ACA – NSW/ACT

ACA – NSW/ACT has had a strong focus on advocacy in recent years, joining with other industry groups and professional bodies to lobby government for building reforms and better regulations. The branch’s event calendar often supports these advocacy efforts, with key industry figures providing updates to the ACA community.

Find out more about what is coming up and what topics we have covered at past events via the links below. We hope to see you at an ACA event soon – either online or in person.

2024-08-06

Meet the NSW/ACT Committee

6 August 2024

The NSW/ACT Committee has recently expanded, with new members adding to the existing team of committed, enthusiastic volunteers. Issues of interest to the group include fees and tendering, architectural education, communicating the value of architecture, and solving the profession’s big challenges.

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2025-02-09

NSW DBP Act – A Fire Safety Engineer’s Perspective

9 February 2025

Join the ACA NSW/ACT on Wednesday 26 February for an insightful technical presentation exploring the NSW DBP Act from the perspective of a Fire Safety Engineer. Luke Sheehy will provide valuable insights into meeting regulatory expectations, enhancing coordination, and ensuring compliance with the Act, as well as unpacking real-world examples.

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2024-12-05

NSW/ACT Branch Update EOY 2024

5 December 2024

The NSW/ACT Committee have been working hard this year with government advocacy, providing meaningful online webinars to members and staying connected. Branch President Ivana Simkovic takes us through the highlights of 2024.

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2024-10-07

ACA responds to NSW Housing Supply Review

7 October 2024

The NSW Productivity and Equality Commissioner recently delivered a report to the Premier and Treasurer on housing supply challenges and policy options in NSW. In a press release and letter to the Premier, the ACA highlights several areas of concern and offers recommendations to address these issues.

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2024-11-18

Mastering the NSW Land & Environment Court

18 November 2024

Are you up-to-date with the latest issues shaping the DA process? Do you know how to best navigate your way through the NSW Land and Environment Court? Watch this engaging and informative webinar featuring experienced Planning Lawyer Steven Griffiths.

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2024-08-21

NSW Building Bill 2024 – ACA seeks feedback

21 August 2024

On Friday 16 August, the ACA attended a briefing session on the new Building Bill 2024. If passed in its current form, this Bill could significantly impact our profession and the quality of the built environment in NSW. The ACA NSW/ACT Committee seeks feedback from members about the impacts on your business and possible alternatives. Feedback due COB Friday 23 August.

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2024-08-06

NSW/ACT Branch Update EOFY 2024

6 August 2024

The NSW/ACT branch committee has continued working hard in 2024 to deliver informative CPD presentations as well as useful resources to the membership. Discussion within committee meetings have addressed issues such as mental wellbeing, university engagement, reconciliation and regional practice.

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2024-08-18

Cost-Plus Contracts

18 August 2024

Special Counsel Christopher Larcos presents an informative webinar on the ABIC and MBA Cost-Plus Contracts in construction. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed.

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2024-06-02

Renovate rather than rebuild

2 June 2024

View this informative webinar with energy efficiency champion Jenny Edwards and her colleague Duncan Hall, who offer invaluable advice on creating highly efficient, all-electric, climate-resilient homes, highlighting the delights of small spaces and the transformative power of renovation.

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2023-12-06

NSW/ACT Branch Update – December 2023

6 December 2023

The NSW/ACT branch committee has continued working hard in 2023 to deliver informative CPD presentations as well as useful resources to the membership. Mental wellbeing, university engagement, reconciliation and regional practice have also been a strong focus.

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2023-10-11

2023 NSW/ACT Practice Management Prize

11 October 2023

The NSW/ACT Committee was proud to present three Architecture students from the University of Western Sydney with a prize for outstanding work in units related to Practice Management.

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2023-09-27

Practice Leadership recap

27 September 2023

In August 2023, Michael Lewarne from Unmeasured delivered an informative face-to-face presentation about mindful leadership and its impacts in practice for an enthusiastic Sydney audience. Jennifer Crawford provides a recap.

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2023-08-31

NSW/ACT Member Benefit – Tools for Architects

31 August 2023

The NSW/ACT Committee is delighted to announce a new member benefit, a discounted rate on the newly developed Tools™ app, which summarises the NCC into simple, interactive graphics, helping architects specify how to build properly, save time and avoid mistakes and rework.

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2024-01-18

Practice Leadership – Sharing the load

18 January 2024

As a leader in your practice, do you aim to be more productive, more innovative and less stressed? Would you like to have more engaged and happier staff, and be more agile and adaptable in practice? Watch this CPD presentation by Michael Lewarne from Unmeasured about mindful leadership and its impacts in practice.

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2023-07-24

Vale Ron Edgar

24 July 2023

Ron Edgar was a long-term and valued member of the ACA, including as a member of the NSW Committee and a period as treasurer. Former NSW/ACT President Steve Kennedy and Ingrid Pearson FRAIA reflect on the life and work of Ron Edgar, who recently passed away.

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2023-07-03

Sydney recap – The engine of growth

3 July 2023

The ACA was delighted to host the first Business of Small Practice (BoSP) event in Sydney last month, featuring keynote speaker Warwick Mihaly and a fantastic panel who generously shared their experiences and advice. Jennifer Crawford provides a recap.

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2023-06-28

NSW/ACT Update – June 2023

28 June 2023

It’s been a busy six months for the NSW/ACT branch committee, who have been working hard to deliver informative and relevant CPD presentations and networking opportunities as well as discounted webinars and resources, and advocacy for its members. A recent highlight was the first Business of Small Practice (BoSP) event in Sydney.

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2023-03-22

Practicing on Country CPD Course

22 March 2023

The Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning at the University of Sydney is offering a 20% discount for ACA members for its Practicing on Country CPD course, an online, self-paced 1.5 hour learning module.

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2022-12-08

NSW/ACT 2022 Update

8 December 2022

It’s been another busy and challenging year for all in the architectural community. The NSW/ACT Branch Committee has continued working hard to deliver informative CPD presentations and networking opportunities as well as useful resources to the membership.

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2022-11-24

NSW/ACT Practice Management Prize Winners

24 November 2022

The NSW/ACT Committee is proud to present two students in the Architecture course at the University of Western Sydney with a prize for outstanding work in units related to Practice Management.

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2022-08-10

Canberra Half-Yearly CPD Event Recap

10 August 2022

Stephen Pearse provides a recap of the ACA’s recent six-monthly catch-up and CPD event in Canberra. It was an excellent evening for all, with informative presentations and a chance to learn, earn CPD and meet up.

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2021-11-06

Members Hitting Milestones in NSW/ACT

6 November 2021

Our NSW/ACT branch is celebrating 24 member practices who have been with the ACA for 25 years or more! This special group have been with us almost since the beginning and have witnessed dramatic change in both the profession and in our Association.

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2021-09-30

The Three Pillars of Wellbeing

30 September 2021

BVN’s Head of People & Character Brian Clohessy describes the practice’s wellbeing initiatives, including inhouse Working Cultural Groups, which focus on the three pillars of physical, social and mental wellbeing.

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2021-09-09

NSW Digitalisation of Construction Report

9 September 2021

The Industry Report on Digitalisation of Design and Construction of Class 2 Buildings in New South Wales was launched in late August, after extensive research conducted by the University of Western Sydney’s Centre for Smart Modern Construction.

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2020-08-03

JobKeeper, HomeBuilder & going solo

3 August 2020

Jennifer Crawford highlights the eligibility issues of JobKeeper and HomeBuilder, and describes her recent move back to the life of a sole practitioner.

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2020-04-08

New Challenges & Modes of Working

8 April 2020

Hayball has explored varied modes of working and learning over many years, but the rapid shift to remote, distributed workplaces in the era of COVID-19 is a new challenge.

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2020-04-05

Building on Existing Flex Systems

5 April 2020

For BVN, the transition to all staff working from home has been ‘seamless’. The ease of the move is an outcome of already having robust flex systems in place, a commitment to open honest communication, and a focus on health and wellbeing.

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2019-08-07

Aileen Sage Architects

7 August 2019

For Sydney-based Aileen Sage, early collaborations with artists, academics, innovators, larger architectural practices and other consultants have opened up a diversity of projects and opportunities.

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2018-09-12

The Mill: Architecture + Design

12 September 2018

Learning when to say no to the wrong client, the wrong project or the wrong situation in general has been valuable for Shannon Battisson of The Mill in Canberra.

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