This session aims to provide valuable insight into the key aspects of glass selections, performance considerations and best practice for the design and construct project phases, ensuring essential glass knowledge for seamless integration into your projects.

It will cover the broad spectrum of all things glass, relative to both domestic and commercial product selection:

• Identification of different glass types, their properties and terminology.

• Explanation of glass processes and their impact on building design and application suitability. 

• Recognising how glass selection affects functionality and aesthetics in design.

• Exploration of creative uses of glass to enhance aesthetics and meet functional needs.

This presentation will provide an overview of Business NSW, our role in supporting businesses across regional NSW, and the work we do to advocate for stronger regional economies.

It will explore the critical link between housing and economic growth, the key barriers to housing delivery, and the policy reforms needed to unlock more homes, support local businesses and help regional communities thrive.

The ACA QLD/NT + Regional Architecture Association (RAA) are excited to present a new breakfast forum series: Business Matters, bringing together architects from metropolitan, regional and remote practices to discuss the realities of running an architecture business. The first in-person breakfast discussion on Wednesday 19 August will cover People, Culture & the Business of Talent.

Balconies are a popular feature in multi-residential buildings, offering occupants an appealing blend of indoor and outdoor living. However, these spaces present specific challenges in terms of drainage. Without effective water management systems, they are susceptible to water accumulation, which in turn, can lead to structural issues and building degradation.

In this CPD session, we look at why balconies leak and the drainage solutions that will prevent water accumulating and entering the indoor environment. We also consider the upcoming changes related to this field in the 2025 update of the National Construction Code (NCC).

Join Anna Maskiell (Public Realm Lab), Alastair Flynn (Woods Bagot) and Talina Edwards (Envirotecture), in discussion about architecture using breathable, beautiful, carbon-sequestering hempcrete — one of our most sustainable building materials.

Join us as we take a look at the first built example of the NSW Housing Pattern Book's Row Homes 01 design by SAHA, currently under construction by builder Forrest Small Homes.

Led by James Forrest, this site visit offers a unique opportunity to see the project taking shape and gain firsthand insight into the delivery of one of the NSW Housing Pattern Book's early built outcomes. The project has already attracted significant interest from government and media, highlighting its role in demonstrating new approaches to housing delivery in NSW.

After the tour, we'll head to Resin Brewing to continue the conversation over a drink and a meal. We'd love you to join us.

ArchiTeam CEO Phoebe LaGerche-Wijsman provides Regional Architecture Association members and audience with an overview of their role in supporting small and medium architectural practices, with a particular focus on the needs of regional practitioners. It outlines ArchiTeam’s core areas of advocacy, professional support, education, risk management, and community connection, while highlighting the practical resources and benefits available to members.

Architectural photographer and filmmaker Andy Macpherson will speak about the relationship between architecture and photography, and provide practical insight into how architects can get the most out of a shoot. 

Barrister Fiona Clark will speak about contract administration, the Security of Payment Act, where the risks are for Architects and how they can be avoided.

Join Dr Anna Tweeddale, James Pedersen and Barbara Labrousse from the University of Newcastle School of Architecture and Built Environment for a discussion outlining ideas and opportunities for kindling more meaningful relationships between our student cohort and regional architectural practices through live projects and student placements. 

In recent years, a huge amount of work has been undertaken to improve gender equity in architectural workplaces, and there is now increasing attention to a broad range of equity matters and initiatives. Justine Clark of Parlour (RAA Partner organisation) will be in speak in conversation with RAA Secretary Sarah Aldridge about their work in the area of equitable practice and the guides they publish to help architecture move towards a more equitable profession – one that offers opportunity for all and is better positioned to meet contemporary challenges.

RAA is pleased to announce its first Community Conversation, an evening in person event on the NSW South Coast that seeks to engage discussion amongst architects, government and industry leaders along with interested parties from the local area.

This presentation explores condensation management and ventilation strategies for metal roofing and wall cladding systems, with a clear focus on NCC compliance and real-world constructability. It will unpack the NCC condensation provisions as they relate to metal envelopes and examine how different wall and roof build-ups perform in practice — from direct-fixed profiles to architectural panel systems installed over battens or plywood substrates. The session will compare insulation types, vapour control layers, and breathable membranes, and will place particular emphasis on correct detailing of ventilation paths, air inlets, and outlets to reduce condensation risk and improve long-term building performance.

The NCC goes through cyclical updates. This presentation will focus on the new changes to the NCC and what to expect covering all areas such as Health & Amenity, Access, Fire & ESD compliance.

Presented by Padraig Healy and Andrew Beames of Credwell.

This session will explore how community-led organisations can meaningfully influence large-scale infrastructure, policy, and energy outcomes in regional Australia. Drawing on the work of Upper Murray Inc., the Energy Resilience and Reliability Project, and the Corryong Islandable Microgrid, the presenters will unpack how local advocacy, technical understanding, partnerships, and persistence can translate grassroots concern into real, systemic change. The discussion will highlight how architects, through their broad skillsets in problem solving, systems thinking, and project management, can be valuable contributors to community-led initiatives that shape resilient regional futures.

Join us in Sydney for cheese, drinks and a discussion panel to celebrate issue #1 of Field: Architecture Gone Regional. All welcome, please RSVP your attendance by Monday 16th February.

Produced by the Regional Architecture Association, Field reflects the regions we work in — their landscapes, communities, and creative energy. It celebrates projects that shape regional places, while sharing ideas and innovation from conversations with a broader audience. Field connects community, sparks dialogue, and honours the craft and care that define architecture in the regions.

This online event will be held in the lead up to the POWER OF COMMUNITY and serve to introduce some of the themes being explored and set the scene for the in person experience.

In this session, Dr Juliette Milbank will speak about Totally Renewable Yackandandah (TRY), its genesis and the achievements of the community-led initiative.

In this online session, committee member Andrew Elia, a director of IDG Architects in Springwood in the Blue Mountains will discuss the interview and hiring processes he is involved in at his firm, providing some key points to graduates about presenting themselves and their folios.

We will also hear from 2024 University of Newcastle Masters of Architecture graduates Caitlyn Sherwood and Levi Baker. Caitlyn is now a Project Leader at Webber Architects in Newcastle and Levi is employed at King & Campbell in Port Macquarie as a Graduate of Architecture; they will briefly share their own experience of the folio preparation, interview and hiring process.

This presentation provides architects and specifiers with essential guidance on selecting and detailing metal cladding systems. It covers best practices for writing clear and comprehensive specifications, including material selection, finishes, system components, and compliance with Australian Standards.

This talk is aimed at improving understanding of the tender process and reducing the barriers for practices who are interested in public project work. It will cover the key components of a strong tender bid, addressing questions around marketing, procurement principles and basics of tender documentation. We will also discuss tips for preparing a tender submission and common frustrations for the smaller practice. 

Architects are trained, accredited and registered professionals and in NSW have operated for more than 100 years within a well-regulated professional system that sets the bar for other building design professionals.  But to be able to call yourself an Architect you need to get registered first!  This webinar will tell you everything need to know about the various pathways to registration as an Architect in Australia.  Join the webinar and find out which pathway is best for you.

This session is FREE for members and non members alike, please register your attendance.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing the achievements of 2024-2025 at the upcoming RAA Annual General Meeting. 

RAA welcomes nominations for new committee members from across Australia who are enthusiastic about the regions, architecture and community.

This session touches on the history of steel manufacturing, the current methods of production and Lysaght's journey to Net Zero Steel manufacturing here in Australia by 2050, which shows we can become the world leader in Green Steel. The presentation will show what it took for Port Kembla to become one of the first Responsible Steel sites in the world -  as measured by the global steel industry's multi-stakeholder sustainability standard and certification program, designed to ensure that customers, stakeholders and consumers can be confident that the steel they use has been sourced and produced responsibly. 

“Code of Conduct Bingo” is an interactive workshop designed to engage architects with the NSW Architects Code of Professional Conduct and refresh everyone’s memory of the various provisions of the Code. 

Creative Directors Bobbie Bayley, Owen Kelly and Tonielle Dempers set out to provide an experience that examines the complexity of the arid and remote places of Central Australia.

Over three days in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and surrounds this gathering will invite delegates to gain a deeper understanding of local complexities.

Barrister Fiona Clark’s presentation will set out all the legal ‘problem areas’ in a contract which are usually unknown to people who do not have legal qualifications and are even unknown to lawyers who do not specialise in construction.

Maiya McKenna’s presentation will largely focus on her work on the Larrakia Cultural Centre while touching on themes of practicing in the Top End and what it’s like to emerge in a regional / remote location.

In this talk, Simon Scally focusses on the lessons learned working on housing projects over a 30 year timespan. Simon began working with Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation (BAC) in the 1990s and BAC constructed 100 homes on outstations (homelands) around Maningrida in central Arnhem land.