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Bushfire Planning & Design (BPAD)
Bushfire Planning & Design (BPAD)

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Select this option to find a Corporate
Member providing BPAD services
using an Accredited Practitioner
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Select this option to validate
a BPAD Practitioner via our
National Register *
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Important
Annoncement: The Western Australian government has announced that
Fire Protection Association Australia (FPA Australia) is the first
organisation to be recognised as an accrediting body for Bushfire
Practitioners in accordance with the state's Bushfire Accreditation
Framework released earlier this year. Click here to read more.
Fire Protection
Association Australia (FPA Australia) administers the Bushfire
Planning and Design (BPAD) Accreditation Scheme (the Scheme). The
Scheme was first developed and implemented in 2006 in response to
demands from the community, government and industry to establish a
recognition program for bushfire planning and design (BPAD)
Accredited Practitioners to assist the community undertaking
development on land subject to bushfire impact.
The Scheme was
designed for individuals (practitioners) delivering bushfire
assessment, planning, design and advice services. It accredits
practitioners who meet criteria based on specific accreditation and
competency requirements, including a detailed knowledge of and
ability to practically apply the relevant planning, development and
building legislation and policies, the Building Code of Australia
and Australian Standard AS3959 Construction of buildings in
bushfire prone areas.
The Scheme provides
an enhanced level of confidence for government and the community
that practitioners providing bushfire planning and design services
are accredited by a suitably robust scheme that complies with the
State Government's accreditation framework and is administered by
the national peak body for fire safety.
BPAD Accredited Practitioners are recognised by industry,
regulators, fire agencies, end-users and the community as providers
of professional bushfire assessment, planning, design and advice
services.
* All companies appearing on this list
employ/engage a BPAD Accredited Practitioner. However, the Company
may not be a Corporate Member of FPA Australia. Only Corporate
Members will appear in the "Find a BPAD Provider" search
results.
Practitioner Requirements and Conditions of
Accreditation
Accredited
Practitioners must demonstrate they meet specific competency
requirements. Accreditation is a formal acknowledgement by FPA
Australia that an Accredited Practitioner has met the requirements
of the BPAD Accreditation Scheme. In addition to meeting all of the
competency requirements, applicants must ensure key requirements
are also met as per diagram below.

BPAD Categories
The BPAD
Accreditation Scheme is underpinned by a national framework that
includes three categories of accreditation as shown in the table
below.

BPAD Pathways
In recognition of the
professional skills and knowledge required to undertake BPAD
services; practitioners applying for accreditation must demonstrate
that their skills and knowledge are commensurate with the
community's expectation of professionals who offer bushfire
planning and design services.
Applicants can choose
from one of two pathways into the Scheme (Note: Not applicable in
New South Wales).
1. Qualified
Accreditation
2. Experienced
(transitional) Accreditation
Qualified accreditation is available through
attainment of tertiary level qualifications in an appropriate
bushfire risk assessment and management course.
Experienced
(transitional) accreditation is only available for those seeking
BPAD-Level 1 and BPAD-Level 2 accreditation and is a transitional
accreditation with a 4 year transition period to ultimately gain
Qualified Accreditation.
There are specific
requirements that must be met prior to making an application for
either Experienced (transitional) accreditation or Qualified
accreditation. These requirements are detailed in the handbook.
The Information
provided on this page is an overview of the Bushfire Planning and
Design (BPAD) Accreditation Scheme. For the full details of the
BPAD Scheme in those state and territories where it has been
launched, please click the following link to the relevant handbook.
Handbook link
Enquiries regarding
BPAD should be directed to the Accreditation/Licensing department
at the FPA Australia National Office on 03 8892 3131 or by email to
bpad@fpaa.com.au .
Disclaimer: The BPAD accreditation scheme is
not a substitute for any requirements for licensing, registration
or accreditation established by relevant applicable legislation
(state, territory and/or federal) unless otherwise confirmed by
relevant regulation.
Please Note:
Consultation regarding all elements of the Bushfire
Planning and Design Scheme (BPAD) is ongoing, and as such all
information contained on this page is subject to change.