Performance report 2024-25

Performance snapshot as at 30 June 2025

• 5,675 Practising architects on the Register
• 283 New architect registrants
• 110 New companies and partnerships
• 1,552 Approved companies and partnerships
• 338 Architectural Practice Examination participants
• 59 Professional conduct assessments and investigations initiated
• 24 professional conduct complaints investigated
• 34 Written advice on compliance (22 CPD and 12 other Code non-compliance)
• 7 Matters referred to Architects Tribunal
• 46 Prohibited conduct assessments initiated
• 9 One hour formal CPD webinars (with 9,800 attendees)
• 88,000 Visits to the ARBV website

The Expert Panel considered Recommendation 12 should be implemented through improvements to the ARBV’s regulatory practice including:

• adoption of systems, resources, intelligence, and processes to meaningfully embed a risk-based approach to regulatory practice; and
• broadening the focus of compliance and enforcement activity and strengthening information sharing with other regulators and agencies.

In addition, the Expert Panel highlighted the need for alignment with the Minister’s 2019 Statement of Expectations and ensuring that the changes recommended have been fully implemented. The changes implemented pursuant to the Minister’s 2019 Statement of Expectations have been reported by the ARBV in previous annual reports. The Expert Panel also identified that the composition of the ARBV Board should be skills based. This has now been implemented with the latest round of Board appointments made in accordance with the amendments to the membership provisions of the Architects Act 1991 that came into operation in 2024.

Where there is an overlap between initiatives and actions in the ARBV’s Strategic Plan and the Minister’s Statement of Expectations this has been italicised. The ARBV’s progress in implementing improvements to its regulatory practices as recommended by the Expert Panel has also been incorporated into this performance report.

A Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (PMEF) has been developed by the ARBV that provides a structured framework and process for evaluating our performance against the strategic objectives we have committed to in the Strategic Plan. Measures that have been drawn from the PMEF have been bolded.

Objective 1: Knowledge, capability, & excellence
To support architects in the delivery of professional services for the benefit of the community and achievement and advancement of the industry.

Objective 2: Community understanding
To build community understanding of the role of architects and the ARBV.

Objective 3: Trusted regulator
To demonstrate the ARBV’s value as a trusted regulator, supporting the delivery of a high-quality built environment.

Objective 4: Culture & Outcomes
To drive positive outcomes for consumers by promoting a professional culture of accountability among architects.

Additional objectives/activities from the Ministers Statement of Expectations
Under the Statement of Expectations (SOE) the ARBV is required to continuously improve systems, resources, intelligence and processes as recommended by the Expert Panel to support efficient and effective delivery of regulatory services.

As evident from the reporting in the table above, the ARBV has continuously improved systems, resources, intelligence and processes to support the efficient and effective delivery of regulatory services. Significant systems such as the Customer Relationship Management system (CRM) have been introduced and are firmly embedded. The CRM supports the ARBV’s Regulatory Strategy, which embodies the risk-based approach to regulation. Important research projects have been undertaken that help inform regulatory activities and uplift understanding about risks and compliance. Work has been undertaken in collaboration with other regulators and information shared to increase accountability and improve outcomes. Procedures and manuals have been developed and are regularly revised.

The SOE also requires the ARBV to maintain a high-performing focused and sustainable organisation and the ARBV’s small, dedicated team implemented activities in accordance with its annual business plan and within the approved budget. The ARBV’s new Enterprise Agreement included a staff adaptability allowance, recognising the ARBV’s need to optimise its resources to improve delivery of regulatory services. The ARBV monitors and maintains an adequate solvency ratio to meet its long-term liabilities and ensure its financial sustainability.

Registration is an important regulatory function as it controls entry to the profession and provides assurance to consumers that architects possess a high standard of education and experience, adhere to prescribed standards of professional practice and hold professional indemnity insurance.

Requirements for registration

Pre-registration pathways

Persons seeking registration as an architect in Victoria must have been engaged for not less than 2 years in practical architectural work and attained a standard of professional practice satisfactory to the ARBV.

The Architects Act 1991 (the Act) makes provision for the main pre-registration pathway being the Architectural Practice Examination (APE) for this purpose, as it allows candidates to be tested on their practical knowledge. The APE has been adopted by all Australian state and territory architects registration boards, providing national consistency in pre-registration examinations.

The APE is the most common pathway to registration and is held twice in each calendar year. The other pathways to registration are administered by the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA) and include:

• the Experienced Practitioner Assessment (EPA) – for both overseas experienced and locally experienced persons;
• overseas mutual recognition – Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation and US architects; and
• the UK mutual recognition pathway – allows for graduates and registered practitioners from the UK to seek registration.

The pathways to registration generally require the completion of a university degree for eligibility to a registration pathway.

Fit and Proper Person (FPP) requirement

The FPP requirements for registration require registrants to answer probity questions related to their fitness to practise.

These probity questions relate to any convictions or findings of guilt for offences involving fraud, dishonesty, drug trafficking or violence punishable by imprisonment for six months or more, within the past 10 years; suspension or cancellation of registration, licence, approval or other authorisation within the past 10 years; being subject to an order from a court or Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal that has not been complied with; disciplinary action taken under the Building Act 1993; and insolvency (bankruptcy) within the past 10 years.

The ARBV also administers an enduring declaration at renewal for registrants to provide details of changes in their registration related to the FPP requirements contained in section 10A of the Act.

Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) requirements

Section 8B and 8C of the Act require practising architects to be covered by PII that complies with the requirements set out in the Architects Insurance Ministerial Order of February 2020. The Board audits compliance with this requirement. The ARBV’s Customer Relationship Management system (CRM) enables efficient auditing of compliance with insurance obligations.

The ARBV conducts routine audits to ensure compliance with PII requirements and statutory requirements are being met by architects.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements

Under the Victorian Architects Code of Professional Conduct, architects must maintain their skills and knowledge. The ARBV recommends that this is achieved by complying with the National CPD framework.

The framework requires architects in the practising class to complete a set number of hours of CPD activities throughout the registration year. The CPD activities undertaken must reflect the performance criteria in the National Standard of Competency for Architects (NSCA).

The ARBV monitors CPD compliance through an annual audit conducted after the renewal period to ensure CPD requirements are met.

In the reporting period, the ARBV provided Regulation 8 advice to 22 architects in relation to non-compliance with their CPD obligations. This is recorded as disciplinary action on an architect's registration record.

Approval requirements for companies and partnerships

Under the Act, there are requirements for companies and partnerships providing architectural services to be appropriately approved.

The ARBV monitors all entities providing architectural services to ensure they comply with the requirements of the Act. This includes ensuring that where an architect is trading through a company (e.g. as reflected by their PII policy), that the company is appropriately approved.

There are also requirements that the registered director/partner is responsible for the carrying out of the services, and that the services are carried out by or under the supervision of a registered architect.

This is an area that is increasingly being monitored by the ARBV to ensure compliance.

Registration renewal

The ARBV actively communicates the annual renewal process and the requirement to meet the 1 July date for payment of prescribed annual fees.

The portal and the CRM has streamlined the overall renewal process and allowed registrants to be more actively engaged with renewal and their broader compliance obligations.

If a regulated entity fails to pay their registration renewal by the due date (which may be extended in agreed circumstances, e.g. through the Financial Hardship Policy) the ARBV may initiate steps to suspend registration. In the reporting period the ARBV suspended 30 registrants for non-payment of fees, representing 0.42% of registrants.

Other registration activities

The registration function continues to deliver a range of services, including:

• Overseeing the accreditation processes administered by the AACA
• Embedding the NSCA into pre- registration programs
• Delivering training to the ARBV’s Panel of APE Examiners
• Collaborating with the AACA and other architects registration boards to implement improvements to relevant registration and examination procedures and processes
• Working to increase registrations, particularly among persons who meet registration requirements but are not registered as architects
• Improving communications regarding registration processes and ensuring that all relevant details are available on the website
• Contributing content for the ARBV Update (newsletter) provided quarterly to registrants.

Registration and Architectural Practice Examination statistics

Note: Due to changes in recent years in how we record Non-Practising registrants on the Register of Architects, the total in 2020-21 appears greater.

Spotlight on Complaints and Investigation

The Complaints and Investigation function is responsible for administering compliance obligations set out in the Architects Act 1991 (the Act) and Architect Regulations 2015 (the Regulations) to maintain the standards and integrity of the profession of architecture, protect consumer interests, and reinforce the importance of holding registration.

There are two key areas of regulatory activity undertaken by Complaints and Investigation:

• regulating the professional conduct of architects, approved partnerships and approved companies
• investigating and bringing proceedings for offences against the Act (known as ‘prohibited conduct’).

Regulating the professional conduct of architects and prohibited conduct is discussed in more detail below.

Risk-based approach and efficient and effective regulation

The ARBV’s Regulatory Strategy, which sets out a risk-based approach to regulation, helps guide the delivery of these functions and drive fair, consistent and robust decision-making. The risk-based approach contributes to the ARBV’s compliance and enforcement activity by:

• assisting in the triaging of complaints and referrals when they are first received so that they can be prioritised based on the relative risk of non-compliance
• assisting in the assessment of the risk associated with specific non-compliance under investigation to guide the appropriate regulatory response among those available for a particular instance of non-compliance with the regulatory framework.

The ARBV is also guided by the Minister’s Statement of Expectations, which requires the ARBV to improve efficiency and effectiveness in its regulation of architects.

Key focus areas in 2024-25

Having fully implemented case management and process refinements in 2023-24, a key focus for the Complaints and Investigation function in 2024-25 has been on enhancing case management to reduce backlogs and achieve timely throughput of cases. Very good progress has been made, especially considering an increased caseload.

The ARBV continued to focus on design compliance and worked closely and shared data with other building regulators including the Victorian Building Authority and Cladding Safety Victoria. Through referrals received, the ARBV was able to initiate 27 professional conduct cases on its own motion during the reporting period.

The Complaints and Investigation function supported the ARBV’s proactive regulatory activities. This included working on a revised Victorian Architects Code of Professional Conduct (the Code) for consideration as part of the sunsetting of the Regulations. It also included identifying complaint trends and emerging issues to help inform educative initiatives and the development of information and guidance to support voluntary compliance.

Professional conduct of architects

Under the regulatory framework architects must be competent, demonstrate professional standards and avoid engaging in unprofessional conduct. This includes, but is not limited to, fulfilling the compliance obligations detailed in the Code contained within the Regulations.

The Code sets out requirements architects must comply with relating to:

• standards of conduct
• skills and knowledge
• approval of documents
• contracts and agreements with clients administering a building contract for a client
• professional fees and costs
• provision of information to clients
• retaining documents and records
• maintaining confidentiality of client information
• disclosing conflicts of interest, referrals, and endorsements
• engendering confidence in and respect for the profession
• maintaining standards and integrity of the profession.

Upon receiving a complaint, the ARBV assesses the complaint to determine whether it is within the ARBV’s jurisdiction, namely whether it is about an architect’s professional conduct and/or fitness to practise, whether there is sufficient information to conduct an assessment and, if so, whether the conduct concerns a compliance obligation imposed on the architect under the regulatory framework. If the complaint is within the ARBV’s jurisdiction and there is sufficient information to assess the complaint, the ARBV may progress the complaint for investigation.

An investigation into an architect’s professional conduct and/or fitness to practise is undertaken for the ARBV to determine whether or not to refer the matter to the Architects Tribunal for inquiry, or to determine that another regulatory action may be more appropriate in the circumstances. Such action may include the issuing of educative guidance, a formal written warning or written advice on compliance under regulation 8 of the Regulations. It is also possible that the ARBV may determine that no regulatory action is warranted.

Further information about the Architects Tribunal can be found below.

In 2024-25, the ARBV’s complaint data indicates that the highest incidence of complaints about professional conduct related to the following complaint issues:

• Careless or incompetent design
• Undue delay in provision of services
• Failure to perform with due skill, care or diligence
• Copyright or licensing issues
• False statements
• Unfair billing practices
• Wrong or misleading information.

Prohibited Conduct

The Act makes it an offence in Victoria for an unregistered person or unapproved business (company or partnership) to represent themselves as an architect or to allow someone else to represent them as an architect. It is also an offence for an unregistered person or body to use the expressions “architectural services”, “architectural design services” or “architectural design” in relation to the design of buildings or the preparation of plans, drawings or specifications for buildings.

To represent oneself or be represented as an architect in Victoria, a person must be registered with the ARBV. The education and experience required for registration, coupled with the professional conduct obligations and CPD and PII requirements, contribute towards maintaining the standards and integrity of the profession and providing consumer protection.

If a person or body is not registered with the ARBV, they are not an architect in Victoria and are in breach of the Act’s prohibited conduct provisions if they represent themselves or allow themselves to be represented as an architect.

When deciding whether published information may offend against the Act, the ARBV considers what overall impression is being created by that information. If, taking the circumstances and context into account, the information creates an overall impression that the person or business is an architect and/or provides the services of an architect when they are not a registered architect, this is likely to offend against the Act.

While breaches of the Act’s prohibited conduct provisions may be prosecuted by the ARBV, the ARBV continues to experience significant success by engaging those involved in prohibited conduct to provide them with an opportunity to voluntarily take action to address the conduct.

In 2024-25, 100% of cases where prohibited conduct was identified were closed after the conduct was voluntarily addressed.

Complaint and Investigation Statistics

*7 assessments and 18 investigations were ongoing at the end of the reporting period.

Note: Where no values are shown this indicates the category was not previously reported.

Note: Where no values are shown this indicates the category was not previously reported.

Inquiries into the professional conduct and/or fitness to practise of architects are conducted by a tribunal constituted, as required from time to time, from a panel of suitably qualified people appointed by the Minister (Architects Tribunal). The Architects Tribunal constituted for an inquiry must comprise:

• one panel member who is a practising architect
• one panel member who is not an architect
• one panel member who is a representative of consumer interests.

At least one member of a Tribunal is to be a person with legal experience and knowledge.

The Architects Tribunal is independent of the ARBV. While the ARBV provides administrative assistance to the Architects Tribunal after a matter has been referred for inquiry, the ARBV is not a party to the inquiry. It is the Architects Tribunal’s role to consider the available evidence to determine any allegations that are to be put to the architect, to hold the inquiry and ultimately decide whether any grounds for disciplinary action under the Architects Act 1991 (the Act) has been made out, including whether:

• the architect has been careless or incompetent in their practice
• the professional standards of the architect are demonstrably lower than the standards which a competent architect should meet
• the architect is guilty of unprofessional conduct
• the architect has breached or failed to comply with any provision of the Act.

See section 32 of the Act for the complete list of grounds for disciplinary action.

If the Tribunal finds that a ground for disciplinary action has been proven, it may make determinations against the architect that include:

• caution
• reprimand
• require the architect to undertake further education of a kind, to be completed within a period stated
• impose a condition or limitation on the architect’s registration that relates to their practice
• impose a financial penalty
• suspend the architect’s registration
• cancel the architect’s registration.

The ARBV is responsible for enforcing determinations made by the Tribunal.

An architect may apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for a review of an Architects Tribunal determination concerning them.

In 2024-25, seven matters were referred to the Architects Tribunal. In addition, there were 7 matters already before the Architects Tribunal from previous reporting periods. A total of 5 matters were finalised in the financial year. Of the inquiries that were able to proceed to a hearing, the grounds found to be proven by the Architects Tribunal in these inquiries included:

• unprofessional conduct in that the architect provided architectural services without having entered into a written agreement with their client, in breach of clause 4(1) of the Victorian Architects Code of Professional Conduct.
• unprofessional conduct in that the architect continued to provide architectural services to their client where to do so would result in a conflict of interest between the interests of the architect and that client (who was an adjoining owner to a property owned in part by the architect), in breach of clause 12(3) of the Victorian Architects Code of Professional Conduct.
• unprofessional conduct in that the architect failed to act with reasonable care in the provision of architectural services by designing a building that encroached into the airspace above an adjoining property to their client’s property, in breach of clause 1(a) of the Victorian Architects Code of Professional Conduct.

Notices of the determinations made against the architects are recorded in the ARBV’s Register of Disciplinary Action after the relevant appeal timeframe has expired.

At 30 June 2025, there were 11 matters with the Tribunal which had not yet progressed through to hearing and 3 matters awaiting a determination to be made.

Spotlight on Proactive Regulatory Program

Proactive regulatory program
The ARBV has completed year two of a three-year Proactive Strategic Plan by implementing a range of proactive activities to:

• encourage voluntary compliance: through education and engagement
• detect non-compliance: through monitoring, intelligence-gathering and data mining and analysis
• anticipate and prevent non-compliance: through intelligence-gathering and data mining and analysis supplemented with thought leadership and engagement with a broad range of stakeholders to identify systemic risks and to prevent non-compliance from occurring.
  

The ARBV’s Proactive Strategic Plan for FY 23/24-FY25/26 is structured around 9 categories with actions planned for each year and directed to recognising the role of stakeholders such as government and regulatory bodies, clients and users of architectural services, in addition to architects and future architects.

Strengthening Compliance Culture in the Architecture Sector

This research examines compliance culture in the architecture sector and reinforces the significance of the overarching duties and culture that define professionalism among architects. The report 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 is accompanied by a high-level summary and booklet containing practical guidance to support architects and architectural firms to strengthen compliance culture.

See the high-level summary of the report:

ARBV Service Charter

The ARBV Service Charter sets out the standard of service people can expect to receive from the ARBV, including:

• how to contact us
• what you should do if you wish to make a complaint or provide feedback about your dealings with us
• how you can help us to help you
• our expected time frames for services provided.

Our service commitments

Responsiveness

• We will respond promptly to your enquiries through our phone and email service.
• We aim to respond to phone enquiries and emails within 3 business days and written correspondence within 10 working days.
• We will provide accurate and up to date information in response to enquiries.
• We will manage all registration applications efficiently and finalise complete and routine applications for registration within 6 weeks.
• We will keep complainants informed about the progress of their complaint and the expected timeframe for finalisation.
• We will acknowledge complaints about the ARBV within 3 days and respond to those complaints within 4 weeks.

Transparency

• We will be open and transparent about our processes.
• We will provide consistent and clear information across our communication channels.
• Our staff and Board will disclose conflicts of interest and comply with the VPS codes of conduct.
• We will give you access to your personal information if you request it.
• We will publish clear and current information on our website.

Quality service

• We will give you clear and straightforward information about the ARBV, including information on how to register as an architect in Victoria, make an enquiry or complaint, or respond to a complaint.
• We will keep an up-to-date Register of Architects in Victoria.
• We will handle all complaints about the conduct of architects fairly and efficiently.
• We will keep you informed about the progress of your enquiry, application, or complaint.
• We will tailor our response to your accessibility needs where possible. We will provide linkages and referral to other government information relevant to your needs where reasonably practicable.

Confidentiality

• We will have systems in place to protect your confidential information.
• We will treat all information received in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014.

Professionalism and Respect

• Our dealings with you will be conducted with integrity, honesty and respect.
• Our staff will be informative and helpful and responsive to feedback you may wish to provide.
• When you contact us, the person who responds to your enquiry will give you their name.
• We will be inclusive and treat every member of the public equally.
• We will endeavour to ensure we are accessible for those with disabilities and culturally diverse backgrounds.

Service Charter reporting

Approximately 10,000 enquiries were received and responded to in the 2024-25 financial year.

The ARBV has processes in place to track performance against service commitments.

The ARBV collects feedback from architects and consumers of architectural services throughout the year, and the data is reviewed to inform systems and process enhancements. It also provides valuable insights into key trends and issues to inform and guide the ARBV's Regulatory Strategy.

Enquiries were responded to in accordance with the timelines set out in the ARBV Service Charter.

Spotlight on Financial Management

The information presented in the table below provides a financial summary for the ARBV’s financial performance over a 5-year period.

* Expenses from sponsorships and awards are included in the net result for the period.

Net result
The ARBV achieved a net surplus of $153,937 (2024: $127,684). This was an increase of $26,253 compared to 2023-24. The surplus for the current year compared to the budgeted surplus of $22,835 was principally due to savings in employee expenses (changed staffing arrangements) and contractor expenses.

Sustaining an operating surplus is a critical financial strategy for the longer-term health of the organisation. Net assets have risen to $1.78 million (2024: $1.63 million) and underpins the organisation’s financial viability and provides capacity to address emerging issues, new opportunities and asset replacements.

Income
Total income from transactions for 2024-25 was $3.73 million, an increase of $0.13 million (2024: $3.60 million) and included an additional $0.15 million from annual registration fees. This was primarily due to an increase in the applicable fees for registered architects, companies and partnerships for the period commencing 1 July 2024.

A breakdown of the major income sources is shown below. This highlights the ARBV’s reliance on registration fees to support the funding of services and other business activities.

Expenses
Total expenditure from transactions for 2024-25 was $3.57 million, an increase of $0.06 million from the previous year (2024: $3.51 million). A breakdown of expenditure by the ARBV is shown below.

Financial position – Balance Sheet
The ARBV’s financial position is demonstrated by net assets which increased in 2024-25 by the reported net result of $0.15 million to $1.78 million (2024: $1.63 million). Total assets at 30 June 2025 were $5.07 million, including $4.84 million in cash and deposits and $0.18 million in non-financial assets. Total assets were partially offset by $2.92 million in payables (includes $2.56 million unearned income for 2024-25 registration fees) and $0.37 million in other liabilities.

Capital expenditure
There was no capital expenditure exceeding $5,000 for the year (2024: $63,301 intangible assets – CRM software enhancements). Minor asset purchases amounted to $14,639. In line with the ARBV policy, minor asset purchases under $5,000 are expensed in the year of purchase.

Significant changes or factors affecting performance
There were no significant changes or factors affecting the ARBV’s performance during the reporting period.

Subsequent events
As at the date of signing the annual Financial Statements there were no subsequent events requiring disclosure.