Save the Date: Fire and Life Safety Program Returns This December
Save the date for 14 and 15 December 2026. Victoria University and Fire Rescue Victoria will again deliver their two-day program exploring fire and life safety, Essential Safety Measures, compliance and risk management in residential apartment buildings.
R U OK? Every Day: Looking Out for Each Other in Building Surveying
R U OK? isn’t a question reserved for one day of the year. VMBSG’s 2026 Building Surveying/Inspectors Salary Survey highlights some of the real pressures within our profession, including workload, overtime, call-outs, staff shortages and under-resourcing. We look at what the research tells us and why checking in with each other matters, every day.
Regulation 173A: Inspection Record Lodgement Requirements
The VMBSG Committee has raised concerns with the Department of Transport and Planning regarding the revised inspection record lodgement requirements under Regulation 173A, including the additional workload and costs expected to impact councils.
Women’s Network PD Connects Benalla and St Kilda
A first for VMBSG brought together council building professionals at Benalla and St Kilda Town Halls, connected via live video link for a shared program focused on Building Enforcement in Practice: Rural vs Metropolitan Council Challenges.
Building Act and Regulations Amendments Commence 1 September
Changes to the Building Act and Regulations commence on 1 September 2026, including new requirements for relevant building surveyors to provide inspection records to councils within seven days. The Council Support team has prepared an information sheet outlining the changes and potential impacts.
Council Action Following Pool Safety Inspector Deregistration
BPC has advised councils of the deregistration of former building inspector Phillip Brett Commandeur, who conducted approximately 1,300 pool barrier inspections. Councils are encouraged to check their registers and consider whether further review or auditing may be required.
When an Identified Risk Remains Unmanaged
A report identified a high risk to life, but the risk remained unowned, un-escalated and unmanaged. Matt Jones examines the confronting findings of the Mauao landslide review and what they should mean for councils and other organisations responsible for public safety.
VMBSG Launches the John Anagianis Award for Rising Excellence in Municipal Building Surveying
VMBSG has launched the John Anagianis Award for Rising Excellence in Municipal Building Surveying, a new annual award recognising emerging professionals who demonstrate integrity, leadership potential, commitment to others and a positive contribution to the profession.
Why Authorised Persons Training Matters
VMBSG’s Authorised Persons Training gives council officers practical, real-world skills for building compliance and enforcement. Following the success of the Melbourne session, VMBSG is now looking to bring the training to more councils across Victoria.
Building Confidence with AI: What Municipal Building Surveyors Need to Know
AI is already changing the way we work. Join VMBSG and Maddocks for a practical online session exploring how Municipal Building Surveyors and council building teams can use AI responsibly, respond to AI-generated material from others and manage the important governance, privacy and accountability issues that come with it.