About Registered Forestry Professional

Why do we have the Registered Forestry Professional Scheme?

The purpose of the RFP scheme is to provide the public, employers and clients confidence that they are dealing with a trained, competent and up-to-date professional forester.
Registrants, who are known as Registered Forestry Professional and designated RFP, use broadly interpreted, demonstrated knowledge relevant to forest management. They continually update that knowledge, and apply it with skill.
Registration in the RFP scheme is a logical step in career development. It provides further opportunities for foresters who have had at least five years’ professional or technical experience as a practitioner, including at least two years’ relevant experience in Australia.

What does RFP mean?

The designation ‘RFP’ certifies that the RFP Registration Committee has admitted the holder to the Registered Forestry Professional. This means that the forester:

  1. is eligible to be a Voting Member of Forestry Australia (see Membership Regulations for requirements),
  2. holds a tertiary degree in forestry or related field
  3. demonstrates an understanding of and commitment to the Forestry Australia Code of Conduct
  4. possesses the experience, skills and knowledge that the community expects of a Registered Forestry Professional,
  5. undertakes to spends at least 30 hours annually undertaking continuing professional development, and
  6. if engaged in providing external consultancy services, is covered by Professional Indemnity insurance or has a statement of self-insurance, in the case of public sector foresters, as specified by the RFP Registration Committee.

What confidence can employers and foresters have in the Registration Scheme?

The RFP scheme is subject to an periodic audit by an independent external auditor who reviews and assesses the scheme. The auditor reports to Forestry Australia Board through the Chair of the RFP Registration Committee, which has overall responsibility for the scheme.

What does the RFP Scheme mean to employers and clients?

For employers and clients of forestry professionals, the RFP scheme guarantees that the Registered Forestry Professional they are engaging has been assessed by expert practitioners and deemed to possess the experience, skills and knowledge identified by the RFP Registration Committee for that forester’s area/s of expertise.

How will employers and clients know whether the Registered Professional Forester has the expertise they need?

Each Registered Forestry Professional is issued with a Certificate when the RFP Registration Committee has assessed and accepted the application. The certificate identifies the area/s of skills/expertise for which the forester has achieved recognition. Employers and clients should ask the forester proof of RFP registration.

RFP Committee

Gary Featherston (Chair)
David Wettenhall
Euan Fergusun
Jerry Vanclay
Joanna Sasse
John Hickey
Paul Massey-Reed
Peter Volker
Rod de Fegely
Steve Dobbyns