Au revoir to the Architects Registration Board of Victoria?

The future of the Architects Registration Board of Victoria (ARBV) has come into question following the Victorian Government’s response to the Silver Review.

The Silver Review proposes consolidation of government agencies

In June 2025, Helen Silver's Independent Review proposed a number of changes to Victoria’s public sector to reduce complexity and minimise cost overruns. The review recommended consolidating agencies and regulators to improve efficiency and simplify governance.

By December 2025, the Victorian Government agreed to most recommendations and committed to reforms, including creating large "super-regulators" to replace smaller specialist bodies. As part of this plan, the ARBV and two other professional bodies are proposed to be merged into the Business Licensing Authority, forming a new Business and Professions Regulator.

Industry response

Peak industry bodies have raised questions about the proposed abolition of the ARBV. These have included:

• whether the new regulator will be able to continue to uphold robust standards of competence, education, professional conduct and accountability; and
• whether concerns about inefficient use of taxpayer funds are justified, in circumstances where the ARBV is wholly self-funded through practitioner registration fees rather than taxpayer funds.

Legislative debates

The proposed abolition of the ARBV has been raised in the Victorian Legislative Council in recent months, with the Government questioned about whether:

• the ARBV is a profession-funded safeguard for the benefit of the public rather than a financial burden on government;
• absorbing the ARBV into a large, generic or "super" regulator would dilute specialist expertise and weaken oversight of a long-standing and respected profession; and
• the abolition of the ARBV into a generic body would result in better quality buildings, improved safety or stronger consumer protection.

Some have queried why the ARBV is not being integrated into the newly formed Building and Plumbing Commission, which currently operates as a one-stop shop for the construction industry (unless you are an architect).

Key takeaways

The fate of the ARBV remains uncertain, as discussions continue about its proposed abolition/merger.

If the proposed merger does proceed, it remains to be seen:

• what impact this will have on existing and future disciplinary matters before the ARBV; and
• whether the new entity can preserve the ARBV's specialist expertise, while maintaining public safety and consumer protection outcomes.