With more than 7,000 practising architects, approved companies and partnerships and over 300 Architectural Practice Examination candidates undertaking pre-registration requirements, we continue to be extremely proud of our efforts to engage, educate and regulate to ensure high standards of professional conduct and practice and improved built outcomes for Victorians.
This year’s annual report highlights our key successes and progress towards the achievement of the ARBV’s strategic objectives under our Strategic Plan 2022-2026. This work is critical to ensuring high professional standards are upheld and providing protection for consumers and improved confidence in the building industry.
An immensely successful schedule of CPD webinars has been designed and delivered to an ever-increasing audience. These include:
- Deep Dive into Client Architect Relationships and Agreements (529 attendees)
- Roof Drainage for Low Pitched Metal Roofs (1,315 attendees)
- Deep Dive into D&C Procurement (996 attendees)
- Tackling common design issues with the State Building Surveyor (1,433 attendees)
- Deep dive into NCC compliance (1,396 attendees)
- Architects & Compliance – Navigating Professional and Business Responsibilities (1,046 attendees)
- A Close Look at Performance Solutions and the Architects Role in the Performance Solution Process (1273 attendees)
- Deep dive into Disruptive forces (966 attendees)
- Assessing the Suitability of Building Products and Materials under the NCC – what steps should architects take? (921 attendees)
Our presenters included Dr Dariel De Sousa, Frances Hall, Isabel Legge, Rowan Gregory, Mei Yang, Steven Baxas, Anthony Apollini, Paul Viney, Jenine Birney and Prof M. Hank Haeusler to whom we extend our thanks. A number of webinars in the series provided information and guidance to architects about NCC compliance.
Building on the success of our previous systemic risks research reports undertaken with the NSW ARB, the ARBV initiated a third major research project – ‘Strengthening Compliance Culture in the Architecture Sector’. The report completed in June 2025, highlights the critical role of compliance culture within the architecture profession, explaining why it matters, what it looks like in practice, and how it can be strengthened. The report draws on insights from architects, industry leaders, regulators, educators, and insurers to evaluate compliance culture within the Victorian architecture sector and outlines strategies that can be implemented by sole practitioners, small firms and large firms to help them discharge their duties and strengthen compliance culture. It additionally calls on all participants in the broader construction sector to work collectively and collaboratively to improve compliance culture across the sector, with architects encouraged to lead by example. This will help to drive positive behavioural change, raise standards and ensure that buildings are compliant, safe and high-quality.
In addition to focusing on compliance culture, we collaborated closely with the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) to progress legislative and regulatory reforms to strengthen the regulatory oversight of architects.
Changes to the Architects Act 1991 (the Act) were included in the Building Legislation Amendment and Other Matters Act 2024 enacted by Parliament on 13 November 2024. The ARBV collaborated with DTP to progress the changes, which primarily relate to registration renewal obligations that will come into effect in August 2025. The changes mean that registration will no longer continue in perpetuity and will transition to an annual term based on the financial year. The onus will be on architects to meet renewal requirements by 30 June to continue to practise in Victoria. The objective of resetting registration renewal obligations is to ensure that architects are timely in meeting statutory requirements, including payment of fees.
Importantly, the implementation of these changes will help to embed public protection requirements for the benefit of consumers and the public at large.
The changes will also significantly reduce the administrative burden on the ARBV in dealing with high rates of non-compliance at renewal and escalating to a suspension in instances where statutory requirements remain unmet. Those resources can instead be redirected to education and other initiatives that support architects to comply with their regulatory obligations.
The Architects Regulations 2015 (the Regulations) were due to be replaced in April 2025, however, the ARBV worked with the government to extend this timeframe for 12 months. The sunset review of the Regulations provides an opportunity to ensure the regulatory framework remains effective for the next ten years, addressing any gaps and improving the regulations to suit the growing needs of architects, consumers, and the building industry in Victoria. Key areas for review include the Code of Professional Conduct, Continuing Professional Development (CPD), the ARBV’s powers under Regulation 8 as well as other priorities identified by key stakeholders, including the ARBV. The 12-month extension will allow time for consultation and analysis of the impact of proposed regulatory amendments. The review will also incorporate changes to the Regulations consequential to amendments to the Act.
We continued to reach out and engage with consumers and the public, taking opportunities to build community understanding of our role and purpose.
The ARBV had a stand at the Melbourne Home Show in August 2024 and our plans to attend the 2025 show are well-advanced. The Melbourne Home Show is Australia’s longest running home improvement expo held over 3 consecutive days. The ARBV decided to exhibit at this event to raise public awareness of the importance of architect registration in Victoria. Staff highlighted the ARBV’s role and the resources available to consumers to ensure architectural services are provided by registered and approved entities. Staff also provided information for consumers about working with an architect and information about pathways to registration for those interested in pursuing a career in the industry.
Our contribution to the Open House Melbourne July weekend 2024 was to host the walking tour The Architecture of Olympic Boulevard. The walk was led by heritage architect and architectural historian Jim Gard’ner, Director of GJM Heritage, along Olympic Boulevard to the Olympic Swimming Pool, Rod Laver Arena, Olympic Park Stadium, AAMI Park, Gosch’s Paddock and the MCG Olympic Stand. Participants also had the pleasure of meeting Peter McIntyre, architect of the 1956 Olympic Swimming and Diving Stadium. Peter delighted attendees with his anecdotes and shared his vast experience and insight into the development of what is the only remaining purpose-built facility from the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games.
In June 2025, we delivered a live formal CPD webinar at the ArchiBuild Expo. The Expo is the leading event for architects, designers and builders showcasing new and contemporary architectural building products, materials and systems. It also provided an opportunity for architects to attend CPD sessions during the event. The ARBV collaborated with the Australian Institute of Architects to present 'Assessing the suitability of building products and materials under the NCC – what steps should architects take?'. We also presented a consumer-focused panel discussion that shared insights into the architectural design and build process for a project aiming to achieve passivhaus certification.
Proactive monitoring of architects’ compliance with professional indemnity insurance (PII) and CPD obligations continued to be a central focus in 2024-25 for the ARBV. Regular audits of PII records and follow-up by the ARBV has resulted in a significant decrease in the instances of non-compliance by architects, partnerships and companies.
Unfortunately, we have not seen the same reduction in the instances of non-compliance relating to CPD obligations and it will continue to be an area of focus. The introduction of changes to the Act and Regulations and a focus on compliance culture within the profession should help to strengthen rates of compliance going forward.
The ARBV has had a busy year dealing with an increased number of complaints from consumers and matters proactively initiated by the ARBV. Of the 59 new professional conduct matters dealt with by the ARBV in 2024-25, 27 were proactively initiated by the ARBV. The ARBV has focused on strengthening processes and resources to improve case throughput times. In relation to prohibited conduct matters this includes developing guidance to assist architects and non-architects involved in building design and construction from committing offences against the Act and promoting transparency for the end user about the qualifications and registration status of persons carrying out work on their project. In this regard, we continue to monitor the use of terms and wording that may mislead consumers into thinking they are engaging the services of a registered architect or approved company or partnership when this is not the case.
The ARBV has continued to monitor and provide accreditation for five Schools of Architecture in Victorian universities. Working in collaboration with the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia and aligning with the decisions of other Architects Registration Boards (ARBs), the ARBV has taken important and nationally consistent decisions that will improve the prerequisite activities of professional practice required to sit the Architectural Practice Examination. We have also continued to work closely with other regulators, including other ARBs through the National Registrars Forum.
In 2024-25, the ARBV welcomed new Board members Sally Brincat (Deputy Chairperson), Michael Leeton, Tim Leslie, Professor Sarah McGann, Lorina Nervegna and Yana Podolskaya who joined Sally Wills and reappointed Board members Dr Giorgio Marfella (Chairperson) and Mark Curry. Collectively the Board brings a breadth of skills, knowledge and experience and is well-equipped to ensure the ARBV maintains momentum in achieving its strategic objectives and developing a new Strategic Plan 2026-2030.
Finally, we extend our appreciation to our small team of dedicated staff for their continuous support and to Victorian architects for the valuable services they offer to their clients and the Victorian community.
Dr Giorgio Marfella, ARBV Chairperson
Dr Glenice Fox, ARBV CEO/Registrar
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