We are working to raise Australia’s design standards through policies, reforms, and active engagement with the community, allied professionals, and all levels of government.
Our advocacy work takes many and diverse forms – from heritage listing nominations to major government submissions, from industry symposia to public campaigns. Underpinning all these activities is a robust set of policy positions.
From cladding/ACPs to inadequate registration; from self-certification to inequitable risk allocation in contracts; the state of Australia’s construction industry is worrying, and the solution complex but the simple reality is the need for urgent regulatory reform.
Our focus with regard to building regulation has always been and remains on four key aspects within the profession’s areas of expertise:
We must protect the safety of our communities and return confidence to the sector.
We have developed a set of Guidelines for EOI and RFT for architectural services following research into best practice EOI and RFT methods in public sector and educational institutions that commission architectural services.
The objective of the guidelines is for potential clients to review their own EOI and RFT methods and documents and align them with best practice to enable an effective and efficient process that maximises the potential for high quality built outcomes and reduces bidding and assessment costs for all.
We launched our Hands off Anzac Hall campaign on 7 November 2018, opposing plans to demolish this award-winning building.
The Australian War Memorial is hell-bent on demolishing Anzac Hall as part of its extravagant $500 million redevelopment plans.
As architects, we are passionate about preserving Australia’s heritage and honouring our national history, nowhere more so than the extraordinary service and sacrifice of the servicemen and women. Destroying such an investment – of effort, culture, and family memories – is a waste and mark of disrespect.
The Institute’s policy platform covers a range of issues relevant to the profession and to the built environment in the interest of promoting more liveable and sustainable communities.
Key policies are listed below.
Policies relating to awards and prizes can be found on the awards page.
Housing is a basic human need and universal human right, and in the rapidly expanding cities and towns of the twenty-first century, there is a critical need for more flexible and diverse housing solutions. New housing stock needs to be integrated with transport and social infrastructure and much greater diversity beyond simple models of homogenous suburban boxes or regimented apartments.
In the face of social and demographic change, growing economic inequality and global issues such as climate change, the architectural profession offers the design and problem solving skills to deliver more affordable, dignified and accessible housing, reducing both upfront and ongoing costs. All financial levers to make housing more affordable for owners and renters need to be regularly examined for their effectiveness.
THE POLICY
The Australian Institute of Architects endorses the following:
Download our Affordable Housing Policy
May 2017
The Australian Institute of Architects calls upon State and Federal Governments to mandate a majority of shortlisted architects be Australian when undertaking design competitions for publicly funded projects.
Australian culture – Australian architects reflect our culture and tell our stories.
This requirement will ensure the vibrancy of the Australian architectural profession and support the growth of high value knowledge based jobs within Australia.
The Institute is concerned that Australian governments, in some recent design competitions for important publicly funded projects, have shortlisted a majority of overseas architects. In one recent public project, five of the six selected competition entrants were led by overseas architects.
Architecture is a global profession and the Institute supports architects working internationally. Many of our members have been very successful in exporting architectural services overseas and the Institute looks for ongoing support from government in support of architects earning export income. However, in regard to publicly funded projects for our important civic buildings, public open spaces and community infrastructure, Australian Government agencies should match international practice. A majority of countries undertaking shortlisted design competition processes for their public projects actively mandate local architectural content.
Adopting this policy ensures fair and open architectural selection processes that welcomes overseas architects, when deemed appropriate to projects of significance, yet ensures a majority of competitors are Australian architects – benefiting the Australian community and supporting local employment.
THE POLICY
The Australian Institute of Architects endorses the following:
* For this purpose, Australian architects are defined as firms having a majority of Australian partners or directors (to be refined) .
Download our Buying Local Policy
November 2018
While there is growing recognition of the intrinsic, long-term value of design, options for the procurement of architectural services are expanding, and the roles and responsibilities of all key players in the design and construction process are undergoing constant change.
An architectural competition, when conducted appropriately, can generate a broad range and high level of innovation in design solutions. However, if the competition process is flawed, there can be significant negative outcomes for all participants – sponsors/clients, entrants, jurors and advisers. There is therefore a need for clarity, consistency and equity in the conduct of architectural competitions as part of the procurement process.
We’ve established a detailed policy on architectural competitions, clearly articulating a set of high level principles and performance requirements that represent our position on good practice in the conduct of architectural design competitions in Australia.
Download our full Competitions Policy
This policy is supported by two additional resources to assist those proposing to run an architectural competition:
For further information relating to Architectural Competitions, including requests for Institute endorsement for your competition, please contact: archcompetitions@architecture.com.au.
April 2015
The Australian Institute of Architects aims to continuously improve its operations and its approach to member engagement and guidance, based upon acknowledged best practice principles. By adopting a comprehensive and ethical approach, the Institute aims to ensure that it engages fairly and equitably with all its members, staff and other stakeholders, whether male or female, in a positive, respectful and constructive manner. Equally importantly, the Institute aims to assist the whole architectural profession to do the same.
There has been enormous change during the past century in the roles and status of women in society generally. Discrimination against a person on the basis of gender is illegal. However, legal constraints on gender-based discrimination have, for most practical purposes, been limited to instances of overt and intentional discrimination. Many systemic, often unintended and largely invisible effects continue to impact on the participation and progression of women within the Australian workforce, and specifically within the architecture profession.
The study Equity and Diversity in the Australian Architecture Profession: Women, Work and Leadership offers extensive evidence that, within the architecture profession, many women participants are being compelled or encouraged to leave the profession, or are discouraged from returning to it after a career break. The study confirms that the participation rate of women in the profession, particularly at mid-career and late-career points, is disproportionately low compared to the number of women graduates in architecture. It also identifies that the number of women owners/principals of architectural practices is disproportionately low when compared to the number of women architects in the profession.
This policy aims therefore to establish a set of policy principles to ensure the Institute and its members are aligned in valuing and exhibiting principles of fairness and equity, which lead to the provision of equal opportunities, rights and benefits to all men and women engaged within the architectural profession, and to eliminate gender-based impacts on the participation and progression of women within the profession.
Download the full Gender Equity Policy and principles
Dec 2013
The importance of heritage in our built environment is well established. A heritage item may be significant for aesthetic, historic, social, spiritual or technical reasons. Even where a building’s heritage significance is recognised, the usefulness and long term viability of the structure (physical and financial) remain important considerations.
The Australian Institute of Architects believes that at all levels of government, policies and funding are inadequately delivering the potential benefits to the broader community of heritage conservation initiatives. It is important that more rigour is applied to the listing of heritage buildings and places and that adequate funding and resources are available to assist owners of important structures.
The architectural profession has a responsibility to contribute to the conservation and understanding of the built environment. Creativity allied with design skills and an appreciation of the original are required for successful conservation and adaptive re-use.
Download our full Heritage Policy
2008
Despite commitments from various state, territory and federal governments, the standard of Indigenous housing and essential infrastructure remains well below that available to the non-Indigenous population. As well as building more housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and better maintaining existing stock, housing decisions must reside with local communities and job creation must be valued equally to timely and economic delivery. Architects can make a significant contribution to these priorities.
THE POLICY
The Australian Institute of Architects endorses the following:
Download our Indigenous Housing Policy
May 2017
Australia is a highly urbanised country and its population is growing dramatically with the large proportion of that growth expected in existing urban centres. The most effective way of housing more people in our cities and regional towns is to plan for greater density within the current urban footprint. This increase in density and population must be accompanied by minimum quality standards that require architects and developers to design and build dense, multi-residential buildings that provide a good quality of living for residents, and suitable public amenity. Both of these things are important in creating sustainable communities.
The architectural profession are experts in delivering good design and are crucial to the delivery of quality multi-residential buildings that provide places with open space, liveability, and equitable public spaces.
THE POLICY
The Australian Institute of Architects endorses the following:
Urgent action is needed as we face the challenges presented by climate change. The commercial and residential building sectors offer significant potential for achieving deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This potential can be realised by reducing energy demand and increasing the energy efficiency of buildings.
Policy frameworks must be established to achieve greater energy and resource efficiency in the building sector and to facilitate innovation in building design and procurement. Incentives to encourage the alteration, retrofitting and rebuilding of our current building stock to achieve more sustainable outcomes are needed now.
The architectural profession, as a key player in the development of the built environment must continue to show leadership. The Australian Institute of Architects advocates a range of actions for government, its members, the design and construction industry and the broader community that it believes will drive the necessary changes.
Architecture plays a crucial role in sustaining and enhancing the wellbeing of individuals, families and societies. The architectural profession plays a major role in shaping all aspects of the built environment and in the conservation and development of cultural values.
TERTIARY EDUCATION POLICY
The Australian Institute of Architects endorses the following:
The Australian Institute of Architects (The Institute) believes that ensuring a high level of accessibility within the built environment for people of all abilities must be a matter of priority for governments and the community as whole.
Most Australians will experience a form of disability at some stage of their lives as a part of the normal human life cycle. Physical and non-physical barriers within the built environment can have a substantial impact on freedom of movement and therefore freedom of choice. Policies designed to ensure universal access within the built environment are essential, particularly in light of Australia’s ageing population.
Governments must continue to work toward ensuring universal access for all citizens. Legislated uniform standards for accessible public and private housing are necessary and universal housing provisions should be included in planning schemes. Architects should, in co-operation with the broader community, work toward the elimination of barriers to equitable access with the built environment.
Download our full Universal Access Policy
2008
The Institute acknowledges the value of work experience, internships or trial work to architecture students and graduates. Such opportunities are a direct way for students and graduates to get a foot in the door and secure employment and in specified circumstances these arrangements may be unpaid. These arrangements can be legitimate for educational and vocational purposes and can benefit the industry in the long term by building more comprehensive knowledge and skills. Within the profession, employees need to be aware of their rights and employers need to be aware of their responsibilities under the Fair Work legislation.
WORK EXPERIENCE AND INTERNSHIPS POLICY
The Australian Institute of Architects endorses the following:
Increased attention on construction quality and building confidence was the focus of a discussion between the Institute’s SA Chapter, National Policy Advisor Leanne Hardwicke, leaders
The Australian Institute of Architects has thrown its support behind new laws proposed by the Victorian Government aimed at improving safety, accountability and preventing ‘phoenixing’
Building on the work of the interim Environment IP group, we are seeking two additional members to establish an Environment Advisory Group (EAG) for 2020.
In the face of a changing climate and growing population that are both putting pressure on our built environment, three of Australia’s peak bodies have
Giving evidence this week for the second time to the NSW Parliamentary inquiry into the regulation of building standards, building quality and building disputes, the
The Acumen Content Review Panel (ACRP) is seeking a new member to replace an outgoing panel member for commencement in 2020. ACRP develops and maintains
We actively engage with federal, state and territory governments, local government, the opposition and government departments to promote the strategies, policies and processes needed to create a built environment that can sustain us into the future. This includes formal responses and submissions to various government and department consultation papers and parliamentary inquiries.
National Policy Unit
Australian Institute of Architects
PO Box 3373
Manuka, ACT 2603
2a Mugga Way
Red Hill, ACT 2603
P: +61 2 6121 2100
E: policy@architecture.com.au