ACT Architects Board

• Architect Board Annual Report Transmittal Certificate 2015-16 [93KB]

Compliance Statement

The ACT Architects Board Annual Report must comply with the 2015 Annual Report Directions (the Directions). The Directions are found at the ACT Legislation Register: www.legislation.act.gov.au/ni/annual/2015.asp.

The Compliance Statement indicates the subsections, under the five Parts of the Directions, that are applicable to the ACT Architects Board Annual Report and the location of information that satisfies these requirements:

Part 1 Directions Overview

The requirements under Part 1 of the 2015 Directions relate to the purpose, timing and distribution, and records keeping of annual reports. The ACT Architects Board Annual Report complies with all subsections of Part 1 under the Directions.

In compliance with section 13 Feedback, Part 1 of the Directions, contact details for ACT Architects Board are provided within the ACT Architects Board Annual Report to provide readers with the opportunity to provide feedback.

Part 2 Agency Annual Report Requirements

The requirements within Part 2 of the Directions are mandatory for all agencies and ACT Architects Board Annual Report complies with all subsections. The information that satisfies the requirements of Part 2 is found in the ACT Architects Board Annual Report as follows:

• A. Transmittal Certificate, see page 219;
• B. Organisational Overview and Performance, inclusive of all subsections, see page 221;
• C. Financial Management Reporting, inclusive of all subsections, is contained within the CMTEDD Annual report.

Part 3 Reporting by Exception

The ACT Architects Board has nil information to report by exception under Part 3 of the Directions for the 2015‐16 reporting period.

Part 4 Agency Specific Annual Report Requirements

There are no specific annual report requirements for the ACT Architects Board.

Part 5 Whole of Government Annual Reporting

All subsections of Part 5 of the Directions apply to the ACT Architects Board. Consistent with the Directions, the information satisfying these requirements is reported in the one place for all ACT Public Service Directorates, as follows:

M. Community Engagement and Support, see the 2015‐16 Annual Report of Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate;

N. Justice and Community Safety, including all subsections R.1 – R.4, see the 2015‐16 Annual Report of the Justice and Community Safety Directorate;

O. Public Sector Standards and Workplace Profile, see the Commissioner for Public Administration State of the Service Annual report; and

P. Territory Records, see the 2015‐16 Annual Report of Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic, Development Directorate.

ACT Public Service Directorate annual reports are found at the following web address: www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/report/annual_reports.

Appointed Members of the Architects Board of the ACT

Registrations

Registrations from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016

Architect Board Meetings

The Board met on the following occasions this financial year:

Board Functions

The ACT Architects Board is part of a national network of Boards which administer the state legislations pertaining to Architectural education and the registration of Architects. The eight State and Territory architect registration Boards are Nominating Bodies of the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA). AACA was established by the Boards to ensure national consistency in the pathways that lead to registration as an Architect in Australia. The Architects Board of the ACT is represented by the Registrar and the Board Chair, as are the other State and Territory Registration Boards.

The AACA is recognised as the national organisation responsible for advocating, coordinating and facilitating national standards for the registration of architects in Australia and for the recognition of Australian architects overseas by the relevant Registration Authorities. The AACA also has the responsibility for assessment of overseas qualifications in architecture for the purposes of migration to Australia under the Australian Government’s Skilled Migration program.

Registrar Functions

The role of the Registrar under the Act is to manage the administration of the board and to maintain the register of Architects. In September 2015 the Registrar and Board Chair attended the AACA annual forum and Annual General Meeting in Sydney. This conference was attended by the Registrars and Board chairs from all other Australian jurisdiction. The meeting provide an opportunity for Registrars and Board Chairs to share information about what was happening in each of the jurisdictions and to look at ways to work together in the progression of architecture across Australia.

Complaints and Disciplinary Actions

In each State and Territory of Australia it is a legal requirement that any person using the title Architect, or offering services to the public as an Architect, must be registered with the architect registration Board in that jurisdiction. Architect legislation has been enacted to protect consumers and the public. Only people whose names appear on a State and Territory architect registration Board register can use the title ‘Architect’ in that jurisdiction. Therefore, it is illegal for people to use the title ‘Architect’ or offer architectural services if they are not on a register of architects in the State or Territory in which they are practicing.

Numerous complaints are received by Boards each year regarding offences of this kind. Non compliance with this requirement in the legislation is seen by the Board as a serious matter, and acting against all reasonable efforts to protect consumers and the public, by ensuring that individuals claiming to be architects have the qualifications and experience required by the legislation.

In 2015-2016 1 complaint was received by the Board in relation to conduct and services by registered architects. After investigation by the Board it was determined that there were insufficient grounds to take action in relation to the complaints.

Year ahead

On 24 June 2016 the board held a planning day and discussed:

• implementing digital services for Registered Architects and individuals interacting with the Board;
• creating a better ‘web presence’ for the Board;
• introducing a newsletter to be circulated to Registered Architects and individuals within the construction community;
• undertaking a review of the current selection of examiners for the Architectural Practice Examinations; and
• undertaking consultation in relation to the introduction of a Code of Conduct.

The Board will continue to progress improvements to the regulation of Architects and Architectural practice over the coming year.

Further information may be obtained from:

Mr Ben Green
Registrar ACT Architects Board
Phone: 6207 7387
Email: architectsboard@act.gov.au

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