Vision Statement
(The Vision Statement is the long term aim of what the AILA wishes to be achieved for present and future generations)
Resilient, engaging and healthy urban, regional and rural environments, designed in balance with natural and cultural systems.
Mission Statement
(The AILA's Mission Statement is what we aim to contribute in order to achieve the Vision)
To advance the profession of Landscape Architecture in the service of the public interest and to provide leadership in the creation and stewardship of sustainable cities and settlements.
About The AILA
The AILA is the peak national organisation representing and harnessing the collective interests of the Australian Landscape Architecture professions and oversees the professional recognition of Registered Landscape Architects.
The AILA is guided by the Australian Landscape Principles in its policy and strategic directions, advocacy and programs.
The AILA is the vehicle by which the Landscape Architecture profession is able to raise awareness, initiate and lead engagement with the wider community on issues of strategic importance to the natural and built environment.
The AILA provides leadership in the education, professional development and ethical behaviour of members and to influence decision making in response to the evolving knowledge, understanding and requirements of people, natural and built environments.
The Institute actively anticipates and develops a leading position on issues of concern relating to the design, planning, management and stewardship of the natural and built environment. It seeks to be comprehensively acknowledged in this role by allied professions, by political and community leaders and by the wider public.
The AILA places a priority on stewardship as the means of actively taking responsibility for and management of the landscape through master planning, design, recycling, conservation, regeneration, and restoration. Landscape includes those landscapes that are - urban and regional; rural and natural; modified and unmodified.
Achieving
effective and sustainable outcomes in the built and natural environment
requires an integrated response. The
public domain, in which the majority of landscape architects
operate, plays an increasingly important role as the venue for
social interaction,
celebration and human endeavour. Consequently it is essential
that the public domain incorporate places that are meaningful,
enjoyable, and
equitable for the people who use them.
Landscape
architects have a leading role to play in defining and implementing
such integrated solutions. To fulfill their leadership role, landscape
architects need to be not only creative in planning and design but also
effective in influencing policy, priorities, allocation of resources
and public perceptions and expectations. AILA provides the organisational
structure through which landscape architects in Australia can effectively
respond to these challenges.
AILA and Design
In a Landscape Architecture context, design denotes the creative process of blending of the applied arts, science and other creative and aesthetic endeavours. Landscape architects, as designers, may originate and develop plans for sites or for the management of landscapes, or may design, develop and manage policy for urban and rural landscapes or land developments.
The design process requires landscape architects to be involved in and originate a complex range of tasks including consultations, research, collaboration, modelling, interactive adjustment, and re-design.
The Governance of the AILA
The
governance of AILA is vested in theAILA National Council, which retains
ultimate legal responsibility for the organisation and provides leadership
by setting goals, budgets, policies and performance targets.
The organisation
of the AILA is based on a federal system with a National Council and
eight state/territory groups.
AILA State/Territory Groups are Committees of Council
appointed to represent the profession, the Institute and its members
within the State.
The State Groups provide a forum and focus for the
activities of members, carry out the work of the Institute at State
and local level and promote the aims and objects of the Institute.
The AILA National
Office located in Canberra is responsible for coordinating the delivery
of membership services, implementation of National Council decisions
and collaboration with the State Groups that serve AILA members at a
local level.
Services
include advocacy, education, continuing professional development, communications,
environment and community liaison. Key programs are the AILA national
and state web sites, Landmark (the National Council broadsheet) and state newsletters,
national conferences, national and state awards and regular communication.
>> Company Constitution | Governance Manual | Key Statements | Strategic Plan
How it began
The AILA: 1966 - present
The
Institute had its beginnings at a meeting held during a national conference
of the Royal Australian Planning Institute in August 1963 whereby a
group of professionals held an informal meeting to discuss the need
for a new professional body to represent Australia's Landscape Architects.
In
1966, the agreement was reached to progress to formal status
with an
interim committee forming the first Australian Institute of landscape
Architects with Richard Clough being the Interim Chair. A
memorandum of understanding was established and Articles of
Association
written.
The
original subscribers were:
Malcolm Bunzli, George Williams, Ray Margules, Jean Verschuer, Professor
Lindsay Pryor, Bruce MacKenzie, David Steane, Harry Howard and Gavin
Walkley.
In
1967, this interim committee handed over to an elected Council
with Peter Spooner as
its first National President.
Landscape Architecture in Australia - 1997 article on influences
The
AILA Presidents till present - click here
Click
HERE to see
the 25 year review of the AILA
a career in landscape architecture?
and there's lots more on the site-map
