Architectural Workers in Australia
The Australian architecture industrial relations landscape, by state and role. Who governs you, who represents you, what covers you.
State / territory
I am a...
What do you want to see?
The backbone: Acts establish bodies. Bodies set instruments. Instruments cover workers. Unions organise across the lot.
In Victoria, here's the whole system.
OverviewPick your role to see what governs you.
The architecture industry is messy. Choose how you work and we'll trace the chain from the law down to your pay floor, and show you where UAW fits in.
Every body, act, and award in Australia’s architecture industrial system, grouped by layer.
1 Legislation
2 Representative bodies
3 Workplaces & public
4 Awards & agreements
5 Workers
Relationships, grouped
Governance chain How law reaches workers.
- establishes
- establishes
- regulates conduct via
- establishes
- enforced by
- accredits
- sits on
- sets
- sets
- sets
Award & agreement coverage Each worker, the instrument that sets their floor.
- covers
- covers
- covers
- may cover
- may cover
- may cover
- covers
- covers
- covers
- covers
Union representation Where UAW and NTEU organise, negotiate, and represent.
- negotiates
- bargains at
- lobbies
- lobbies
- lobbies
- lobbies
- improves conditions at
- collectivise as
- join
- join
- can join
- can join
- can join
- can join
- represents
- represents
- negotiates
Professional bodies Membership institutes that credential and set standards.
- sets professional standards for
- supports small practice at
- sets standards for
- sets standards for
- sets standards for
- sets standards for
- nominates a member to
Employer side Who represents the firms.
- represents
- negotiates
Where workers work The workplaces these roles report to.
- work for
- work for
- work for
- work for
- work for
- work for
- work for
- work for
- work for
- work for
| From | Relationship | To |
|---|---|---|
| Architects Act 1991 (Vic) | establishes | AACA |
| Architects Act 1991 (Vic) | establishes | Architects Registration Board of Victoria |
| Architects Regulations 2026 (Vic) | regulates conduct via | Architects Registration Board of Victoria |
| Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) | establishes | Fair Work Commission |
| Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) | enforced by | Fair Work Ombudsman |
| AACA | accredits | Universities |
| Architects Registration Board of Victoria | sits on | AACA |
| Architects Registration Board of Victoria | registers | Architects |
| Architects Registration Board of Victoria | protects | The public |
| AIA | sets professional standards for | Firms & employer architects |
| ArchiTeam | supports small practice at | Firms & employer architects |
| Fair Work Commission | sets | Architects Award 2020 [MA000079] |
| Fair Work Commission | sets | Miscellaneous Award 2020 [MA000104] |
| Fair Work Commission | sets | Manufacturing & Associated Industries Award 2020 [MA000010] |
| Fair Work Ombudsman | reviews panel | Fair Work Commission |
| AILA | sets standards for | Landscape architects |
| DIA | sets standards for | Interior designers |
| PIA | sets standards for | Urban & regional planners |
| BDAA | sets standards for | Building designers |
| AIA | nominates a member to | Architects Registration Board of Victoria |
| UAW | negotiates | Architects Award 2020 [MA000079] |
| UAW | bargains at | Firms & employer architects |
| UAW | lobbies | AACA |
| UAW | lobbies | AIA |
| UAW | lobbies | ACA |
| UAW | lobbies | Architects Registration Board of Victoria |
| UAW | improves conditions at | Firms & employer architects |
| Architects | collectivise as | UAW |
| Graduates of architecture | join | UAW |
| Students of architecture | join | UAW |
| Interior designers | can join | UAW |
| Landscape architects | can join | UAW |
| Urban & regional planners | can join | UAW |
| Draftspeople | can join | UAW |
| Building designers | can join | UAW |
| ACA | represents | Firms & employer architects |
| ACA | negotiates | Architects Award 2020 [MA000079] |
| NTEU | represents | Academics |
| NTEU | represents | Sessional staff |
| NTEU | negotiates | Enterprise agreements |
| Architects | work for | Firms & employer architects |
| Graduates of architecture | work for | Firms & employer architects |
| Students of architecture | work for | Firms & employer architects |
| Interior designers | work for | Firms & employer architects |
| Landscape architects | work for | Firms & employer architects |
| Urban & regional planners | work for | Firms & employer architects |
| Draftspeople | work for | Firms & employer architects |
| Building designers | work for | Firms & employer architects |
| Academics | work for | Universities |
| Sessional staff | work for | Universities |
| Architects Award 2020 [MA000079] | covers | Graduates of architecture |
| Architects Award 2020 [MA000079] | covers | Students of architecture |
| Architects Award 2020 [MA000079] | covers | Architects |
| Miscellaneous Award 2020 [MA000104] | may cover | Interior designers |
| Miscellaneous Award 2020 [MA000104] | may cover | Landscape architects |
| Miscellaneous Award 2020 [MA000104] | may cover | Urban & regional planners |
| Manufacturing & Associated Industries Award 2020 [MA000010] | covers | Draftspeople |
| Manufacturing & Associated Industries Award 2020 [MA000010] | covers | Building designers |
| Enterprise agreements | covers | Academics |
| Enterprise agreements | covers | Sessional staff |
Glossary
Every body, act, and award on this page, defined in plain language.
- AACA, Architects Accreditation Council of Australia
- A not-for-profit established by the state and territory registration boards. Accredits architecture programmes, administers the Architectural Practice Examination, and maintains the National Standard of Competency for Architects (NSCA 2021). Visit website
- ARBV, Architects Registration Board of Victoria
- The statutory body responsible for registering architects in Victoria and investigating complaints. Amended in 2024 by the Building Legislation Amendment and Other Matters Act, with changes taking effect August 2025. The Board's own Architects Tribunal inquires into an architect's fitness to practise and conduct; its decisions are reviewable by VCAT.
- State and territory tribunals
- Registration boards do not impose the most serious disciplinary outcomes themselves; they refer them to an independent state or territory tribunal — ACAT (ACT), NCAT (NSW), NTCAT (NT), QCAT (Qld), SACAT (SA), TASCAT (Tas), VCAT (Vic) or SAT (WA). Victoria also runs its own Architects Tribunal for fitness-to-practise and conduct inquiries, with VCAT reviewing its decisions. These tribunals handle professional discipline and title-protection matters — they are separate from the Fair Work Commission, which sets your pay and conditions.
- AIA, Australian Institute of Architects
- The peak professional body for architects, trading under the Royal Australian Institute of Architects. A membership institute, not a union, so it cannot negotiate wages or conditions on behalf of architectural workers. The AIA (or a nominated representative body) also holds a seat on nearly every state and territory registration board (AACA Board Composition table, April 2026), so the professional institute sits inside the statutory regulator. SONA (Student Organised Network for Architecture) and EMAGN (Emerging Architects + Graduates Network) are AIA sub-networks for students and graduates; they sit inside AIA and share its lack of industrial standing. Visit website
- AILA, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
- The peak professional body for landscape architects. Sets the professional standard, accredits university programmes, and runs the Registered Landscape Architect credential. AILA is a membership institute, not a union; pay and conditions for landscape architects working in private practice are typically covered by the Miscellaneous Award 2020 (or by the Architects Award if employed inside an architectural practice). Visit website
- DIA, Design Institute of Australia
- The peak professional body for interior designers and other commercial designers. Runs voluntary accreditation and CPD; not a union, so it does not negotiate wages or conditions. Interior designers working in an architectural practice are usually covered by the Architects Award (or by the Miscellaneous Award if employed outside architecture). Visit website
- PIA, Planning Institute of Australia
- The peak professional body for urban and regional planners. Sets the Certified Practising Planner credential, accredits planning degrees, and lobbies on planning policy. Not a union; pay and conditions depend on the workplace, council planners are usually covered by the Local Government Industry Award 2020 [MA000112], while consultancy planners may sit under the Miscellaneous Award 2020 [MA000104]. UAW covers urban and regional planners. Visit website
- BDAA, Building Designers Association of Australia
- The peak professional body for building designers, with state divisions across Australia. Building designers design buildings (predominantly residential and small-scale commercial) without holding the protected title "architect" — Victoria has separate building-designer registration via the VBA; most other states are unregulated. BDAA is a membership institute, not a union; employed building designers in private practice are typically covered by the Manufacturing & Associated Industries Award 2020, the same award that covers architectural draftspeople. Visit website
- ArchiTeam, ArchiTeam Cooperative
- A membership co-operative for small-practice and sole-practitioner architects, founded in Victoria and now operating nationally. Offers professional indemnity insurance, peer support, contracts, and CPD. Not a union and not an employer association; ArchiTeam sits beside AIA as an alternative membership option, especially for very small firms. Visit website
- ACA, Association of Consulting Architects
- Represents employers (firm principals) in industrial matters, including negotiating award wages. Registered organisation under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009. Visit website
- UAW, UNION OF ARCHITECTURAL Workers
- Your union. UAW is the architectural workers’ division of Professionals Australia (formerly APESMA), and the successor to Professional Architects Australia. UAW has standing when the Architects Award is reviewed by the Fair Work Commission. Members can join to collectively bargain with their employers. Membership covers architects, graduates, students, interior designers, landscape architects, urban and regional planners, urban designers, draftspeople, academics, and practice managers and support staff. Learn more
- NTEU, National Tertiary Education Industry Union
- The union for university workers. Over 28,000 members across every Australian university. Academics and sessional staff teaching architecture are represented by the NTEU, which negotiates enterprise agreements with universities. Visit website
- Fair Work Commission (FWC)
- The independent national workplace relations tribunal, established by the Fair Work Act 2009. Maintains the safety net of minimum wages, approves enterprise agreements, resolves workplace disputes, and sets modern award variations. Currently running a work-value review of architect classifications (AM2025/19). Visit website
- Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO)
- Federal agency enforcing compliance with the Fair Work Act, awards, and registered agreements. Free advice and education on pay and conditions. If you think you’re being underpaid: 13 13 94. Visit website
- Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)
- Primary federal workplace-relations legislation. Establishes the FWC and FWO, sets up the modern awards system, and frames enterprise bargaining, the right to disconnect, and workplace delegates’ rights.
- State/territory Architects Act
- Each state and territory has its own legislation governing architect registration. These Acts establish the registration boards, protect the title “architect”, and set out registration and conduct requirements.
- State/territory Architects Regulations
- Subsidiary legislation under each Architects Act. Detailed rules for registration, conduct, fees, and discipline. Names and years vary.
- Architects Award 2020 [MA000079]
- The federal modern award setting minimum pay and conditions for architectural employees. Covers students, graduates, and registered architects in private practice. Does not cover university academic staff. A Fair Work Commission work-value review is under way (AM2025/19). Learn more
- Miscellaneous Award 2020 [MA000104]
- A federal safety-net award for employees not covered by another industry or occupation award. Interior designers, landscape architects, and consultancy planners may fall under it, depending on the employer’s industry. Check with Fair Work (13 13 94) or with us.
- Manufacturing & Associated Industries Award 2020 [MA000010]
- Federal modern award covering manufacturing and associated industry workers, including draftspeople and building designers. The standard award for architectural draftspersons.
- Enterprise agreements
- Agreements negotiated between employers and employees (usually through their union) that set pay and conditions above award minimums. Standard in universities (negotiated by the NTEU). Rare in private architecture practice; no private architecture firm is known to have one.