2013-14, a Year of Achievement for ACA - Queensland
ACA – Qld President Geoff Street reports on activities, events and initiatives of 2013 –14.
The past 12 months have been challenging for many architecturaI practices in Queensland. ACA – Queensland has continued its leadership role by providing support, education and services to our members. Our focus on the Business of Architecture has been delivered in a number of ways – including our events program, a new website containing essential information on employment awards and practice management issues, the ACA National Salary Survey and the new HR Policy Templates.
Events and Site Visits
During the past 12 months, the ACA Queensland events program included the following site tours and lunch forums:
Risky Business
19 July 2013. Lunch forum with John Moore of Thynne and Macartney Lawyers and Belinda Davis from Professional Risk Services. Read the event report.
Celebrating Queensland’s New Architects
23 August 2013. Members-only Lunch Forum where we recognised and celebrated our recently registered staff members. Read the event report.
Site tour: Advanced Engineering Building at University of Queensland Site Tour
18 September 2013. Site tour led by architect Richard Kirk.
HR: Protecting Your Front Line Intelligence
8 November 2013. Introduction to the ACA HR Policy Templates. Read the event report here.
Site Tour: Brisbane Supreme and District Courts
18 February 2014. Site tour led by Architectus and Guymer Bailey.
Employment Update for Architectural Practices
7 March 2014. Michael Corrigan provided an overview of recent changes.
Is Cloud The Answer?
4 April 2014. Lunch Forum presented by Scott Osborne of Total Synergy.
Site Tour: ABC Southbank
20 May 2014. Site tour led by the office of Richard Kirk. Read the event report.
Negotiating the Risks in the Disability Standards
20 June 2014. A Lunch Forum with Bryce Tolliday.
Attending these events helps to foster peer networking, provides an opportunity to discuss relevant issues and promotes learning through shared experiences. Much valued CPD points are also available through attendance at our events.
ACA National Salary Survey
The second round of the ACA National Salary Survey was conducted earlier this year with participants able to benchmark their results against peer firms through an anonymous portal. ACA – Qld engaged researcher Gill Matthewson to analyse and report on the survey findings and her report is available to members through the website.
HR Policy Templates
The ACA HR Policy Templates are now available as a member-only service. These templates are in four separate documents covering:
- Code of Conduct Policy
- Recruitment and Selection Policy
- Leave Policy
- Employee Management Policy
The templates are available through ACA π Qld for a minimal cost of $300+GST. ACA – Qld has engaged specialist HR consultants to prepare the templates and they have been reviewed by Michael Corrigan from a legal perspective.
Member advice
ACA – Qld has continued to provide its members with timely and reliable responses to enquiries through our alliance with Platinum Employment Relations. This service allows members to discuss employment related issues one-on-one and is highly valued.
ACA new website
The new website was launched earlier this year and I encourage all members to visit the site and benefit from the vast array of national and branch information available in a fresh and easy to navigate format.
The Business of Architecture
Our national monthly newsletter, Communique, has been rebranded as The Business of Architecture and is now based on the website. ACA has engaged the services of Justine Clark, former editor of Architecture Australia, as editor of the website and newsletter. Member feedback has been very positive with Justine at the helm and in the new format.
Advocacy
More recently, ACA – Qld has written to the Hon Tim Mander, Minister for Housing and Public Works, to protest the use of the “Best and final offer” policy which has found its way into the standard conditions of offer for many consultancy tenders called by the State Government. The policy is a clear breach of the Australian Standard Code of Tendering and offers no commercial benefits to our profession. Further discussions are planned with department representatives and we are hopeful of a successful and sensible outcome.
Mark Williams – New ACA – Qld President
My term as your Qld President will conclude with the imminent round of elections for committee members. I feel we have achieved much over the past 2 years and we are aware that there is much more to do on behalf of our members in the coming term. I would like to thank my committee – Mark Williams (President elect), Denis Waring (Secretary), David Porgand (Treasurer), Mark Trotter (Immediate Past President) and committee members Carl Brooks, Ray Giarola, Rhonan O’Brien, Bruce Forrester and Robert Wesener. The committee and members have also enjoyed great support from our ACA – Qld Executive Officer, Louise Street.
ACA – Qld / NT
In the coming term, we will welcome members from the Northern Territory to a combined Qld/NT Branch. This is in line with other combined branches – Vic/Tas and NSW/ACT. We welcome the NT members and look forward to a positive association.
ACA – Qld/NT is committed to supporting its members by providing information to develop their knowledge, skills and competencies in leadership and sustainable business practice.
If you have any questions regarding membership, please contact Louise Street, ACA – Qld/NT Executive Officer on 1300 653 026.
We look forward to continuing our association with members over the coming year.
ACA – Qld President Geoff Street reports on activities, events and initiatives of 2013 –14.
The past 12 months have been challenging for many architecturaI practices in Queensland. ACA – Queensland has continued its leadership role by providing support, education and services to our members. Our focus on the Business of Architecture has been delivered in a number of ways – including our events program, a new website containing essential information on employment awards and practice management issues, the ACA National Salary Survey and the new HR Policy Templates.
Events and Site Visits
During the past 12 months, the ACA Queensland events program included the following site tours and lunch forums:
Risky Business
19 July 2013. Lunch forum with John Moore of Thynne and Macartney Lawyers and Belinda Davis from Professional Risk Services. Read the event report.
Celebrating Queensland’s New Architects
23 August 2013. Members-only Lunch Forum where we recognised and celebrated our recently registered staff members. Read the event report.
Site tour: Advanced Engineering Building at University of Queensland Site Tour
18 September 2013. Site tour led by architect Richard Kirk.
HR: Protecting Your Front Line Intelligence
8 November 2013. Introduction to the ACA HR Policy Templates. Read the event report here.
Site Tour: Brisbane Supreme and District Courts
18 February 2014. Site tour led by Architectus and Guymer Bailey.
Employment Update for Architectural Practices
7 March 2014. Michael Corrigan provided an overview of recent changes.
Is Cloud The Answer?
4 April 2014. Lunch Forum presented by Scott Osborne of Total Synergy.
Site Tour: ABC Southbank
20 May 2014. Site tour led by the office of Richard Kirk. Read the event report.
Negotiating the Risks in the Disability Standards
20 June 2014. A Lunch Forum with Bryce Tolliday.
Attending these events helps to foster peer networking, provides an opportunity to discuss relevant issues and promotes learning through shared experiences. Much valued CPD points are also available through attendance at our events.
ACA National Salary Survey
The second round of the ACA National Salary Survey was conducted earlier this year with participants able to benchmark their results against peer firms through an anonymous portal. ACA – Qld engaged researcher Gill Matthewson to analyse and report on the survey findings and her report is available to members through the website.
HR Policy Templates
The ACA HR Policy Templates are now available as a member-only service. These templates are in four separate documents covering:
- Code of Conduct Policy
- Recruitment and Selection Policy
- Leave Policy
- Employee Management Policy
The templates are available through ACA π Qld for a minimal cost of $300+GST. ACA – Qld has engaged specialist HR consultants to prepare the templates and they have been reviewed by Michael Corrigan from a legal perspective.
Member advice
ACA – Qld has continued to provide its members with timely and reliable responses to enquiries through our alliance with Platinum Employment Relations. This service allows members to discuss employment related issues one-on-one and is highly valued.
ACA new website
The new website was launched earlier this year and I encourage all members to visit the site and benefit from the vast array of national and branch information available in a fresh and easy to navigate format.
The Business of Architecture
Our national monthly newsletter, Communique, has been rebranded as The Business of Architecture and is now based on the website. ACA has engaged the services of Justine Clark, former editor of Architecture Australia, as editor of the website and newsletter. Member feedback has been very positive with Justine at the helm and in the new format.
Advocacy
More recently, ACA – Qld has written to the Hon Tim Mander, Minister for Housing and Public Works, to protest the use of the “Best and final offer” policy which has found its way into the standard conditions of offer for many consultancy tenders called by the State Government. The policy is a clear breach of the Australian Standard Code of Tendering and offers no commercial benefits to our profession. Further discussions are planned with department representatives and we are hopeful of a successful and sensible outcome.
Mark Williams – New ACA – Qld President
My term as your Qld President will conclude with the imminent round of elections for committee members. I feel we have achieved much over the past 2 years and we are aware that there is much more to do on behalf of our members in the coming term. I would like to thank my committee – Mark Williams (President elect), Denis Waring (Secretary), David Porgand (Treasurer), Mark Trotter (Immediate Past President) and committee members Carl Brooks, Ray Giarola, Rhonan O’Brien, Bruce Forrester and Robert Wesener. The committee and members have also enjoyed great support from our ACA – Qld Executive Officer, Louise Street.
ACA – Qld / NT
In the coming term, we will welcome members from the Northern Territory to a combined Qld/NT Branch. This is in line with other combined branches – Vic/Tas and NSW/ACT. We welcome the NT members and look forward to a positive association.
ACA – Qld/NT is committed to supporting its members by providing information to develop their knowledge, skills and competencies in leadership and sustainable business practice.
If you have any questions regarding membership, please contact Louise Street, ACA – Qld/NT Executive Officer on 1300 653 026.
We look forward to continuing our association with members over the coming year.