The Business of Architecture*

As we release the preliminary findings of our third Pulse Check Survey, John Held explores the key issues in the profession, from workflow to JobKeeper, from stimulus to flexibility and the future of work.

As restrictions ease around the country and more people return to work, employers are now facing the challenge of ensuring their workplaces are safe and healthy for all. Safe Work Australia (SWA) has developed extensive resources, fact sheets and checklists to assist with health and safety in the workplace and we provide a summary here.

Archibiz and the ACA Business of Small Practice (BoSP) are offering another “Designing Architectural Practice Success” course to ACA members, starting on Tuesday 28 July. 

The ACA Resource Sharing System (RSS) is a very timely employment initiative designed to assist members in retaining valuable staff by entering into short-term secondment agreements.

Join the ACA and Deltek on 22 July for a special panel discussion on how to gain a competitive edge by using innovation and technology effectively in your practice.

The Fair Work Commission has increased the national minimum wage and base rates of pay in modern awards by 1.75%. There will be a staged rollout of increases, with those relevant to the Architects Award to come into effect on 1 November 2020. Fair Work Lawyers Tom Earls provides an explainer. 

The preliminary findings of the ACA Pulse Check No. 3 are out now. Concerns about workflow continue, but some projects have restarted and JobKeeper payments have enabled many practices to keep staff on. Mental wellbeing results are positive overall, with some toll on senior management. Practices are returning to the office and considering necessary changes. 

As we all try to adapt to a changed world, cyber criminals are taking advantage of changes to our physical working conditions and day-to-day processes. Planned Cover takes a look at the issues around cybersecurity and offers tips on protecting your practice.

Rachel Tilleyshort of Elevation Architecture takes us through her firm’s digital transformation, with substantial profitability and productivity gains since implementing Deltek Project Information Management (PIM).

It is an election year for all ACA branches in 2020, and we invite members to get involved.

Peter Raisbeck explores how ethical leadership and decision making are crucial in these uncertain times.

By 1 July 2020, Victoria will introduce industrial manslaughter laws for the first time. At the same time, Australia continues its efforts to contain COVID-19, including significant restrictions on work and workplaces. Tom Earls from Fair Work Lawyers explores the issues.

The AACA has announced that the 2020 National Examination Paper will now be delivered remotely via candidates’ individual devices with online live supervision.

The ACA Architects’ Time/Cost Calculator Version 3 helps practices assess the time and costs involved in providing an appropriate level of service for a broad range of building types. 

The Fair Work Commission has extended the entitlement to unpaid pandemic leave and annual leave at half pay to 30 September 2020.

The temporary Schedule I in the Clerks Award, which allows for additional flexibility during the COVID-10 outbreak, has been amended and extended to 30 September 2020.