Corporate News
Women in Consulting Leadership
Sydney Breakfast Forum To bring about change within the upper echelons of the built environment consulting industry would be a significant step in advancing equality in this traditional and male dominated world and these business leaders are taking a big step...
Fringe benefits tax (FBT) implications for Christmas parties
When planning your Christmas party, it’s also important to consider any tax requirements.Generally, you won’t have to pay FBT if you host the Christmas party on your business premises, or keep the cost of the party to below $300 per person. Some Christmas parties can...
“greenery” symbolic of regard for the environment states Pantone Colour Institute
The Pantone Colour Institute has spoken: at a time when it seems everybody is in need of some hope, the bright “ greenery” should help provide some as the 2017 Colour of the Year. The idolised colour authority announced its choice of the shade Pantone 15-0343...
Workspace and the future
AFA Member ‘Workspace’ held their annual sales conference in Adelaide recently. Run over three-days they conducted numerous events across their home base of Adelaide. The theme of the conference “Future of the Workspace” included (READ MORE) a public event with a...
Repairs Before Home Selling Return Rewards
Taking a break over Christmas?... Looking to sell your house? – well, this is a great time to do some reno’s for a high return. Quick fixes before selling a home always pay off, but which home repairs bring the biggest return? Specific answers to this often-asked...
The Victorian Premier’s Design Awards Winners!
The Victorian Premier's Design Awards were announced last night at the National Gallery of Victoria. The Awards recognise the best in Victorian Design and Innovation across eight categories, including Product Design, Fashion and Student Design (with two new categories...
Appliance Trends
Trends in home decor and appliances are constantly changing - silver, gold, copper, brass - the options are limitless. However, for 2017 it seems that sleek black stainless steel will replace the usual gleaming silver appliances around the home. This new black...
ACCC talks to furnishing industry stakeholders
At the recent AGM of Furntech-AFRDI, delegates welcomed Billy Brine, A/g Senior Project Officer, Small Business & Industry Codes from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) for his presentation on the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) and how it...
Venue Operators Beware
Are you buying furniture direct from China? Then you are considered the manufacturer in the eyes of the Australian Consumer Law. The Australian Furniture Association has been made aware of the serious financial and insurance risks to hospitality, conferencing and...
Colour Psychology
Step into the fascinating world of Colour Psychology with Award Winning Interior Decorators, Taryn Whitaker and Tracey McLeod, and discover a foolproof process for finding the ideal colour palette for every home and business. The powerful properties of colour are...
Australian Gaming and Hospitality Venue Operators Beware
Australian Venue Operators beware. Are you buying furniture direct from China? Then you are considered the manufacturer in the eyes of the Australian Consumer Law. The Australian Furniture Association has been made aware of the serious financial and insurance risks to...
Reduction in employment for Cabinet Makers?
At the recent Australian Furnishing Community of Practice Network (AFCoPN) meeting, Chris Arnold, Furniture and Cabinetmaking Department of Melbourne Polytechnic, shared this article from the newspaper, which is at odds with the experience of many AFA Member training...
West Australian Students Welcome Feedback
Furniture industry leaders are invited to check out the work of Curtin University graduating students in product, furniture, jewellery and fashion design. From opening night, Friday 9th December 2016 from 6pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm, visitors are encouraged to...
Aussies made 90 million more trips to the shops last financial year
The latest retail-themed State of the Nation reveals that Australians made 90 million more trips to bricks-and-mortar stores in the 2015/2016 financial year than they did in the year before that. For several years, Australians have been making fewer visits to retail...
Is your business Christmas ready?
If your business is retail-focused, you have one goal at this time of year and that is Christmas sales. November and December can account for 20% of annual sales for businesses, and for those AFA Members who have online stores this is for you too. You need to start...
NSW Accelerating Growth Loans Pilot
Accelerating Growth Loans (AGL) is a NSW pilot program providing direct loans for emerging fast growth small to medium enterprises (SMEs) – otherwise known as Gazelles – with capital to address the barriers they face in accessing affordable finance. The...
Rise in Government funded VET student numbers
NCVER has reported that in the first six months to 30 June 2016, there were 849,700 students enrolled in the government-funded VET system (government-funded training delivered by TAFE and other government, community education and other registered providers). There was...
Review of Australian Mandatory Standard for Household Cots
The Australian Furniture Association (AFA) together with industry partners, regulatory bodies, and State and Federal Government share your concerns and that of the ACCC and consumers related to the emerging safety hazards and increased risk of injury and death of...
Furniture & TV Tip-Over Prevention Industry Code – Draft for Comment
The AFA, acting on behalf of our members and in our capacity as the national peak body, has contributed to a review and draft recommendation to the ACCC and Government in response to the issue of toppling furniture and televisions as a growing cause of child injuries...
VCE VET Furnishing PD
The VCAA is hosting a free program PD session in conjunction with the Australian Furniture Association on Wednesday 30 November 2016. We will be joined by Gary Dunshea from Manufacturing Skills Australia and will discuss in detail the implementation of the new...
Snapshot series: When will a contractor be considered an employee?
WorkCover Under the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 a contractor/worker will be deemed any employee of the hirer if a contract is: · not principally for the provision of goods or equipment; and · at least 80% of the work is completed by the...
The Impact of Disruption on International Trade
AFA has provided us with this interesting insight into global trade and logistics as they believe within next decade, it could be virtually unrecognisable from what we see today. Digital and physical disruption will change the way customers and suppliers connect, and...
Architects appointed for State Library of Victoria redevelopment
Architecture Australia reports the Victorian Government has announced the winning consortium selected to design the $83 million redevelopment of the State Library of Victoria (SLV). Australian architecture practice Architectus and Danish practice Schmidt Hammer...
Mothers Day
What better way to say I love you Mum with a beautiful piece of Australian Furniture? Australian made furniture will last and last, doesn’t your Mother deserve a gift like that? Our web site has a list of the Australian Furniture Association Members, to help...
The Prime Minister of Australia The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP on FURNITEX &;amp; design 2016
Warning – Toppling furniture kills another child
The Australasian Furnishing Association (AFA) is continuing to push for stronger legislation since the announcement of IKEA’s alert re toppling furniture and subsequent child deaths. This issue is not exclusive to the IKEA incident, and the AFA is aware of a number of...
Officer liability under Occupational Health and Safety Legislation
Each Australian State and Territory has occupational health and safety (“OHS”) legislation which imposes certain obligations on companies. In any workplace OHS is a significant issue because when an accident or injury occurs there can be serious reputational...
The new business.gov.au is coming in May!
The new business.gov.au is coming in May! The website you see in May will continue to grow and change based on the needs of businesses in Australia. It will include: Coloured icons throughout the site so that you'll quickly see related information. Most pages...
Important Meeting of AFCoPN Education and Training Organisation Members
AFA CEO, Patrizia Torelli, has been reappointed to the Federal Government’s Furnishing Industry Reference Committee. By way of background, the AISC was established by agreement of the Council ofAustralian Governments Industry and Skills Council to provide effective...
AFA Members to comment on R&D Tax Incentive Review
A new public consultation has been launched in relation to the R&D Tax Incentive Programme. AFA Members are strongly encouraged to take a few minutes to complete the survey. R&D Tax Incentive Review Report You are invited to comment on the review report of the...