The history of the Petroleum Industry Contractors Association (PICA)

The history of the Petroleum Industry Contractors Association (PICA) before it was dissolved and relaunched as APISCA, The Australian Petroleum Industry Contractors and Suppliers Association.

History

Petroleum Industry Contractors Association (PICA) began when a group of Victorian contractors based within the petrol installation and maintenance sector got together and decided that they should form an association tailored to their particular needs. These formal needs were to ensure a level of safety and code of practice be agreed upon in order that members, contractors, operators, other governing bodies and the public would all have public knowledge on a required level of safety for maintenance and operations. After this informal discussion, they contacted other contractors and an inaugural meeting was held on Tuesday 22nd April 1986.

 

From that original meeting in Melbourne the association spread and PICA Victoria/Tasmania, PICA New South Wales, PICA Queensland, PICA South Australia and PICA Western Australia were formed. Members consisted of contractors, equipment supplier/contractors, manufacturers and oil companies.

By 1997 the 18 original members had grown to over 200 across Australia and an informal national body, PICA – Australia Ltd was incorporated.

Purpose

The purpose of the original Petroleum Industry Contractors Association was to:

• To encourage, foster and promote the interests of Contractors to the Petroleum Industry.
• To join, affiliate and co-operate with the Association in promoting and advancing any movement for the betterment of the Industry.
• To represent and submit to government statutory bodies and other organisations any matter which will affect the interest of the Industry.
• Members shall continually strive to improve our profession so that it may be of ever increasing benefit to the Industry, public and environment.
• Members shall uphold these ethics by precept and example, and encourage by counsel and advice to other Members and their adherence to such standards.

Code of Ethics

• We shall each strive to develop cultures and practices within our businesses which are founded on ‘integrity’, ‘fairness’ and ‘honesty’.
• We agree that contracts and projects accepted and entered into by our Companies, whether written or verbal, should be fair to all parties and performed in a professional manner, utilising quality leadership, materials and workmanship until our obligations have been satisfactorily fulfilled.
• To stay abreast of the most current acceptable techniques and procedures and materials needed to perform our work in a safe and professional manner.
• To comply with all state and federal regulation, ‘Codes of Practice’ and current standards in the performance of their tasks.
• Members will ensure that their staff and labour are trained to acceptable standards of competency within our Industry.
• Members must carry adequate insurance’s at all times.
• Members must conduct their business so as to minimise controversy and to avoid conduct that is detrimental to the interests of the Association or of the Industry.

Modern Times

In 2008 it was decided to amalgamate the state associations into one national body to make the operation of PICA more efficient and coherent. In 2010 the individual states began to wind-up the incorporated associations and sign on to PICA-A. By mid-2011, Qld, NSW, SA and Vic/Tas had transferred their members to the national association.

At this time the Board of Directors decided that re-branding was required and established Australian Petroleum Industry Contractors and Suppliers Association Ltd (APICSA). All PICA Australia members have now been transferred to APICSA and the old company was deregistered in 2013.

APICSA and ACAPMA merge

Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association (ACAPMA) officially acquired Australian Petroleum Industry Contractors and Suppliers Association (APICSA) in July, 2014.

On the 22nd April, 2015 it was announced the two organisations would merge. This integration sees the former APICSA Council become the ACAPMA Equipment & Services Council and the launch of a major new initiative to accredit industry contractors in the future. The first priority of the new Advisory Council will be to oversee the development of an accreditation scheme for industry contractors.

ACAPMA Contact Details

19-21 Central Road
Miranda, NSW 2228 Australia

P: 1300 160 270
E: communications@acapma.com.au

Industry Corporate Bodies

Australian Service Station and Convenience Store Association (ASSCSA)

Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association (ACAPMA)

Australian Institute of Petroleum (AIP)