The Business of Architecture*

Angelina Pillai reflects on the ACA's 40th anniversary and 2025 highlights, including industrial relations advocacy, new AI resources, and expanded regional and university programs. For 2026, we will enhance digital tools, grow member resources, push for procurement and IR reforms … and more!

In 2025, the ACA celebrates a significant milestone – 40 years since our inaugural meeting established a national voice for architectural businesses. Emma Brain highlights the ACA’s beginnings and early aspirations, shares a record of the founding members, and congratulates the ACA’s inaugural Honorary Fellow, Robert Peck.

The ACA is pleased to share the 2025 HR Policy Templates, updated and expanded to reflect the changing needs of architectural practices and recent legislation, and featuring a new template on Artificial Intelligence in practice. Developed by our HR advisors Catalina Consultants, these plain-English templates offer practical, customisable support for every member practice. 

The ACA's national and state branches have been very active in advocacy throughout 2025, tackling critical issues from affordable access to Australian Standards and graduate training support to fairer procurement models and wellbeing in the profession. Policy & Advocacy Coordinator Emma Brain offers a summary.

The ACA is once again pleased to support Consult Australia’s End of Year Tender campaign, encouraging everyone across the industry to pause procurement activities over the Christmas break. Together, we can build a culture that values wellbeing and supports more balanced workplaces for everyone.

Representing the ACA through the Australian Construction Industry Forum (ACIF), Angelina Pillai, Kukame McPierzie and John Held met with Ministers and Shadow Ministers at Parliament House to advocate for the interests and concerns of architectural practice owners.

The lead-up to Christmas may be a magical time of year for some. But for many of us, it’s much more about increased workloads, stress and trying to stay on top of it all. Merilyn Speiser explores what you can do to avoid suffering burnout in the Christmas busy period.

The final Melbourne Business of Small Practice (BoSP) forum event for the year was held at Brickworks in early November, drawing a strong crowd eager to hear the In Detail podcast team delve into the important topic of fees. Kieran Benson provides a recap.

Welcome to the ACA Business Concierge – your new AI-powered support tool for members. Designed specifically for architectural practices, this smart assistant provides quick answers to your business and employment questions. Access the Business Concierge today!

When it comes to seasonal practice closedowns, what are your rights to direct employees to take annual leave during these periods? Fair Work Lawyers offers advice related to employees engaged under the Architects Award and other relevant industrial awards.

The ACA Business Concierge is a new AI-powered service developed exclusively for members of the ACA, providing quick practical guidance on the business of architecture. Learn more about how it works, see sample prompts and read answers to our FAQs.

For more than 30 years, Smartsoftware has been helping architecture practices streamline their business systems and project management. Founder Andrew Jones discusses the company’s evolution, emerging tech trends, and the growing role of AI in transforming professional services.

An important ACA member benefit is our suite of Employment Agreement templates to support members. Our IR advisor Fair Work Lawyers undertakes a review of our template employment contracts regularly, ensuring they are user friendly and legally compliant, and reflect recent legislative changes. Download the 2025 update today!

We are pleased to share the ACA’s new membership brochure, a colourful, easy-to-read booklet that outlines the many ways the ACA supports and advocates for Australian architecture practices. It highlights our role as a trusted business advisor, with benefits including practical tools, contracts and advisories, regular business-focused updates and webinars, and advocacy and research.

It’s critical that all architectural businesses understand their obligations under the Architects Award. The update of the Architects Award and other Awards relevant to architectural practice incorporate all changes up to and including 1 July 2025, including new pay rates. Download today!