One of the key initiatives for the AIPIO in 2021 is the establishment of a national certification and accreditation scheme for intelligence professionals. AIPIO is committed to elevating the professionalism of the intelligence profession in Australia and the AIPIO Board considers a credible and accepted certification and accreditation scheme to be an important step towards achieving this. AIPIO is conscious that the intelligence practice in Australia is extremely diverse, extending across Government agencies, the military, law enforcement, and to the private sector and academia. AIPIO is also aware that intelligence professionals working in this sector acquire training and education, qualifications and competencies, from diverse sources and it can be hard for individuals to translate their qualifications, experience and competency into something meaningful for prospective employers.
Feedback from AIPIO members indicate that there is an appetite for such a scheme – for qualifications and experience to be professionally certified and formally accredited.
The anticipated benefits of the scheme will be:
Formal recognition of qualifications, experience and competency
Facilitate mobility of professionals across the intelligence community
Improved transparency for employers
Improved professional standards
I think this is an excellent concept, however I wonder how achievable it is for those of us in smaller jurisdictions? In a smaller jurisdiction, members with a certain skill set may not be in a position where they fit into the categories outlined in the paper. However their individual skills are called upon when needed, and their experience is recognised. For example, I work in a covert environment with knowledge and practical experience of 5 covert areas, Ihave an intelligence background, I am also called upon as an SME in relation to information management, I have helped to write national training, have conducted jurisdictional training and national training, have undertaken/written/completed courses, been part of advisory bodies etc etc. But I have no formal qualifications and do not occupy a role that would allow me to satisfy the criteria listed above. Nor does my jurisdiction record such skills. I see this as a commendable initiative, and long overdue, but difficult to achieve for some.