VMBSG workshop jointly presented by Office of the State Building Surveyor and Russell Kennedy
This VMBSG online training session, presented jointly by the Office of the State Building Surveyor and Russell Kennedy, will explore the key issues, practical challenges and areas of uncertainty arising in practice in relation to tiny homes. Building on the recent guidance issued by the State Building Surveyor, the session will consider how these matters are presenting across councils, where interpretation and approach may differ, and the regulatory and legal considerations practitioners need to keep in mind.
The session will also acknowledge the broader pressures contributing to these issues, including housing shortages and community expectations, while keeping a strong focus on safety, compliance and defensible decision-making. Matters such as smoke alarms, sanitary facilities and other basic building requirements will form part of the discussion. A Q&A component at the end of the session will give VMBSG members and council practitioners the opportunity to raise examples from their own municipalities and work through them with the presenters.
By attending this online training session, VMBSG members and council practitioners will gain a clearer understanding of:
Tiny homes are no longer a fringe issue for councils. As housing pressures, affordability concerns and community expectations continue to grow, more councils are being asked to respond to enquiries, proposals and practical situations involving tiny homes.
For Municipal Building Surveyors and council building teams, these matters can raise difficult questions. What applies? What is the safest approach? Where does discretion sit? How should councils respond when community need, practical realities and regulatory obligations do not neatly align?
This session is designed to help practitioners work through those questions with a strong focus on safety, compliance and defensible decision-making.
By bringing together the Office of the State Building Surveyor and Russell Kennedy, the session will provide both regulatory and legal perspectives, helping attendees better understand the guidance, the areas of uncertainty, and the considerations that may arise in practice.
The Q&A component will also give VMBSG members and council practitioners the opportunity to raise examples from their own municipalities and work through practical issues with the presenters.
Steven Baxas is the Victorian State Building Surveyor and has more than 33 years of Local Government experience. He was previously the Municipal Building Surveyor at the City of Melbourne for seven years and the Municipal Building Surveyor at the City of Port Phillip for 11 years, following 15 years at the City of Monash. Steven holds formal qualifications in Building Surveying and Fire Engineering.
Elizabeth Flanagan is a Principal at Russell Kennedy and works predominantly with local government clients. She advises on the Building Act and Building Regulations, building prosecutions and enforcement in the Magistrates’ Court, and Building Appeals Board proceedings. Elizabeth also has experience in prosecution, enforcement and compliance matters across the Building Act, Planning and Environment Act, Public Health and Wellbeing Act, Domestic Animals Act and local laws.
$165 Member VMBSG | $495 Council Group (3+ VMBSG Members) | $330 Non-member VMBSG | AIBS Members save 10% on Non-member rate (fees inc. GST)
CPD Points for AIBS accreditation: 1.5 points under Module 2
