Managing risks to human health and the environment can be complicated. A consultant can:
- help you identify and understand hazards
- design solutions to prevent or reduce harm.
Consultants offer services like:
- environmental assessments
- risk assessments
- designing environmental management plans.
They specialise in areas such as contaminated land, noise and odour.
Take care to find the right consultant for your job – at the right price. You don't want to pay for work that you don't need.
We don't endorse any individuals, businesses or professional associations. However, here are some tips to help you find the right consultant for your business.
Find the right consultant – at the right price
To get an accurate quote, give the consultant:
- as much information as you can
- a clear scope of what's required for the job.
Request quotes from multiple consultancies to compare prices.
Request a detailed description of the consultant's proposal. Ask them to include:
- project team members
- timings and costs
- relevant experience
- health and safety procedures.
Confirm that the consultant is familiar with Victorian legislation. Check that they refer to:
- the Environment Protection Act 2017(opens in a new window)
- relevant Victorian regulations and standards.
Ask the consultant to provide copies of their insurance documents – for example, their certificate of currency or professional indemnity.
Investigate the consultancy's credentials by checking with industry associations.
Read the fine print on the quote, and get legal advice before signing an agreement.
Ways to find a consultant
Ask for recommendations from individuals or businesses that have engaged a consultant.
Search for 'environmental consultant' online. Always check their credentials.
Call for an expression of interest. You can get a good response from an open tender for an environmental consultant in a major newspaper. Be clear on your scope of work so you can assess quotes properly.
Contact professional associations to get contact details for their members. Which associations you contact depends on the nature and scope of the work.
Check certification schemes. We don't endorse any specific certification or accreditation scheme, but they are a useful benchmark.
Professional associations
Professional associations in relevant areas include:
- Australian Contaminated Land Consultants Association(opens in a new window)
- Australasian Land and Groundwater Association(opens in a new window)
- Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand(opens in a new window)
- Engineers Australia(opens in a new window)
- Soil Science Australia(opens in a new window)
- Association of Australasian Acoustical Consultants(opens in a new window)
- Australian Institute of Geoscientists(opens in a new window)
- International Association of Hydrogeologists Australia(opens in a new window)
- Consult Australia(opens in a new window)
We provide this list to help you get started. It's not a complete list, and we don't endorse any particular associations.
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