DIA Ramps Up its Advocacy in 2023 on behalf of Design Professions
It’s already February! Last year DIA championed many issues impacting designers. This article is the first in a series of DIA – Advocacy News articles which will be rolled out in coming months highlighting our support for the profession across each of the disciplines including the new and emerging design disciplines.
Firstly, we take a look at Interior Design, which currently requires immediate action to ensure its ANZSCO Occupation Profile skill level and definition is a relevant foundation for the profession.
Also, just as urgent is the need for a direct lobbying campaign to ensure that interior designers are recognised as certified design practitioners by each state regulator as they transition their Building Regulations in line with the National Construction Code to be adopted on 1 May 2023.
Victoria is currently the only state that registers interior designers and that’s in the Draftspersons Building Design (Interiors) category. Unfortunately, NSW lost an opportunity to include them on the list of the Design Practitioner Classifications in their first round of changes to Class 2 Building reforms. This has resulted in substantial increases in costs and significant impediments to the way in which interior design practices perform their work in NSW. As NSW has been the first state to review and implement changes to its building regulations this stands as a harbinger for the rest of the country.
Last year our advocacy work in support of the interior design profession uncovered a fundamental problem with the ANZSCO Occupation Profile Skill Level, which in 2019 had its original classification changed from Skill Level 1 (Degree) to Skill Level 2 (Diploma).
The only design profession to experience a change, it was made without consultation with DIA, who in 2006 under the stewardship of DIA President, David Roberston AM LFDIA, made the initial recommendations (which were adopted) to the Australian Bureau of Statistics for the skill levels for all design professions to be at Skill Level 1.
For the interior design profession this change is having follow on repercussions e.g., hap hazard naming of qualifications, unsubstantiated use of the title ‘Interior Designer’, lack of clear definitions between vocation and profession, fines for making reference to ‘Interior Architecture’ qualifications as a service, lack of recognition of the interior design profession in Commonwealth and State Building Codes and lack of public and professional awareness of the role of interior designers.
Our advocacy in 2022 highlighted these issues and included corresponding with ministers and construction regulators, making submissions, meeting with Commonwealth and State politicians and government agencies, joining construction forums, collecting and analysing data and facilitating state based working groups.
There is still much work to be done this year, especially to ramp up a grass roots campaign and provide input into direct lobbying activities such as the ANZSCO Review of the Occupation Profiles 2023. Yes, there is an opportunity to have the skill level for ANZSCO 2325 Interior Designers returned to Skill Level 1. But a case must be made for the change.
To this end Interior Design Working Groups (IDWG) made up of experienced DIA members have been established:
VIC led by Mim Fanning FDIA, Mardi Doherty FDIA, Adelle Winteridge FDIA and Carley Nichols MDIA
NSW led by Sarah-Jane Pyke FDIA and Diane Fernandes
QLD led by Angela Spillane FDIA and Dr Natalie Wright FDIA
Other States to follow.
The IDWG leaders held their first meeting on Wed 15 Feb 2023 to plan out their year’s activities. Please support them and their state working groups when they ask for help. And / or help us as your representative organisation by taking a membership of DIA. We are championing the profession to ensure that 16,800 Australian Interior Designers have a future.
Written by Jo-Ann Kellock FDIA (Hon), DIA CEO