What was the GCA?
The Geospatial Council of Australia (GCA) was created in 2022 as a national peak body for the geospatial sector. It was established as a company limited by guarantee, with the stated purpose of representing, supporting, and advocating for surveyors, mappers, and allied geospatial professionals.
The Constitution set out ambitious objectives:
- To act as the peak geospatial body representing members and the industry.
- To promote professional standards and codes of ethics.
- To provide professional development and continuing education.
- To develop and promote technical standards.
- To create greater public awareness of the value of geospatial work.
- To celebrate excellence in the sector.
What did it achieve?
Despite its short life, GCA carried forward important traditions and programs:
- Geospatial Excellence Awards (previously APSEAs):
- Regional awards held annually across Australia and New Zealand.
- National winners announced at the Locate conference, culminating in gala dinners.
- Award categories included Professional of the Year, Future Leader, Diversity & Inclusion, Educational Development, Postgraduate and Undergraduate Student Awards, Bruce Thompson Innovation Award, Peter Woodgate Award, Hydrographic Excellence Award, Community Impact, Environment and Sustainability, Innovation, International Partnership, Technical Excellence, Workforce Development and Inclusion.
- These awards gave visibility to excellence in both individuals and organisations and connected the sector to international standards.
- Fellowships & Recognition:
- GCA created pathways for Fellows and Honorary Fellows to be recognised for outstanding leadership, service, and professional contributions.
- Fellows included individuals who promoted the profession, enhanced its public image, or developed technologies and research that significantly advanced the field.
- National Events & Locate Conference:
- The Locate conference remained the flagship national gathering, bringing together industry, government, and academia.
- GCA managed awards, networking, and recognition programs at these events.
- Professional Development & Skills:
- Access to CPD, certification programs, and professional standards.
- Publications and resources to support lifelong learning.
- Migration Assessments:
- GCA offered skills assessments for migration, serving as a national contact point for geospatial professionals seeking recognition in Australia.
- Representation:
- Provided a single peak body representing surveyors, mappers, GIS analysts, remote sensing specialists, and allied professionals to governments, universities, and industry partners.
What challenges did it face?
Even with these achievements, GCA’s story also reflects challenges:
- Governance and Structure: Bringing together different predecessor organisations and balancing organisational vs individual membership was difficult.
- Financial Sustainability: Maintaining operations and national programs required funding and strong membership support.
- Representation Tensions: Some states and professional groups felt underrepresented, and questions of whether the body best served companies, individuals, or both persisted.
- Trust and Engagement: After amalgamations, some members felt distant from decision-making or uncertain about the council’s direction.
Looking Back
GCA aimed to unify the geospatial sector, celebrate its achievements, and raise its national and international profile. Its awards, fellowships, conferences, and advocacy demonstrated what a national peak body could achieve. At the same time, the challenges it faced — governance, representation, financial strain — show us where lessons need to be learned for the future.
This page is a space to reflect:
- What do you think GCA did well?
- What did you value about its programs and services?
- What lessons should we take forward when imagining what comes next?
Leave us your ideas or comments here
All posts and comments are reviewed before publication. Your name and contact details are optional.