QLD/NT Update

Robert Wesener , 17 December 2018

ACA – QLD/NT has had a huge year of events, activity and advocacy – and there are two surveys to complete. The new year promises more action!

BIM Policy Announcement

The Queensland Government has released its approach to the consistent and progressive implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) on major government infrastructure projects. The Digital Enablement for Queensland Infrastructure – principles for BIM implementation can be found on the government’s website.

Nathan Hildebrandt, Director of Fulton Trotter and chair of the ACA and Institute Queensland BIM Taskforce, advised that now that this policy is in place we can expect to see some movement from Government early in 2019. The start date for this policy is 1 July 2019 and the ACA and the Institute are working together to provide support for the profession.

This includes conducting the National BIM Capability Survey – please meake sure you take the survey. The results will be released early next year.

Welcome to our new members

Membership now stands at 84 representing over 700 technical staff in Queensland and the Northern Territory.  During the last quarter of 2018, ACA QLD/NT welcomed the following new members.

  • Luga Architecture
  • Stitchell Architect Pty Ltd
  • AEQ Architects
  • Quirk Architecture Pty Ltd
  • Idearchitecture
  • Ajar Architects

What’s ‘hot’ and what’s not!

We would like your feedback on topics, speakers and other issues to help us when designing our upcoming event program. This will help us to develop a program that is targeted, relevant and of interest.

Your input is important! Please take a few minutes to complete our short event survey.

Event snapshot

Trends in managing the staff performance

Employee’s performance can be a sensitive topic and one which needs to be carefully managed to ensure your staff remain motivated and productive. At a recent event in Brisbane, Michael Corrigan, General Manager Human Resources and Industrial Relations of Platinum Employee Relations, addressed the trends in performance management.

Michael provided a Performance Counselling Record worksheet and discussed some key points as follows:

  • If you have concerns about an employees performance you need to list all of the concerns on a performance management template ensuring accuracy of information.
  • It is important to note the employee’s response as accurately as possible to assist in the process and ensure fairness all round.
  • If the meeting is getting heated or you feel out of control, it is good to take a break and resume discussions at a more appropriate time.
  • It is important that our responses to issues raised are on point, factual and not discriminatory.
  • Expected outcomes and performance plans are important as they assists both the employee and business reach an outcome that meets reasonable expectations.
  • Genuine review periods are normally between 1 month to 3 months depending on the performance issues being discussed.
  • When concluding the review, it is important to ensure the employee signs the documentation. The warning or performance counselling still has to be adhered to even though the employee may not sign the document.
The 2018 Architectural Deep Knowledge Award Winner is …

Members and partners gathered on the rooftop at Wesley House overlooking Brisbane’s City Hall for the this year’s Architectural Deep Knowledge Award. It was a fun-filled night as quiz master, Robert Wesener, challenged the audience with questions of architecture, general knowledge, music and sport.

Congratulations to Fulton Trotter’s  Fulton FULL-ON! – winners the 2018 Architectural Deep Knowledge Award.

Festive cheer as the end of the year is near!

There was a double celebration on Friday, 23 November, with the Northern Territory Christmas Lunch in Darwin and the Safety in Design Integration and Christmas Lunch in Brisbane.

Northern Territory

Steven Huntingford, ACA NT representative, hosted the Christmas Lunch with guest speaker, Max Irvine.  Max is a leading structural engineer he spoke about his career spanning more than 50 years to some of his most recent work on the Cavenagh Street shade structure.

5 - NT lunch

Safety in Design Integration

Jennekin Dicks, of Management in Action, guided attendees through issues relating to their obligations under legislative requirements of Safety in Design and shared a practical and positive framework practices to implement into their practices.

6 - Safety in Design

Message from the President

ACA – QLD/NT is in a strong position and I would like to thank Mark Williams, immediate Past President, and the Committee for their commitment and contribution to the Branch activities over the past year.

In 2019, we will focus on three key areas including:

  1. Membership – remain relevant to retain existing members and continue to attract new members
  2. Events, services, projects – provide a program which is relevant and of interest, and expand our delivery to regional areas
  3. Advocacy – continue to advocate best practice and influence the decisions affecting the architectural industry through a collaborative approach with the Australian Institute of Architects Queensland, Board of Architects Queensland, Architects Small Practice Group and Practice Managers Group.

I encourage all members to engage in the activities of the Chapter and would welcome your input.  Please email me at qldpres@aca.org.au.

Lastly, I wish you, your colleagues and families a very merry Christmas and all the best for 2019.