Since the end of last year, we have continued to provide new and updated content covering a wide range of practice issues as well as ongoing currency reviews and consolidation of existing material for the benefit of our readers. Revisit some of our recent notes or explore new notepacks that have been created to provide curated content on a given topic.
For information concerning COVID-19 and its potential impacts for practice, please refer to our dedicated webpage for the most up-to-date information and resources as they develop to support you and your practice at this time.
Acumen is an included benefit for A+, Member level 1, Affiliate Level 1, Graduate and Student members.
Practice notes
What’s new in Acumen? Recent new and updated content covers a range of topics for your day-to-day practice from our new office manual framework to nuances in building approval processes across states and territories. Refer also to our Access notes update below.
- NSW Code of conduct
- SA Code of conduct
- Approval processes for planning and construction
- Office administration and manual structure
- Novation
- Consult Australia Contract
- Electronic communications
- Mental health in the profession
- Building Act (Tasmania) certification
If you are experiencing a situation in which a contractor has become insolvent, refer to Termination rights and insolvency events for guidance on contracts entered into after 1 July 2018 regarding changes to the Corporations Act.
If you have missed an update, all recent new and updated content can be found via the Acumen home page. We welcome your feedback.
Access design notes
With input from the National Access Work Group (NAWG), the Access design guide menu in Acumen has recently been simplified into three categories: best practice, fit out and National Construction Code (NCC) requirements. New to the Access design guide is the note Junior ambulant toilets.
Notepacks
Have you explored our notepacks? Notepacks provide curated Acumen content on a particular topic. New to notepacks:
Highlighted Environment content
Needing some inspiration from nature or looking at ways to connect your buildings to the natural environment? Revisit some of our Environment notes on biophilic design and regenerative development, including local and international case studies:
- Architecture’s role in the repair of the natural environment
- Biophilic design: an introduction for designers
- Regenerative development through LENSES with a case study of Seacombe West
Acumen Content Review Panel/Environment Advisory Group
We thank outgoing Acumen Content Review Panel (ACRP) Chair and member, Casey Bryant (NSW), for his valued contribution to Acumen. Casey has been an integral member of the ACRP for the last three years, contributing to both content development and the transition to the new Acumen platform. We welcome new ACRP member Luisa Manfredini (NSW) to the panel.
Our Environment Advisory Group has been formally established for 2020. We welcome three new members: Carolyn Marshall (WA), Paul Barnett (ACT) and Patrick Denell (Tas) who join existing advisory members Caroline Pidcock (NSW/Chair), John Gelder (SA) and Noy Hildebrand (Vic).
