The Business of Architecture*

It’s back! The ACA and Management for Design (M4D) are offering an exclusive half-day workshop on business financial management on Thursday 24 July in Melbourne. Help fill gaps in your financial understanding and elevate your business skills by attending this bespoke course created for architecture practices. With 3 CPD points, don’t miss this opportunity!

The ACA Salary Calculator provides practices with a clear methodology for determining appropriate award-compliant salaries. The calculator assists members to ensure they are operating legally and fairly, and helps practices to develop properly informed plans for their business. The Salary Calculator has been updated with the 2025–2026 pay rates and new superannuation rates. Access the updated Salary Calculator today!

It is critical that sole traders, small business owners and small business employees protect their business and their clients’ data against scammers. The ACA has partnered with Cyber Wardens to offer ACA members free and simple cyber security training. Access the session today!

The results of ACA Pulse Check 2025 reveal a profession under pressure. While practices have successfully embraced flexibility, new sectors of work and shifting business models, they are also grappling with significant challenges across revenue, project delivery, risk and fee structures. Many of our surveyed practices are busy right now, but a significant number face a dwindling pipeline and a high level of uncertainty.

After more than two decades leading professional associations in fields ranging from architecture and procurement to HR and medicine, Angelina Pillai has seen firsthand what professionals need to thrive, serve the public interest, and maintain high standards. Across every discipline, access to the ‘tools’ of compliance, safety and quality isn’t optional. It’s essential!

When we talk about digital assets, customer data, code or cloud infrastructure often come to mind. But one of the most critical – and overlooked – assets is your domain name system (DNS) and its registration. Lose control of these, and you risk losing email, web traffic, and credibility. Frances Russell from FooForce shares a practical guide to keep control firmly within your practice.

Cyber attack, data loss and cyber extortion are top risks for Australian practices. Planned Cover highlights the impact of cybercrime, some of the cyber hygiene practices that can reduce threats, and the role of cyber insurance.

The Business of Design Lunch returns to Adelaide in August – a unique opportunity to hear prominent designers talking about their business. This year the ACA SA Committee is delighted to welcome Philip Thalis as our guest speaker. Early Bird Pricing available – book now!

Feel overwhelmed by social media, digital advertising, SEO, and database marketing? Do you know what they all have to do with your website? This presentation demystifies the digital marketing ecosystem, offering clear insights into how it can support your practice. Join the ACA and Alicia Brown on Thursday 28 August to learn about this complex, rapidly changing landscape and gain insights into strategic approaches that work.

It’s critical that all architectural businesses understand their obligations under the Architects Award. The update of the Architects Award and other Awards relevant to architectural practice incorporate all changes up to and including 1 July 2025, including new pay rates. Download today!

The 2025 Federal Industrial Award pay rates have been updated and are applicable from 1 July 2025. ACA members can log in to access award pay rates relevant to architectural practice today!

The ACA is thrilled to welcome RMIT University and the Papua New Guinea University of Technology as our inaugural University Affiliates! The affiliate program will help bridge the gap between architectural education and professional practice, providing Schools of Architecture with curated resources, practical tools, and deeper engagement with the business side of architecture.

Do you have liability exposure from using generative AI? Do you share bespoke design solutions with your AI models? Are you concerned about IP? How do you maintain confidentiality? In this article, Wendy Poulton takes the opportunity to recap some fundamental points about generative AI, liability and insurance.

ACA NSW/ACT Advocacy Spokesperson, Stephen Pearse, responds to CEDA’s recent report “Size Matters: Why Construction Productivity is So Weak”, arguing that its narrow focus on dwellings per construction worker overlooks cost factors and the differences between high-rise and single-dwelling construction.

When John Held sat down to write a policy for AI use in architectural practice, he quickly found himself navigating a complex web of issues — from copyright infringement, legal liability, data security and confidentiality to impacts on the environment, creativity and professional development.

The new and improved Architects’ Time/Cost Calculator Guide (TCCG) helps businesses effectively manage their projects’ time and costs. The TCCG calculations provide a fundamental knowledge base for practices when developing fee proposals, based in the specifics of their practice. It assists practices of all sizes to assess the time and costs involved in providing an appropriate level of service for a wide range of building types.