Advocacy Update from the Queensland Chapter President

As architects the variety of topics for us to be on top of that the moment is broad and the extent of knowledge required within each topic is deep!  It is no surprise that this is no different for the Institute.  However, we can at least understand each of the following four topics under the important heading of advocacy.  To assist us in continuing this work on your behalf can I ask you to spend the next few minutes engaging with us on these topics.

Awards – new ways of celebrating

Amidst the challenges there is always something to celebrate.  On this, I would like to congratulate all of our Regional Architecture Awards winners and by extension our dedicated Regional Jurors who have kept the culture of project visits alive.  To extend the reach of our awards program, in the absence of the normal events and interviews, the Institute has put resources into celebrating and telling the stories behind the awarded projects.  These are available on the website as a powerful tool for our clients and the public to see the value of what we do.  On a personal level I look forward to a time when we can engage and celebrate with entrants and jurors in person.  

Member Survey

Our upcoming survey of members regarding Coping with COVID-19 is vital to our work in advocating for you and for the building industry more broadly.  Through the generosity of your input, our last survey series provided Government and industry officials valuable information on where the market is heading, the state of the profession and what can be done to ensure the whole of the building industry stays on a reasonable footing.  Most of you identified the first half of this month as a critical time for reassessing these findings.  The discussions are starting to turn towards stimulus.  In this context can I encourage each of you to take the time to update us on these issues by taking the survey so that we can advocate on your behalf.

Shovel Ready – A Media Campaign

The Institute here in Queensland, via a staff initiative, is leading the country with the ‘Shovel Ready’ media campaign.  Concentrating on communicating one big message with crystal clarity – that architects lead the way to recovery by preparing the next project to tender and build. The campaign has already reached the desk of every mayor in every region, every minister in the state government and a large number of institutional and private clients.  Watch this space.

Building Industry Fairness Legislation

The Practice Committee lead by Jack Williamson on this occasion, has provided Government with a comprehensive response to the proposed Building Industry Fairness Legislation including potential changes to both project bank accounts and the architects act.  To get up to speed on the proposed changes read Jacks communique here.

Finally, being engaged with the issues and working with everyone involved on a day to day basis I want you to know that; the staff, your Chapter Councillors and our committee members are completely dedicated to serving Architecture and to serving you as a member.  This group demonstrates everyday their understanding that it is times like this that define us.  That is; when we maintain our standards, approach the issues with dignity and seek outcomes that benefit everyone involved, we are preparing the ground for the Institute and its members to come out of this situation stronger and more well regarded than before it occurred.

Dr Michael Lavery FRAIA

Queensland Chapter President

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