted in a modern, more relevant set of training requirements offering more flexibility and more opportunities for skills transfer,” he said.
