Submission to ANZSCO Comprehensive review
The ACA recently made a submission to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) Comprehensive Review to request a new sub-category title of ‘Graduate of Architecture’ to improve the alignment of Census figures with registration numbers.
This important addition will assist in creating a more accurate picture of the profession today with more meaningful predictions of future numbers for workforce planning.
The ABS review
The ABS is undertaking a comprehensive review of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) to reflect the contemporary labour market and better meet stakeholders’ needs. It has sought submissions from organisations to better understand the changing nature of employment roles, and to “improve visibility of new and emerging occupations”.
While ANZSCO has previously had some minor updates, it largely describes the original 2006 version, which was based on the 2001 labour market.
ACA statement
We write in support of the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA’s) submission to this review. As well as the reasons outlined in their submission, we believe that it is critical for the architectural profession in workforce planning and professional development.
An important part of ACA’s role is to provide research on the profession, understand future workforce demands and track the demographic composition of both registered architects and those who may in the future seek registration. At present it is difficult to reconcile the census statistics with other sources of workforce numbers because there is no other category other than “architect”.
Adding the “Graduate of Architecture” category would give an indication of those who in the future might become registered architects, allowing predictions of future numbers for workforce planning.
As noted by the AACA, it would also lessen the confusion that Migration agents, the Australian consumer, applicants for migration from overseas, and the profession, find in the classification of the overseas trained architecture graduate as “ANZSCO 232111 Architect”.
We request the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to consider the creation of the sub-category “Graduate of Architecture” to sit under ANZSCO 232111 Architect and would welcome further conversation and supporting assistance to the department in this regard.
Download the ACA submission to ANZSCO