Practice
Resources

The 2019 National Commendation for Public Architecture | Port of Sale | fjmt | Victoria | Photographer: John Gollings

Practice Resources

The tools to help you and your practice succeed

The practice of architecture is both challenging and rewarding, requiring a wide range of technical knowledge; an ability to work within regulatory frameworks; a sound knowledge of legal and contractual issues and the management skills required to guide a project from inception to its final built form. Whether you are a student, graduate, practicing architect or allied professional the Institute has resources to support you in achieving best possible practice.

Architecture Practice Resources

Acumen Practice Notes

The 2018 Nicholas Murcutt Award | Krakani Lumi | Taylor and Hinds Architects with the Aboriginal Land Council | Photographer: Adam Gibson

An online resource of architectural practice material, providing an extensive database of advisory notes on architectural practice and ​built-environment sustainability.

Available to all members. Wholesale subscriptions available for tertiary institutions.

Highgate Primary School New Teaching Building | iredale pedersen hook architects | Photographer: Peter Bennetts

Online access to Australian Standards, joint Australia/New Zealand Standards and the National Construction Code for A+ members.

Photographer: Priscilla du Preez

Available to all members, the national mentoring program via the online platform Mentorloop provides invaluable opportunities for members to support each other’s career development and help shape the future of the profession.

Adelaide Convention Centre Redevelopment East | Woods Bagot | Photographer: Trevor Mein

A dedicated HR and IR service that is tailored to the architectural profession for all members.

Orange Avenue house | Vittino Ashe | Photographer: Rob Frith

Access specialist building industry contracts and consultancy agreements including the full suite of ABIC contracts and the Client Architect Agreement.

Member discounts apply.  Eligible members can access reference copies of all contracts and agreements, along with digital versions of the Client Architect Agreement (2019) via Acumen Practice Notes.

Nightingale 1 | Breathe Architecture | VIC | Photographer: Eve Wilson

Planned Cover is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Institute providing a comprehensive suite of insurance policies for the architectural profession. The team  specialise in quality insurance advice, products and risk mitigation strategies for all businesses from sole practitioners through to large international practices. Not an included member benefit. 

Australian Standards and National Construction Code online

King Bill | Austin Maynard Architects | Photographer: Derek Swalwell

Online access to standards & NCC

Online access to the full catalogue of Australian Standards, joint Australia/New Zealand Standards (including AS/NZ adoptions of ISO and IEC Standards) and the National Construction Code, exclusive to A+ members.

The i2i Platform, sponsored by National Corporate Partner Bondor Metecno, enables users to view documents online, download PDF and print (conditions apply). The i2i Platform is a centralised document management system that allows customisation through bookmarking pages, tagging documents, adding notes, checking cross references via shared links and tracking updates via alerts.

With i2i Platform sponsored by Bondor Metecno, A+ members ensure they are always accessing content that is consistent and current.

A+ members login to the member portal with their email address and password for direct  access.

National Mentoring Program

National Mentoring Program

Students, graduates and emerging architects to mid-career and senior architects around the country are encouraged to get involved and take advantage of the benefits associated with mentoring.

Mentorloop is the mentoring platform which enables members to easily match with other members of the Institute community. Utilising online specialist matching software, mentors and mentees will find a carefully curated match across the country or closer to home should that be your preference.

For mentees: as you progress in your studies and career, connect with new mentors who can offer support, advice and opportunities. By using the program, you will be empowered to build your very own advisory board, whose experience you can draw on throughout the course of your career.

For mentors: this is a great chance to give back while improving your leadership and management skills by providing advice and feedback to someone who can really use your help.

Contact membership@architecture.com.au for more information.

Photographer: Priscilla du Preez

HR HUB ONLINE RESOURCE

Highgate Primary School New Teaching Building | iredale pedersen hook architects | Photographer: Peter Bennetts

Dedicated HR and IR support

HR Hub is a dedicated HR and IR service tailored to the architectural profession. HR Hub is available to all Institute members, and offers independent HR advice and guidance on issues such as: 

  • Recruitment and retention strategies
  • Remuneration, recognition and reward
  • Fair Work Australia compliance
  • Position descriptions
  • Performance appraisals
  • HR policies and procedures
  • Work Health and Safety manuals.

HR Hub also has an extensive online Wellbeing section with advice tailored for members at all career stages (from dealing with your first job to managing your retirement) and Essential Management TV, which provides a database of bite-sized clips on topics designed to improve management skills.

A+ practices and their staff benefit from the value-add of one-to-one HR support and guidance through the dedicated telephone help-desk service and online chat function. 

Benchmarking

Financial Benchmarking for your practice

We offer members access to a financial benchmarking service to compare the performance of their practice with the profession.

Delivered by expert external consultants, benchmarking.com.au, the survey and subsequent reports provide valuable insights into the drivers of your business, together with tailored advice on how to improve performance.

What your tailored benchmarking report will include:

  • The latest ABS industry statistics – updated sector overview, forecasts, employment data & demographics
  • Business benchmark comparisons for your practice – income, overheads, labour costs and charge out rates, and net profit
  • Key Performance Indicators – personnel productivity and profit, margins, major overheads as a percentage of profit
  • Industry Trends – practice sizes, identification of sectors expected to provide opportunities for growth
  • ATO benchmarks for the architectural services industry – where your firm sits
  • Action List – strategies to increase income, control overheads and practice liquidity, review staff structure and achieve practice growth.
 
The 2019 (FY 2018-2019) benchmarking project is now closed to new registrations. Log in to complete your FY2018-2019 data now. Full analysis available on completion of data with all benchmarks due for release to participants in March 2020.

Already Registered?

If you have already registered for the FY2018-2019 benchmarking project and want to access the survey, enter data or view your results, login below.  If you require assistance with your login details please contact enquiries@benchmarking.com.au.

The 2018 Robin Boyd Award | House on the Coast | Sean Godsell Architects | Photographer: Earl Carter

Contact us

Have further questions about our practice resources? Contact our membership team.

Phone: 1800 770 617

Email: membership@architecture.com.au

Enquiry

This form is now closed.