VMBSG Women’s Network In-person PD Seminar

VMBSG Women’s Network In-Person Professional Development Seminar

Building Enforcement in Practice: Rural vs Metropolitan Council Challenges

Date: Wednesday 2 September 2026
Time: 10.00am to 1.00pm
Format: In-person, held concurrently at two venues and streamed between both locations

The VMBSG Women’s Network is pleased to host this in-person Professional Development Seminar exploring Building Enforcement in Practice: Rural vs Metropolitan Council Challenges.

This session will be held concurrently at two venues, offering both a regional hub and a metropolitan hub. Attendees can choose whichever venue suits them best.

The full session from both venues will be screened between locations, so attendees at each venue will be able to see and hear all presentations, regardless of which location they attend.

Venues

Metropolitan Hub
Council Chambers
St Kilda Town Hall
99a Carlisle Street
St Kilda VIC 3182

Regional Hub
Benalla Town Hall Auditorium
82-86 Nunn Street
Benalla VIC 3672

About the session

Building enforcement can look very different depending on the municipality, available resources, location, community context and type of issue being addressed.

This session will explore practical building enforcement challenges faced by both rural and metropolitan councils, with a focus on real-world examples, decision-making, risk, public safety and the use of available enforcement tools.

The session will include case study-style presentations from both a metropolitan and rural perspective.

The metropolitan presentation may explore a typical metro enforcement challenge such as arson-affected buildings, vehicle impacts, rooming houses, storm damage or similar issues.

The rural presentation may explore a typical rural enforcement challenge such as flood impacts, bushfire-affected buildings, rooming houses, storm damage or other issues commonly faced by regional councils.

Who should attend

This session is designed for the VMBSG Women’s Network audience and is open to people working in all positions within building departments across local government, including:

• technical officers
• administrative staff
• leadership roles
• Municipal Building Surveyors
• building surveyors
• building inspectors
• building compliance officers
• authorised persons
• council officers involved in enforcement, inspections and public safety
• team leaders, coordinators and managers
• other professionals working within the Victorian building regulatory industry.

You do not need to be a woman or identify as a woman to attend. The VMBSG Women’s Network welcomes women, men, gender-diverse individuals and allies who support the growth, advancement and retention of women in the building regulatory industry.

Outcomes

By attending this seminar, participants will:

• gain insight into practical building enforcement challenges faced by both rural and metropolitan councils
• understand how enforcement issues can differ depending on municipal context, location and available resources
• hear real-world examples of building enforcement matters and the considerations involved
• strengthen understanding of risk-based decision-making in building compliance and enforcement
• consider the practical use of enforcement tools when responding to unsafe, damaged or non-compliant buildings
• learn from the experiences of other councils and practitioners
• connect with colleagues across both regional and metropolitan settings.

Important information

• This is an in-person event held across two locations.
• When booking, please select the venue you wish to attend.
• The session will be streamed between both venues so all attendees can participate in the full program.
• All participants must be pre-registered.
• Bags may be scanned by council security prior to entry.
• Participants must be signed in by VMBSG representatives at the door.

To assist with registration and security checks, attendees are asked to arrive in sufficient time before the seminar commences.

Registration fees

All tickets at no charge for this event

When checking out

• In the notes section on checkout please add your Council and your Job Title, or your connection to the Building Regulatory Industry.
• The details for this session shall be emailed to the email address you have used to book your ticket prior to the session. If you are booking a ticket on behalf of a team member, please be sure to use their email address not your own.

Notes:

• Only those who attend the session will receive a Statement of Attendance.
• CPD Points for AIBS accreditation: TBA