The ACT Architects Board ensures registered architects provide services to the public in a professional and competent manner. The board has a range of powers to investigate complaints against architects and to discipline those who are found to have acted unprofessionally or incompetently. The Board meets at least four times a year.

Members

The Board is made up of five members each appointed for up to three years by the Minister for Planning. Those members are:

• Nino Bellantonio, academic architect;
• Robert Clynes, commercial lawyer;
• Graeme Trickett, registered architect;
• Catherine Townsend, representative of group promoting architects’ interests; and
• Joan Westaway, community interest representative.

Board responsibilities

The Board’s functions are to:

• register architects;
• investigate complaints given to the Board about registered people and people who have been registered;
• consider whether it is necessary to take disciplinary action against registered people and people who have been registered and, if it is, to take the necessary action;
• consider and report to the Minister about issues referred to the Board by the Minister for advice;
• advise the Minister in relation to the practice of architecture, for example, about codes of professional conduct;
• further a common and harmonious approach to the administration of legislation about architects by cooperation with local jurisdictions;
• accredit courses of study in architecture; and
• provide general advice to consumers about the professional conduct and standards of competence expected of registered architects.

The Board operates independently, impartially and in the public interest. However it must respond to directions from the Minister. The Minister can give a direction to the Board about its exercise of functions only if the Minister believes it is in the public interest to do so. This is a notifiable instrument in the ACT Legislative Assembly, and the Minister must consider any comments from the board about a proposed direction before it is issued. A direction cannot be given about the registration of architects, including renewal, cancellation, disciplinary action and refusal to register. The board's decisions about disciplinary action can be appealed in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.