With recent legislative changes in Queensland, businesses are now required to proactively prevent workplace harassment and discrimination. If you operate in Queensland, or even nationally, these updates are critical to ensuring compliance and fostering a safe, respectful work environment, writes Bee Singh from Catalina Consultants.

After postponement due to extreme weather in Brisbane, we’re excited to announce that our International Women’s Day celebration is back on the calendar! Join us on Friday 4 April for an inspiring panel featuring three exceptional leaders in the built environment.

A strong events program and advocacy have been a priority for the QLD/NT branch committee in the second half of 2024. We also welcome a new branch president, executive officer and several new committee members.

The ACA QLD/NT Committee introduces new President Brett Hudson, Vice-President Adam Ferrier, and an enthusiastic, committed team of practice owners and directors keen to make a difference for members in Queensland and the Northern Territory. Learn more about their roles, areas of interest, and goals with the ACA.

The QLD/NT Committee has been busy with events in recent months, with two site tours, two AMWF events and our first Business of Small Practice (BoSP) get together in Brisbane. The Committee has also initiated an exciting new advocacy plan of action and welcomes a new President and a number of new branch committee members. 

The Business of Small Practice (BoSP) series was launched in Brisbane last month, led by Rebecca Caldwell from Maytree Studios and featuring guest speaker Kate Fitzgerald from Perth-based Whispering Smith. Elise Robertson was an enthusiastic attendee and has written an excellent recap.

Advocacy and an interesting mix of informative events kept the branch committee busy and engaged with the profession in 2023. Highlights include the lunch forum and interview with Queensland MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown, the popular annual Risky Business event and the always fun Trivia Night!

The QLD/NT branch committee has had a busy month, with their popular Risky Business event and a lunch forum with architect and current Federal MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown. Leanne Williams provides a recap.

Watch this two-part seminar on contract administration with Dr. Harm Hollander, Doctor of Creative Industries (QUT) and Angela Yates, Partner at Moray & Agnew Lawyers. This seminar is now available on demand and includes 2 x 1.5 hr recorded sessions (3 CPD points).

The QLD/NT Committee were delighted to host another fantastic trivia night last month, with diverse teams united for a memorable evening. Former QLD/NT President and Trivia Master Rob Wesener returned to take the teams through their trivia paces, and Charmaine Kai and 8i Architects came out on top. Congratulations 8i Architects!

The ACA QLD/NT Committee was proud to host a lunch forum featuring guest speaker Elizabeth Watson-Brown, former architect and current MP for the electorate of Ryan in Brisbane’s west. We are now pleased to offer this insightful presentation on demand. Watch today!

The ACA QLD/NT President Gilda Donegan was delighted to make it over to Darwin in late July for the Good Habits Seminar, a highly informative session with speakers from Planned Cover. The QLD/NT Committee was also pleased to host their annual Corporate & National Partners Breakfast.

In the last six months, the QLD/NT branch committee have been busy organising interesting and topical online events, providing networking opportunities, site tours and panel discussions, and advocating on the issues that matter to the profession.

In 2022, the QLD/NT branch committee were delighted to get back to doing what they do so well – providing interesting and topical face to face events, networking opportunities and bringing people back together for some much-missed in-person interactions.

QLD/NT President Gilda Donegan provides a recap of the first six months of 2022, where the branch committee has continued to learn to be adaptable.

Did you miss our recent Specification seminar? The ACA has developed a two-part seminar on ‘how to write specifications’ in conjunction with Greg Blain. It’s a critical skill for architectural practices. Now available for a discounted price as CPD On Demand.

Fulton Trotter Director Justine Ebzery says that Zoom and lockdown fatigue is real, and keeping up morale and maintaining motivation and energy levels through so much COVID uncertainty has been a key focus.

Immediate Past President of the ACA QLD/NT Robert Wesener provides a comprehensive update of the ACA’s advocacy efforts in Queensland.

QLD/NT Committee member Denis Waring shares his pandemic experiences as Principal of PW Architecture, and the need to prioritise people through challenging times.

It’s been a busy year for the QLD/NT branch with a full event calendar, a continuation of ongoing advocacy discussions with local governments, and a focus on engagement with the regions.

Conrad Gargett HR Manager and AMWF member Brooke Tranberg outlines some of the practice’s wellbeing initiatives, including in-house Social and Wellbeing Committees, a well-promoted EAP, open conversations about mental health, and a pre-COVID all-company Archi-Tour to foster connection.

Popular wellbeing initiatives for Fulton Trotter have included Wellness Wednesday, a formal EAP, Zoom drinks, yoga and art classes, and a little ‘lockdown love’, says FT Director and Chair of the AMWF QLD/NT Justine Ebzery.

QLD/NT President Gilda Donegan provides a recap of the first six months of 2021, a period where the key themes were to learn, change and adapt!

In April 2021, the QLD/NT branch committee organised a site tour of the seven-storey Science Learning Centre at the Brisbane Girls Grammar School. Ray Giarola provides a recap.

The QLD/NT Committee provides a branch update for March, with a welcome to new members, a new CPD webinar series, a review of the recent trivia night, and a look at the Jobsupport program used by Populous.

The small, busy team at Susan Dugdale and Associates have found that reputation and relationships are key when working in a remote regional location like Alice Springs.

The QLD/NT branch offers a summary of an extremely busy year, with a full event schedule and many priority issues to address through their advocacy.

Justine Ebzery reflects on the need for targeted funding for new public housing, public schools and community health infrastructure, with adequate resources for design and planning.

Working remotely can be challenging and disruptive, and requires realistic expectations and a flexible approach, says Charmaine Kai of Brisbane-based practice 8i Architects.

As Queensland prepared for lockdown, Cairns-based practice People Oriented Design worked on strategies with health, wellbeing and the long-term financial sustainability of the practice firmly in mind.

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.

Justine Ebzery outlines the steps Fulton Trotter has taken in response to COVID-19 so far, including clear, regular communication to clients and employees, transitioning to more work from home arrangements, and a focus on patience and kindness.

The QLD/NT branch’s latest update includes the recent vertical school site tour, the 2020 event calendar, advocacy, CPD, committee members and corporate partners.

Darwin-based practice Jackman Gooden Architects prides itself on its success in collaborative projects, aligning with other local and interstate architects, specialist consultants and design-oriented building contractors.

In 2018, HHH Architects celebrated its 40th anniversary on the Gold Coast, an opportune time to reflect on past achievements, succession planning and the challenges ahead.

Ongoing strategic planning helps Fulton Trotter create a road map for future business development opportunities, ensuring they stay relevant and working in the markets that will sustain their business.