President’s Report - March 2023
The team at LDI are excited for the year ahead. We had a successful National Council planning meeting in February to carefully consider our main priorities, from which we have developed a new set of goals for 2023. This direction aligns with LDI’s relaunch initiatives from last year and integrates the clear feedback and fantastic ideas generated from the members survey (conducted in January this year).
In general, there remains a lot of positivity in the landscape design industry despite difficulties faced across the country and reduced growth due to cost-of-living pressures and political fluctuations. As the market begins to slow this winter it may just be the perfect time to take a well-deserved break!
Members Survey
Thanks to everyone who participated in our recent 2023 Members Survey. Please find below a link to a summary of submissions we received:
The main strategy for LDI is growth. Over the next few years, the National Council will be focusing on expanding our membership across the country and forming new partnerships with premium brand sponsors. With an increase in members, we will be able to raise our service levels in the following areas:
Events
LDI will aim to provide relevant training for all members in a range of topics to broaden skills and improve professionalism in our industry. Events held across each state and nationally will be scheduled to include regular online training webinars, in-person field trips, networking and seminars with links to industry partners and experts. The recent survey feedback highlighted specific areas you would like prioritised, which our marketing team are currently working into the up-coming calendar to develop events that accelerate your professional development, knowledge base and business practice. Watch this space!
Following last year’s National LDI Design Awards in Sydney, we are looking to build on the incredible success of the event and take on board recent feedback to further refine the program. We are currently considering the format of the awards, the timing & location of the event (with an aim to allow more to enter and attend), adopting some new categories along with other ideas to achieve wider exposure of your amazing work.
Education
Our team are working to enhance connections with Students via TAFE’s, Colleges and Universities to assist those wanting to enter the landscape design industry. We believe in supporting the next generation of landscape designers by having stronger links with educators. The core focus of LDI will be to work alongside education providers to support students during their studies and highlight pathways into the industry as they transition into their own careers upon graduating.
Specifically, this will mean students can attend our successful Landscape Beat-Up networking sessions with access to experienced industry mentors and the ability to source work placement via direct links to landscape design companies. We have already had successful visits to TAFE’s to talk about our role as an Institute in training, mentoring and planning fun design-related events, as well as promote the deal for new memberships ($125 annually for students & free for all current educators!)
Sustainability
Landscape designers work has a direct impact on our environment. Our team want to provide current & relevant information to our membership about considering ways to mitigate environmental impact and reduce the overall carbon footprint through different work methods and material choices.
Please click here to read about our draft document ‘LDI Environmental Policy’. We plan on providing information sessions later this year to discuss this document as a group and to capture more ideas for improvement in our industry.
Marketing
The National Council are determining the best way to provide the Landscape Outlook magazine as a resource for members that is achievable within cost and time constraints. Options for the format of the future magazine are being assessed, including becoming an online-only version or collaborating with other allied industries publications, however, in the short term we are looking to amend the frequency which will allow us to spend more time developing relevant content. We are keen to hear from members who are keen to assist with this publication so please don’t hesitate to reach out if you want to help.
LDI will be continuing to showcase members work, advertise industry events and sponsors through our social media channels. Please remember to tag us (#ldi_au) in your own professional pages, refer LDI to potential new members & premium sponsors, and continue to cross-promote our wonderful industry sponsors that support us all.
Membership
We have been working behind the scenes to update and realign our membership to support and represent members specific needs at various levels depending on their experience and professional needs. LDI recently opened applications for the new Registered Landscape Designer category and are currently assessing the first round of applicants. Our student category has been adjusted to simplify the timing of the membership year to align with the student calendar rather than the financial year, making it easier and cheaper for students to join up at the start their studies.
Advocation
The National Council are continuing to advocate with local, state and federal governments and other agencies to represent members’ professional interests in the following areas:
In QLD we are working alongside AILA Qld in providing stakeholder submissions to the Ministerial Construction Council on recommendations for proposed licensing requirements for project management of landscape architectural/design work. We are also part of negotiations to develop a framework for the recognition of suitable technical qualifications and experience requirements for any new license sub-class to undertake this work.
In NSW we’re happy to have been accepted as an advisory body with Skills Insight (formerly Skills Impact) for the development of new national landscape design training packages to ensure the education qualifications stay relevant to our industry.
In Victoria we are investigating how we can work with LV and the VBA to address the alignment of our membership categories with future licensing requirements and registration of designers to submit plans for obtaining building approvals.
As a National Council we enjoyed speaking with members at the Australian Landscape Conference and look forward to meeting more at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. Please come up for a chat with us as we’d love to hear about your work or any issues that we can provide assistance with.
Thanks for your support and membership with LDI – have a great Autumn and enjoy the cooler weather ahead!
Andrew Munro
LDI President