Dear AILA Members,

The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects have shown incredible resilience through these tough times. The CEO, along with national and state AILA staff, are working tirelessly to ensure AILA continues to prosper as an organisation while achieving our main goal of keeping our members supported and informed, particularly important in the current climate.

Below are some updates from AILA:

Submission to the National Natural Disaster Royal Commission
The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements began the hearing in Canberra on Monday the 25th of May.

AILA’s Submission to the Royal Commission was well-received, and we have followed up with an abundance of advocacy and profiling, using the submission to start conversations and set up meetings.

AILA is pushing forward with other important advocacy initiatives on the back of the submission to the Royal Commission – we are in the final steps of forming the ‘Bushfire Working Group’ and the release of the Climate Positive Position Statement in imminent – stay tuned!

The Importance of Open Space
The coronavirus pandemic has shone an important light on the way we appreciate our environment and use open space. Landscape Architects around Australia and the world have a responsibility to listen, learn and then educate others about how our connection to nature will always work to improve an individual’s physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

AILA Awards
Most states have now seen the high-quality long list of 2020 AILA Awards Entries. Most categories in each state have entries, illustrating that even through the COVID-19 crisis the recognition of great work must be displayed and rewarded as outstanding achievements in Landscape Architecture.

Congratulations!
Recognising the achievement of a becoming an AILA Registered Landscape Architect is a big deal. AILA extends its congratulations to all new RLAs and we look forward to celebrating with you soon.

National Reconciliation Week
AILA supports National Reconciliation Week as it is a National Acknowledgement of Country. Please take a moment to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land that you are on, wherever you are. We all need to continue to communicate and encouraging relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities, organisations, and the broader Australian community.

Please watch the AILA social media channels closely as the organisation becomes more active - keeping the members and the wider built environment supported, informed and engaged.

The AILA Board and CEO will continue to meet regularly to ensure the organisation looks at all opportunities as we come out of the COVID-19 crisis.

Warm Regards,

Chris Tidswell

AILA National Director and Company Secretary