Registered South Australian architects can breathe a sigh of relief that their titles won’t be usurped by allied professions, such as draftspersons and building designers, as a result of new legislation brought in by the state government.
The title ‘architect’ has become protected by law, which means that only qualified, registered architects are able to legitimately use the name.
The change comes after over a decade of lobbying by the Australian Institute of Architects and will bring greater certainty to consumers about the architectural skills they are buying.
The Architectural Practice Act 2009 came into forces on 16 April and regulations are set to follow. The regulations are expected to deliver guidelines for professional standards, including mandatory professional indemnity insurance and a requirement for continuing professional development by all architects.
NSW and Tasmania are currently the only states mandating annual education for registered architects, to be joined by Western Australia and Victoria on July 1.
South Australian consumers will have greater assurance the architects they engage will be backed by professional indemnity insurance, Timothy Horton, SA President of the Australian Institute of Architects, said.
“Architects have the qualifications, professional training, vision and experience to create liveable environments that can both inspire and enhance our lifestyles,” Horton said.
“Ongoing education equips architects in their deeper understanding of building form; we design buildings that are more energy efficient, cheaper to operate and easier to maintain and adapt throughout their lifespan,” he said.
