Following the outcomes and review of the October 2019 Board examinations, the Board identified that a candidate surveyor had misused the signature of their supervising surveyor on the project certification form submitted at the time of project examination. Following a meeting with the supervising surveyor, the Board requested a meeting with the candidate to explain their reasoning and actions.
The candidate disclosed that in addition to unfortunate personal circumstances, the supervising surveyor had relocated to a new office location within the same company. The distance separating the candidate and supervising surveyor affected the level of supervision being provided. The candidate disclosed that while undertaking a final review of their project submission they realised that the project certification form wasn’t signed. The candidate accessed and utilised a digital copy of the supervising surveyor’s signature, without their knowledge or permission,and placed it on the project certification form.
The Board stresses that the use of someone’s signature without their permission is an unethical decision that maybe considered fraudulent and could be referred onto other relevant authorities for further investigation. Such action may be considered an offence under the Crimes Act 1900 which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.
To maintain a sufficiently high level of ethical practice standards in the surveying profession, the Board implemented corrective action against the candidate surveyor, noting that their actions may impede their ability to become registered as a surveyor in NSW as they do not demonstrate good character.
Clause 79(d) of the Surveying and Spatial Information Regulation 2017. A person is eligible to be registered as a surveyor if the person is, in the opinion of the Board, of good character.
The Board has also introduced ‘fit and proper person’ provisions into the Board Examinations Determination. The Board may refuse an application to sit a Board examination if the Board is not satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to undertake the examination. In determining whether an applicant is a fit and proper person the Board is to consider, amongst other things, whether the applicant is of good repute, having regard to character,honesty and integrity.
