AHQF committee members Robyn Clinch, Donald Ellsmore, Mary Knaggs, and Claire Nunez will lead a discussion about the development of the AHQF.
Australia ICOMOS (AICOMOS) and the Association for Preservation Technology International Australasia Chapter (APT) advocate the development of an Australian Heritage Quality Framework (AHQF) to provide incentive for improving the quality of heritage conservation outcomes by requiring conservation projects to meet quality benchmarks and to improve training to meet standards. The proposed AHQF model advocates self-certification against benchmarking and mandatory application of quality measures in statutory conditions of approval and government funding of works.
An Australian Heritage Quality Framework has the potential to:
− Achieve higher quality conservation works to Australia’s heritage assets
− Provide property owners with more certainty regarding the sustainability of conservation works to heritage fabric
− Encourage industry to meet nationally recognised benchmarks for heritage construction projects
− Provide improved employment opportunities and training in traditional trades and heritage conservation practices.
This forum provides an opportunity for discussion on the use quality measures in heritage professional practice and in the execution of heritage conservation works.