The VIC/TAS Committee has welcomed two new members this year – Emily Gilfillan and Brendan Shannon – and has farewelled longstanding Committee member Kel Greenway. Issues of interest to the group include fair and sustainable fees, building reform, communicating the value of architecture, and maintaining relevance in a rapidly changing industry.

The AAAG (Architectural Accounting and Administration Group) has been in place in Melbourne for over 20 years. In mid-2020 the AAAG and ACA came together to further strengthen ties between practices and the ACA across the Business of Architecture.

In 2024, the VIC/TAS branch prioritised advocacy, mental wellbeing, IR and business and finance. Key efforts included building reform advocacy and hosting engaging face-to-face events, including the first BoSP in Melbourne. Katherine Ygosse recaps the year’s highlights.

The ACA VIC/TAS branch has developed a new quick survey to gain a better understanding of the impact of the economic downturn on architectural practices in Victoria. This important data will inform our government advocacy efforts. Take the survey today!

The ACA Victoria/Tasmania Branch Committee warmly invites ACA members to come and celebrate with Christmas drinks 6pm Tuesday 26 November. Bring along members of your team and enjoy refreshments and city views from high up on the terrace at the Macquarie Building on Collins Street, Melbourne. Book now!

The ACA and Management for Design (M4D) are offering an exclusive half-day workshop on business financial management on Wednesday 23 October in Melbourne. Help fill gaps in your financial understanding and elevate your business skills by attending this bespoke course created for architecture practices. Don’t miss this opportunity.

The ACA is excited to launch the Business of Small Practice (BoSP) series in Melbourne on 19 September with a great lineup of practitioners ready to talk business! The BoSP forum is a fantastic opportunity for small practice owners to meet up, listen to experts, share knowledge and learn from each other. Don’t miss it. Book now!

Advocacy and mental wellbeing have been key priorities for the VIC/TAS branch committee for the first half of 2024, with advocacy work around the cladding crisis and building reform, and a recent AMWF face to face event in Melbourne. The Committee also farewells a longstanding ACA contributor and welcomes two new members to the committee.

Succession planning is critical for the longevity and sustainability of architecture practices and it’s essential to plan well in advance. Join the ACA and our panel of financial experts on 19 July for an interactive face-to-face discussion on succession planning, from tax, funding, valuations and buy-sell agreements to ownerships structures, director pathways and timing. Free for ACA members.

The ACA is proud to present wellbeing advocate and former professional sportsman Wayne Schwass for a free interactive discussion about wellbeing and connection. Join us at Brickworks on 1 August for an evening of stories and conversation. An opportunity not to be missed. Book now!

Employee ownership is an increasingly popular business structure for practices seeking sustainable growth and stability, increased employee engagement, and a sound succession planning strategy. But how does it work from a legal and financial perspective? View this popular webinar for an informative session presented by Marque Lawyers Senior Associate Georgia McGrath and Altus Financial Director Marc Walsh. Originally held 23 May 2024.

The ACA and Management for Design (M4D) are offering an exclusive half-day workshop on business financial management on Wednesday 1 May in Melbourne. Help fill gaps in your financial understanding and elevate your business skills. 3 CPD points. Don’t miss this opportunity.

Many business owners struggle to realise the full potential of their business in terms of enhancing its value. Join ACA Vic/Tas and Chris Dionne from Stellar Business Consulting on 27 March for an insightful lunch presentation at Macquarie Bank on how to grow, fund or exit your business. Numbers are limited, so get in quick to secure your place. 

The Vic/Tas branch has had a rewarding year of advocacy and events, and continues to lead the ongoing work of the industrial relations sub-committee and development of the ACA business toolbox. Here’s a snapshot of priorities, activity and action in 2023!

The ACA is pleased to support the second event in the Building Reform Series by the Melbourne School of Design, which will explore the critical impact of procurement in the building industry. This free two-hour event will include a thought-provoking panel discussion and Q&A with key industry stakeholders. Book now!

The Melbourne-based Architectural Administration & Accounting Group (AAAG) is having its last meeting of the year and an end-of-year lunch at Foreground Architecture in Carlton on 9 November. Newcomers welcome!

After a busy year of advocacy and special projects, we’re already coming up to the end of the year. The ACA Victoria/Tasmania Branch Committee is celebrating with Christmas drinks from 5pm Thursday 30 November. ACA members and their teams can enjoy refreshments and city views from high up on the deck at the Macquarie Building on Collins Street, Melbourne.

The ACA team was delighted to head to Hobart recently for a two-day strategic meeting followed by a series of meetings with leaders in the Tasmanian architectural community and a member lunch. A highlight of the trip was an informative and very moving presentation on The Voice by Rodney Dillon of the PM’s First Nations Referendum Working Group.

The ACA is delighted to host a free lunch event in Hobart on 14 August featuring Rodney Dillon, Palawa Elder and Chair of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Heritage Council, who will present on the Voice to Parliament. Also in attendance will be the ACA CEO, Presidents and team from around the country, who look forward to catching up with Tasmanian members and others in the built environment.

The ACA VIC/TAS branch committee was delighted to work with the University of Melbourne to host the recent event, Victoria’s Future Cities, Suburbs and Building Reforms, held at the Melbourne School of Design on 20 July. The event was well-attended and raised important issues regarding the need for urgent building reform in Victoria.

The ACA VIC/TAS branch committee has been working closely with Melbourne University on an upcoming panel discussion event on 20 July on the future of Victoria’s cities, suburbs and building reforms.

The VIC/TAS Committee leads the ACA’s work on IR and Award-related activities as well as playing a key role in developing the member-only tools and resources. The following update features the latest in IR and resources, as well as advocacy and upcoming events.

The AAAG (Architectural Accounting and Administration Group) has been in place in Melbourne for over 20 years. In mid-2020 the AAAG and ACA came together to further strengthen ties between practices and the ACA across the Business of Architecture.

View this ACA webinar to hear practitioners discuss fees, costs and how the Time Cost Calculator Guide can help as an instrument to contribute to fee proposals and negotiations, and cost control. Learn hints and tips from panellists representing different sized practices. Free for ACA members!

A busy year of advocacy, resource development and online events for the VIC/TAS Committee was celebrated in style with end-of-year drinks and amazing views from high up on the deck at the Macquarie Building.

The ACA – VIC/TAS Branch Committee was delighted to host a special members event on 29 August. The ACA committee, partners, industry figures and ACA members joined CEO Angelina Pillai and National President John Held for drinks and light refreshments, and to hear our plans for the months ahead.

The ACA VIC/TAS branch is pleased to inform its members that the proposed changes to the Architects Registration Board of Victoria, to reduce the number of members and remove the requirement for any member to be a registered architect, have been averted for now.

Join the VIC/TAS branch committee for drinks and light refreshments on Monday 29 August. Hear our plans for the months ahead, and meet the ACA team, industry guests, fellow members and peers.

The VIC/TAS branch of the ACA has made a joint statement with the Victorian chapter of the Institute in response to proposed changes to the Architects Registration Board of Victoria (ARBV), stating that consumer protection is under threat.

The ACA sadly advises that longtime VIC/TAS Committee member and dear friend Gary Edwards OAM passed away on 13 January 2022. He will be sorely missed.

Silver Thomas Hanley Business Manager and ACA VIC/TAS Committee member Matthew Tence says good communication and significant IT investment have helped navigate and overcome the challenges of the last two years.

This year, the VIC/TAS Committee concentrated on advocacy to government, industry engagement, mental wellbeing and re-energising our support for Tasmanian members.

Save the date for an end of year get together with the Vic/Tas committee, ACA members and guests at The Leveson’s outdoor courtyard in North Melbourne on Tuesday 30 November.

AMWF Vic/Tas member Kirby Roper reflects on the stresses of regular snap lockdowns and ways of maintaining wellbeing in practice, including the establishment of Innovation Day and being prepared for future disruptions.

The VIC/TAS Committee has prioritised government advocacy, presentations of the ACA Business Toolbox and further development of tools for members in the first half of 2021.

The pandemic demanded rapid adaptation for Kirby Architects, but the experience was also empowering, revealing the possibilities of positive change and bringing the team closer and more determined to do great work.

From 1 February, Victoria will have much stricter prohibitions on ACPs containing polyethylene and expanded polystyrene, writes lawyer and risk manager Wendy Poulton.

The VIC/TAS branch looks back on a challenging but productive year, when member resources, industrial relations and advocacy were at the forefront.

The ACA – Vic/Tas has released the results of the first VicPulse survey. Top level findings reveal worrying levels of work cancelled or on hold. On the other hand, the survey responses are quite positive in terms of wellbeing and many practices have been able to keep staff on due to the support of JobKeeper.

As Victoria hits the halfway mark of Lockdown 2.0, we provide an update of recent activity in the Vic/Tas branch, with the VicPulse survey (still open), the new Mental Wellbeing Forum and a VBA Update of COVID-19 Guidelines.

One week into Stage 4 ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions in Melbourne and Stage 3 restrictions in regional Victoria, key information and resources for individuals and business continues to be rolled out. The following is a summary of useful information and links.

The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) has issued an update of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidelines for the Victorian building and construction industry, incorporating recent changes to restrictions and government subsidies.

ACA - Vic/Tas President and FFPV Director Paul Viney reflects on his experiences with past and present economic downturns, the need for more government investment in civic projects and social housing, and the challenges of COVID-19 and remote working.

The VIC/TAS Committee has been extremely busy this year with the Industrial Relations Committee's work and several timely new additions to the ACA Business Toolbox.

The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) has released the latest version of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidelines for the building and construction industry in Victoria.

Existing investment in new digital platforms has meant that dwp|design worldwide partnership was well placed to switch to working mode when the COVID-19 crisis arose.

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.

Raise a glass with the Vic/Tas committee and celebrate with end-of-year drinks in Melbourne on Tuesday 10 December.

The ACA – Vic/Tas Committee have had a busy year of advocacy, events and business tool development, with plenty more to come in 2020.

For Melbourne-based Kosloff Architecture, building a positive, healthy practice culture is a key priority, and achieving B Corp status an important step in the evolution of the practice.

The Vic/Tas committee talks events, ARBV nominations and the business toolbox.

As Birrelli celebrates its 25th year in business, Launceston-based architect and former ACA State President Jack Birrell reflects on the challenges and joys of practice on a remote island.

The release of the Victorian Cladding Taskforce Final Report and associated program of work is welcomed by the ACA, but the Federal Government must also take action to ensure a unified national approach.

For emerging practice Winter Architecture, location is no obstacle to team collaboration, with employees located around Australia. Here, Director Jean Graham describes the practice’s origins, ambitions and determination to remain flexible, agile and openminded.

Matthew Tence provides an update on ACA - VIC/TAS plans for the year.

The ACA - Vic/Tas branch has had a busy few months, with elections, a business toolbox seminar and ongoing feedback on the Victorian Schools Capital Works program.

For Bryant Alsop, success comes from building strong relationships - with consultants, builders and suppliers as well as valued employees.