The pathway to professionalism was the focus of the sixth annual REINSW Summit held in Sydney on Friday.
The Future Is Now Summit saw a select group of 150 real estate agents come together to discuss one of the most significant changes to the industry — the pathway to professionalism.
REINSW president Leanne Pilkington said that this was the key to the industry’s future success.
“The Real Estate Institutes are spearheading the push towards formal, legal recognition of the real estate industry as a profession,” Ms Pilkington said.
“The summit explored the themes of why professionalism is the way forward, what a professional agent looks like, when the changes will happen and how agents can support the initiative.”
The speaker line-up included John Cunningham, REINSW immediate past president and key driver of the pathway to professionalism; Peter Matthews, REINSW deputy president; Peter Hanscomb, CEO of Belle Property; Chris Mourd, head of franchise network at McGrath; Veronica Morgan, principal of Good Deeds Property Buyers; and Caroline Bolderston, founder of Being Bold Coaching.
The Future Is Now Summit was held at the QANTAS Centre for Service Excellence, Sydney.
Earlier in the year, the REIA endorsed the pathway to professionalism initiatives.
It said that agents across Australia were taking concrete steps for the industry to be recognised as a profession.
President Malcolm Gunning called it an important initiative, forging a new direction in the industry.
“On behalf of its member Real Estate Institutes, REIA has applied to the Professional Standards Authority for admission as a profession,” Mr Gunning said.
“The authority is an independent statutory body established with specific responsibilities under professional standards legislation for assessing and approving applications for, and supervising the application of, professional standards schemes.”
Mr Gunning said that it would mean the implementation of a uniform, robust code of ethics.
“This scheme will not be for all agents as only those prepared to raise the bar on their own standards, skills, education, performance and commitments will qualify.
“Consumers will have a clear choice between a valued professional and the low-cost listing services entering the industry, and they will be able to determine the value and effectiveness of both when they come to sell their property.”