A shortage of qualified valuers in Queensland has led to a new property degree being developed.

The State Valuation Service within the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (NR&M), along with the Australian Property Institute has negotiated the development of a Bachelor of Property following difficulty attracting skilled valuers to the public sector.

The Bachelor of Property will be run by Central Queensland University starting early next year.

NR&M valuer Lorinda Creber said the 24-subject degree would be available to external students and could be completed with three years full-time or six years part-time study with an opportunity to fast-track the degree by completing summer courses.

“It will be one of only two courses of its type available in Australia, the other one is run from Sydney,” Mrs Creber said.

“The Queensland focus combined with the ability to study externally will help in retaining the skills in rural and regional centres,” she said.

There have been more than 60 people interested in the course so far, Mrs Creber said.

More than 5000 valuers are expected to be needed in China in the next 10 years and demand is expected to increase in the Queensland public sector as current staff near retirement.

The course is proposed to be accredited through the Australian Property Institute and graduates will then meet the academic requirements to work as valuers in private enterprise and within government.

Similar courses are available across Australia, but none offers students the chance to externally study in regional Queensland, applying Queensland-based legislation.

For more information about the course contact Undergraduate Program Advisor, Faculty of Business and Law, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton QLD 4702, phone 07 4930 9711, fax 07 4930 9925, email business-enquiries@cqu.edu.au