The AACA office will be closed over the holiday period from 1pm Friday 20 December 2019 and re-open on Monday 6 January 2020. If there are any enquiries during this time please email [email protected] and you will receive a response shortly after the office resumes.
The AACA wishes everyone a happy holiday and best wishes for the new year.
We are very pleased to release the Architectural Education and the Profession – the result of an in-depth study across Australia and New Zealand supported by all stakeholders in the profession.
Thank you to the many academics, practitioners and students who participated in the research; our research team and editors; and our expert advisory group.
We expect to see a number of exciting and relevant research projects arising out of the findings of this comprehensive report.
AACA has published the public report for the August 2019 APE National Examination Paper.
The report explains how the Examination is developed. Separately, you can see a national summary of how candidates performed in each scenario by questions and relevant performance criteria in the August 2019 National Examination Paper.
October 2019
The AACA and the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
TEQSA and industry professional accreditation bodies with links to the higher education sector have a mutual interest in maintaining and improving quality in the provision of Australian higher education.
For the accreditation of architecture programs, the linkages to TEQSA, the Higher Education Standards Framework (HESF) and the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) are noted in the Architecture Program Accreditation Procedure for Australia and New Zealand (see here).
The aim of the MoU is to facilitate the sharing of non-confidential information and reduce regulatory burden on higher education providers through joint and streamlined approaches to assessment.
The MoU can be found on the AACA Publications page (see here) or can be accessed directly from this link: TEQSA and AACA MoU.
You can read more about TEQSA’s engagement with professional bodies here.
August 2019
AACA has just launched a paper titled ‘Online Architecture Education and the Australian Context’. Access here.
This paper provides some background to online university education – particularly as it applies to professionally accredited disciplines such as architecture – that may assist in placing the accreditation process in the context of developing norms of teaching and learning in higher education internationally.
August 2019
AACA has just published its first public reporting on the APE National Examination Paper.
The report explains how the Examination is developed. Separately, you can see a national summary of how candidates performed in each scenario by questions and relevant performance criteria in the April 2019 national Examination Paper.
June 2019
The latest Stakeholder Update Report on the Accreditation of Architecture Programs has just been prepared by the Accreditation Secretariat.
You can access the June 2019 Update Report here: Accreditation of Architecture Programs – Stakeholder Update Report, June 2019.
The Report has been distrbuted to the following groups:
– Architect Registration Boards (ARBs)
– The Executive of the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA)
– The Executive of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA)
– The Executive of the Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia (AASA)
– The Executive of the Australian Deans of Built Environment and Design (ADBED)
– Head of School listing for Australian and New Zealand architecture programs
– The New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB)
Any inquiries on the Update Report should be directed to the Accreditation Secretariat C/AACA via [email protected] or telephone inquiries via the AACA Office +61 2 8042 8930.
June 2019
The National Program of Assessment provides access to the Architectural Practice Examination for practitioners who have not completed an accredited architectural qualification. The National Program of Assessment is recognised by all Australian registration authorities as an alternate entry to the Architectural Practice Examination, successful completion of which is required prior to applying to a State or Territory registration board to become registered as an architect.
The National Program of Assessment is a design exercise that tests candidates’ competency in architecture on the basis of their acquired knowledge and experience. The focus of the design exercise is to design a complex building in response to a hypothetical design brief. See here for information about the Program, including assessors and past applicant talking about the Program.
Timetable for the program is here. Application close for Stage 1 Eligibility on 24 May 2019.
The most common pathway to registration is completion of an accredited Australian architecture qualification followed by the Architectural Practice Examination.
In consultation with the State and Territory Architect Registration Boards AACA has developed a number of alternative pathways.
Local and overseas experienced practitioners may be eligible to complete the fast-track assessment before applying to the local Architect Registration Board.
The National Program of Assessment provides access to the Architectural Practice Examination for practitioners who have not completed an accredited architectural qualification.
For practitioners who completed an architectural qualification outside Australia the Overseas Qualifications Assessment provides access to the Architectural Practice Examination.
Do you have something to say about the way practitioners can be involved in architectural education? The AACA is looking for a mix of architects to take part in focus groups nationwide.
After the excellent response to the AACA’s Survey of the Profession on Architectural Education, the research team will be running focus groups with current practitioners to explore issues that arose in the survey, such as ways architecture firms can be more involved in the practice elements of architectural education.
The currently scheduled focus groups are as follows:
9–10.30am Tuesday
26 February
Architects Registration Board of Victoria
9.30–11am Wednesday
13 March
Architects Board of Western Australia
1.30–3pm Thursday
14 March
Australian Institute of Architects’ Brisbane Office
9–10.30am Thursday
21 March
AACA Office
The AACA is looking for a mix of architects from small, medium and large practices to take part in each focus group, as well as a number of recent graduates (not yet registered). If you are interested in taking part, please send an email to the AACA by 18 February, stating your firm (or sole practice) name, firm size (S/M/L) and your position.