Catherine Startari has stepped into the role of SA President, with Richard Stafford being elevated to Vice-President. The SA Committee has several new members who have joined the talented team of enthusiastic volunteers in South Australia. Meet the Committee and discover their roles, goals and vision for the year ahead.

The Keith Neighbour Graduate Study Program assists those preparing to sit for registration exams in South Australia. We encourage graduates to take advantage of this valuable program.

The ACA SA Practice Administrators Group meets informally to discuss matters of common interest.

A highlight of the ACA SA calendar is the Business of Design Lunch. This year, the ACA was delighted to welcome Ian McDougall of ARM as their guest speaker, with 130 guests enjoying an engaging reflection on his journey in architecture practice. ACA SA Executive Officer Graeme Martin provides a recap.

The SA Pulse Check results reflect a market shaped by cost pressure, labour constraints and inefficiencies in procurement. Practices report that while work is available in certain sectors, securing it remains highly competitive and often resource-intensive.

Mario Dreosti reflects on the SA branch’s ongoing work on resources and advocacy for fair and effective contracts. In the past 18 months, the branch has supported two major projects for the ACA Business Toolbox, benefitting ACA members around the country.

The ACA SA Committee was delighted to host Philip Thalis as their guest speaker at the recent annual Business of Design lunch. Philip is the principal of Hill Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects, a practice recognised for its independent standpoint and design expertise across a range of project types and scales.

The South Australian respondents of the ACA Pulse Check highlight COVID-era adaptation, with more purposeful hiring, better office systems, and proactive steps to reshape services and structures. However, widespread challenges remain – from shrinking pipelines to fee pressure and staffing gaps.

On Thursday 13 February 2025, the ACA SA held a round table discussion on the critical and current topic of our national housing shortage. Special guests were invited to provide a 10-minute presentation each prior to a facilitated discussion of key themes, opportunities and challenges.

Justin Cucchiarelli and Stewart Caldwell lead the advocacy efforts in the ACA SA Committee, representing practices in our state when engaging with the Department for Industry and Transport (DIT). Here, Justin offers a glimpse of recent advocacy work in South Australia.

Advocacy, wellbeing and a strong events program have been a focus for the SA branch committee in the second half of 2024. Sascha Byrne and the SA committee review the highlights.

Advocacy, First Nations engagement and learning, and a strong events program have been a focus for the SA branch committee in the first half of 2024. Sascha Byrne and the SA committee review the highlights.

Justin Cucchiarelli leads advocacy efforts in the ACA SA Committee, dedicated to representing practices in his state when engaging with the Department for Industry and Transport (DIT). Here, Justin offers a glimpse of recent advocacy work in South Australia.

In today’s competitive job market, retaining top talent is essential for organisational success. Anna Roussos discusses key strategies to ensure your best employees stay motivated, engaged and committed for the long haul.

As we approach the end of the financial year, employers and employees need to be cognisant of salary trends in an ever-evolving market. Anna Roussos, founder of Adelaide-based recruitment company ROUSSOS, discusses her observations of recent salary fluctuations within the architecture industry.

On 28 September 2023, the SA Practice Managers Lunch featured Anna Roussos from ROUSSOS Recruitment, who presented the topic, Understanding Today’s Top Talent: What They Seek and the Future of Architecture Jobs in 2023. Anna has shared the following summary of her insights.

On 22 August 2023, the ACA SA Committee hosted the fifth annual Business of Design lunch with guest speaker, Andrew Maynard of Austin Maynard Architects. Three of our attendees reflect on his presentation, from his early days of being a ‘great student’ to his work overseas and maintaining a work life balance.

Advocacy, reconciliation, recruitment and registration have been a strong focus for the SA branch committee in 2023, with highlights including the annual Business of Design Lunch, a panel discussion on Reconciliation Action Plans, and a practice managers lunch on recruiting top talent.

After 17 years working in Germany, Damien McQuillan moved back to Port Lincoln in SA to set up his own holistic regional architecture practice, which is committed to client-centred decision-making. Damien’s landscape designer wife Uta Enneking-McQuillan has since joined the cross-disciplinary practice, now renamed E+MQ Design.

In 2023, the SA branch committee has focused on advocacy, mental wellbeing and events, with a welcome return of BoSP, a waterproofing presentation and a well-attended Sustainability roundtable.

In the ACA SA Committee, members are passionate and committed to representing the business of architecture and being a voice for practices in their state. Here, Justin Cucchiarelli offers a glimpse of recent advocacy work in South Australia.

Advocacy, mental wellbeing and culture have been a strong focus for the SA Branch Committee in 2022, with highlights including the return of BoSP, the annual Business of Design Lunch and the first AMWF Toolkit event.

The SA Committee was delighted to host the fourth annual Business of Design lunch on Thursday 18 August with guest speakers Lindsay and Kerry Clare. Several attendees share their reflections here.

In the ACA SA Committee, members are passionate and committed to representing the business of architecture and being a voice for practices in their state. Here, Mario Dreosti, Catherine Startari and Simon Thomson offer a glimpse of their ongoing advocacy work.

The ACA SA has had a strong focus on advocacy, mental wellbeing and culture, and has welcomed the return of BoSP.

The ACA – SA has been active this year in a number of areas, including events, mental wellbeing, advocacy and consultation with other professional bodies.

On Tuesday 8 June, the ACA – SA Committee was delighted to host its popular annual Business of Design Lunch with guest speaker Emma Williamson from TheFulcrum.Agency. Three attendees offer a recap.

The ACA – SA has had a strong focus on advocacy, mental wellbeing and culture, and have welcomed the return of their popular series of face-to-face business lunches. 

For multidisciplinary practice GHDWoodhead, growing the business is about strategic focus and working hard, with continued growth, global expansion and ongoing diversification the key ambitions.

A series of challenges at Williams Burton Leopardi provided the impetus for a radical review and rethink of everything from client interactions to studio systems and processes.

The ACA - SA State of the Architectural Profession survey provides crucial research on the size, shape and characteristics of architectural practice in SA - the first study of its kind in Australia.

The year 2013 marked 50 years since the inauguration of the organisation that became ACA - SA. David Hassell outlines the aims and major activities of the organisation over its first half-century.