Architectural Practice (Continuing Professional Development) Amendment Bill

Introduction and First Reading

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (12:25): Obtained leave and introduced a bill for an act to amend the Architectural Practice Act 2009. Read a first time.

Second Reading

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (12:26): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

This bill makes an amendment to the Architectural Practice Act 2009, mandating continuing professional development as a condition of ongoing registration as a practising architect in South Australia. In 2006, all architectural registration boards across Australia agreed to a national continuing professional development framework. Many states have now adopted this, and this proposed amendment seeks to align South Australia with other jurisdictions in mandating professional development as a condition of ongoing registration for practising architects.

The provisions of the amendment will apply to all practising architects. The Architectural Practice Board of South Australia will develop the rules for continuing professional development in South Australia once the bill has passed. The bill will require registered architects to undertake approved continuing professional development activities at their own or their employer's cost.

This amendment has been consulted on and is supported by the Architectural Practice Board of South Australia, the Australian Institute of Architects, South Australian Chapter, and the Association of Consulting Architects, South Australia. Preliminary information about the intention to mandate continuing professional development as a condition of registration of architects has been made available to the architectural profession by the Architectural Practice Board of South Australia.

In light of the recommendations of the national Shergold Weir report into building confidence, which, among other things, recommended greater consistency across Australia and a chance for architects to re-establish and refine their professional role in the construction industry, this bill seeks to protect and maintain elevated standards of professional conduct and to increase confidence in the construction sector. The mandating of continuing professional development will ensure that architects maintain their knowledge and skills, relevant to their architectural practice, and their provision of architectural services to consumers. I seek leave to insert the explanation of clauses into Hansard without my reading it.

Leave granted.

Explanation of Clauses

Part 1—Preliminary

1—Short title

2—Commencement

3—Amendment provisions

These clauses are formal.

Part 2—Amendment of Architectural Practice Act 2009

4—Amendment of section 3—Interpretation

This clause inserts a new definition of professional development rules, consequential on the amendment in clause 7 of the measure.

5—Amendment of section 13—Functions of Board

This clause makes a number of amendments to allow the Architectural Practice Board to make rules (the professional development rules) prescribing requirements for continuing professional development for registered architects.

6—Amendment of section 15—Delegations

This amendment inserts a reference to the professional development rules to be enacted by the amendments in clause 5.

7—Insertion of section 31A

This clause inserts a new section as follows:

31A—Requirement for further education and training

The proposed section provides that a registered architect must, in each year of registration, undertake or obtain further education, training and experience required or determined under the professional development rules. A registered architect who fails to do so is not entitled to be registered in accordance with the Act. The section provides for the circumstances in which the Architectural Practice Board may exempt an architect from the requirement to undertake further education and training.

8—Amendment of section 32—Fees and returns

The clause inserts a provision requiring a registered architect to provide to the Board, along with their registration and annual fee, a form approved by the Board that contains information that, under the professional development rules, the registered architect is required to provide to the Board as to compliance with the professional development rules (or with the terms or conditions of an exemption from the rules).

Debate adjourned on motion of Ms Cook.