The Australian Institute of Architects sets out a clear, profession-wide commitment to design quality, sustainable and equitable housing, universal access, Indigenous-led design and stronger local capacity — all of which are directly engaged by the latest Queensland housing update. The Institute’s Policy & Advocacy hub describes these priorities and links them to concrete positions on affordable housing, sustainability, universal access and Indigenous housing.
There are clear, practical parallels between the Government’s initiatives and the Institute’s goals:
Q-CHIP (Community Housing Investment Pipeline) aligns with the Institute’s calls for better affordable-housing delivery and design-led procurement. Q-CHIP creates earlier partnership opportunities between community housing providers, councils, developers and industry — a moment where architects can insist on design quality, climate resilience, local supply-chain preference and human-centred outcomes (all key Institute positions). This is also an opportunity to press for procurement briefs that remunerate design work appropriately and allow architects to deliver long-term value.
- Updated residential tenancy regulations and the social-housing tenancy review shift the landscape of who lives where and what tenants expect. The Institute’s Universal Access and Affordable Housing policy work emphasises adaptable housing, dignity in design and amenity standards; architects should translate tenancy reforms into practical design responses — flexible floorplates, accessible layouts and cost-effective sustainable measures that reduce lifetime operating costs for tenants. Engaging now means our practice guidance and case studies can shape the regulatory interpretation of amenity and accessibility.
- Modular/prefabricated housing and the Modern Methods of Construction program speak directly to the Institute’s sustainability and multi-residential standards discussions. Prefab presents opportunities for higher quality, faster delivery and reduced waste, but only if design excellence and cultural appropriateness are embedded in early supplier briefs. This is a place for architects to advocate for design controls that protect cultural values, local climatic responsiveness and durability.
- First Nations home-ownership initiatives connect to the Institute’s Indigenous housing and First Nations policy work. These initiatives require design processes that are co-designed with Country, responsive to cultural norms and supported by architects who understand Indigenous priorities. The Institute’s national advocacy and local Chapter programs are the natural vehicles for promoting culturally safe, ownership-focused design models in Queensland communities.
- Build-to-Rent pilots raise important questions the Institute already campaigns on: long-term tenancy models, integration of shared facilities, and delivering high sustainability outcomes in high-density developments. The Institute’s affordable housing advocacy give architects leverage to push for liveability-first design, firm Green Star outcomes and inclusion of affordable or subsidised tenancies in new product models.
- Service centre refurbishments — improved accessibility, quiet rooms and child-friendly areas — reflect advocacy for Universal Access and Gender Equity. These civic interventions are powerful exemplars: they show how relatively modest investments in design can significantly improve dignity and outcomes for vulnerable people, and they form useful case studies for advocacy.
Putting these parallels to work in Queensland means two things: (1) recognising these government programs as sites where architects can influence outcomes at the procurement, design and delivery stages; and (2) ensuring the Institute’s policy positions are informed by strong local evidence, lived experience and design examples from Queensland practices and communities. The Queensland Chapter’s local advocacy (including its election platform and partnership campaigns) gives members a direct route to shape state priorities and hold decision-makers to the Institute’s design and sustainability standards.
How Queensland members can contribute
Share local case studies and lessons: submit short project briefs or photos that demonstrate affordable, modular, culturally responsive or high-quality social housing. These feed the Institute’s submissions and public campaigns.
Volunteer for Chapter advocacy working groups: the Qld Chapter Council and committees need practitioners to test policy positions against real-world delivery constraints — email qld@architecture.com.au or keep an eye on the Chapter pages to find volunteer roles (the Annual EOI for Chapter Committees will go out in October-November, and the Annual Member Election for our Queensland Council will open in November).
Respond to consultations and calls for evidence: when the state runs pilots (e.g. Q-CHIP, modular programs) or tenancy reforms, members’ formal feedback — grounded in practice experience — strengthens the Institute’s submissions. Check the Institute’s policy & submissions pages regularly.
Bring clients and partners into the conversation: educate community housing providers, councils and builders about design value; offer to present to procurement panels or submit design-led proposals through Q-CHIP.
Promote co-design with First Nations communities: nominate projects or expressions of interest where you can demonstrate authentic First Nations engagement and design with Country approaches.