2026 MENTOR–CSE
Designed to bridge the gap between formal training and industry work and provide graduates with an accelerated means of becoming job-ready, competent and valuable to both employers and clients.
Duration
4 sessions, 1.5 hour per session
Time
7:00 pm-8:30 pm
(AEDT, GMT+11)
Dates
25 March 2026
01 April 2026
08 April 2026
15 April 2026
Cost
Free
Transitioning from being a student to working as an engineer can be challenging. Graduates have often acquired the theory of their specialisation but not necessarily the ability to properly apply that theory to real-world projects. Years ago, companies recognised that engineers needed time to learn how to relate classroom learning to practical work and would provide formal training programs to help with this process. Unfortunately, those days are long gone. Today, engineers are often expected to learn these skills on the job, which can be a stressful and sometimes mistake-ridden experience. It is therefore important that young professionals find other ways to learn these essential skills.
This course was designed to bridge the gap between formal training and industry work and provide graduates with an accelerated means of becoming job-ready, competent and valuable to both employers and clients. It will equip newly minted civil and structural engineers with industry knowledge and business acumen, so they can enter the workforce with skill and confidence.
Unit 1 : Assessment of Fundamental Issues
1.1
Career Approach
1.2
Loadings
1.3
Soil Conditions
1.4
Types of Buildings
1.5
Variation within Building Types
1.6
Lateral Support Systems
1.7
Transfer Slabs
1.8
Structural Options
1.9
Calculations and Cost Estimates
Unit 2 : Key Areas of Design
2.1
Façade Engineering
2.2
Reinforced Concrete
2.3
Prestressed Concrete
2.4
Structural Steel
2.5
Timber
2.6
Precast Systems
2.7
Pad Foundations
2.8
Raft Foundations
2.9
Piled Foundations
2.10
Walls
Unit 3 : Temperature, Shrinkage & Building/Soil Interaction
3.1
Concrete Frame and Masonry Movements
3.2
Joints in the Building Structure
3.3
Soil Movement
Unit 4 : The Next Steps
4.1
Identifying Priorities in Design
4.2
Advanced Analysis
4.3
Working in the
Construction Industry
MENTOR-CSE was created by Charles Rickard, one of Australia’s leading civil and structural engineers. He has run his own engineering practice for 38 years and, throughout his career, has worked in 16 different countries on some of the world’s most interesting and significant projects. He is particularly renowned for his expertise in Glass-Reinforced Concrete (GRC) and Glass-Reinforced Plastic (GRP).
Charles previously held the role of NSW Chairman for the Institution of Structural Engineers, UK, as well as Chairman of the Multi-Disciplinary Committee of Engineers Australia (2012–2015), which presented a formal report to the NSW Government in 2013.
Charles attended the University of Surrey, UK, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Civil Engineering in 1974, followed by a Master’s in Structural Engineering in 1975. His first job was with Taylor Woodrow Group, where he completed a formal three-year training course and worked on noteworthy projects, including the Dubai Dry Dock and North Sea Concrete Oil Platforms.
Before immigrating to Australia, Charles worked for other large consulting businesses on developments across Europe and the Middle East. Notable projects during this time include the $100 million Town Centre development in Basildon, Essex, and designing a new palace for the Emir of Qatar.
In 1984, Charles started his own engineering firm, now known as Rickard Engineering, in Sydney, Australia. His experience and expertise have led him to become a well-known consultant in civil, structural and façade engineering. Additionally, he has established his reputation in building diagnostics and dispute resolution, and also provides both project and construction management to his clients.
Recent projects to which Charles has contributed include the Southern Hemisphere’s tallest building, Australia 108, in Melbourne and the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar, which was the location of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.