A STRONGER FUTURE TOGETHER

We’re delighted to share some exciting news with our ACFA Members.

Following a successful vote at the KBDi’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 14th May, the Kitchen and Bathroom Designers Institute (KBDi) and the Australian Cabinet and Furniture Association (ACFA) will officially merge in a strategic alliance that promises to transform the kitchen, bathroom, and cabinetry sector in Australia.

This merger unites two respected organisations with shared values and a common vision. Together, we will create a more powerful, connected, and resourceful organisation, serving our members from concept design to project completion and elevating the industry as a whole.

Why This Merger Matters:

• Securing the future of KBDi.
  Joining forces with KBDi ensures a stronger financial and strategic foundation for our organisation and its members.
  
• Creating a stronger voice
  As a united front, we will have greater influence and advocacy power at both the state and national levels.
  
• Expanding training and education
  ACFA’s 75-year history in the cabinet and furniture manufacturing sector—and its status as a Registered Training Organisation—will open new educational pathways, including the development of a nationally recognised Certificate IV in Kitchen and Bathroom Design and more business-focus short courses. 
  
• Expanding Event Calendar
  ACFA Members will have the opportunity to attend various KBDi Chapter Events, Tradeshows and their annual conference, as a way to network and discover the latest design trends and products.

What Comes Next?

Over the coming weeks, we will begin working closely with the KBDi team to plan the transition and explore the many opportunities this merger will bring. Our focus remains firmly on supporting you—our valued members—and ensuring a smooth and strategic integration.

ACFA will share in the coming months ways members will be able to access current and future benefits of this joint collaboration as we bring more value to our membership. Make sure you keep your eye out for future member bulletins! 

This marks a significant milestone in both ACFA’s and KBDi’s history, and we thank you for your ongoing support and commitment as we embark on this exciting new chapter.

Are You Ready?

Since 2000, at least 28 Australians – including 17 children under the age of five have tragically died due to furniture tip-over incidents. Each year, over 900 Australians suffer injuries requiring medical assistance as a result of toppling furniture. Children under five and older Australians are particularly at risk.

To address this, the Australian Government has introduced the Consumer Goods (Toppling Furniture) Information Standard 2024, which will come into effect on the 4th of May 2025. The new standard aims to raise awareness of the hazards associated with toppling furniture and reduce the risk of serious injury or death in the home.

What is Toppling Furniture?

The standard defines “toppling furniture” as freestanding household furniture that poses a tipping risk. However, it excludes:

• Furniture that was bought by a consumer and is being resold
• Second-hand furniture, including furniture that was previously bought and used commercially
• Furniture designed to be fastened to a wall or other structure and that can’t be used unless it’s attached.

Furniture covered under the standard falls into the following categories:

Category 1 furniture – A clothing storage unit or bookcase with a height of 686 mm or more. A clothing storage unit is an item of furniture designed to be used primarily to store clothes and that contains one or more doors, drawers or other extendable elements.

Category 2 furniture – Entertainment units of any height. Entertainment units are designed to be used primarily to house, support or carry a television.

Category 3 furniture – Hall tables, display cabinets, buffets, and sideboards with a height of 686 mm or greater.

What Are Your Obligations?

From 4 May 2025, businesses that manufacture, import, supply, or sell toppling furniture must comply with the following information requirements:

Point of sale

Clear and legible warnings about the risk of tip-overs and the importance of anchoring must be provided:

• Online: within the product description
• In-store: on or near the product

Affixed to the furniture

Permanent warnings must be attached to each product covered by the mandatory standard. These must be durable, clearly visible when the furniture is empty, and last the lifetime of the product.

Included in the instructions

Assembly or user instructions must include a prominent warning about the tipping risk and instructions for anchoring the product safely.

What Should the Warnings Say?

Each warning must include:

• An alert word in upper case (such as “WARNING” or “DANGER”)
• A statement that children have died from furniture tip-overs
• An internationally recognised safety alert symbol (see below)

Compliance and Enforcement

Compliance and Enforcement The mandatory information standard commences on 4 May 2025. From then, failure to comply with the mandatory information standard may constitute a contravention of the Australian Consumer Law and expose a business or individual to enforcement action by the ACCC with penalties of up to $50,000 per breach.

Guidance materials to help suppliers comply with the mandatory standard can be found on the ACCC website.

NEXT STEPS

We encourage all members to:

• Review the standard and assess which of your products may be affected
• Update product labels, online listings, packaging, and user instructions as required
• Stay informed by monitoring industry updates and official communications

The ACFA Team have put together a list of the different public holidays seen around the country. Click on a State or Territory for the list to drop down:

As the year draws to a close, we want to take a moment to thank you for being a valued member of the ACFA community. Your involvement and support mean so much to us. This year, we’ve worked hard to keep you informed about the many regulatory updates impacting our industry, while also advocating on your behalf through our ongoing lobbying efforts to create a stronger future for our industry.

From all of us at ACFA, we wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a safe, joyful holiday season. May 2025 bring you happiness, good health, and continued success.

Thank you for letting us be a part of your journey this year. We look forward to supporting you and your business in the year ahead.

Please see below dates of when the ACFA Office will be closed. 

Upcoming ACFA Office Closures

ACFA Head Office will be closed on Friday 13th December for our End-of-Year Staff Christmas Party. 

The ACFA office will be open again on Monday 16th December 2024 for normal operating hours. 

The ACFA office will close for the Christmas-New Year Break from 4pm on Friday 20th of December and reopen at 8.30am on Monday, 6th January 2025.

Annual Shutdown Support

Workplace Advice & Membership

During both of these closures, if you require workplace advice on a range of employment matters including award rates, interpretation, employment issues etc you can call the Head Office number, 02 4340 2000,  which has been set up with the option to be transferred through to the ACFA Workplace Hotline through Business Australia who will be able to assist you with your inquiry during office hours, for urgent inquiries that the Workplace Hotline other contact details cannot deal with have been provided within the ‘on-hold‘ message.

The ACFA Portal will remain available 24/7 for you to download any resources you need.  For any non-urgent queries, please email membership@acfa.net.au and the team will respond to your email on their return.

Training

Please note, that these times may vary for individual trainers. We recommend checking in with your trainer to confirm when your next session is booked and what assistance is available.  For general training enquries, please email training@acfa.net.au. 

The ACFA 2024 Industry Awards Night was a spectacular celebration of the incredible talent and achievements within our industry. Held at the stunning Doltone House Hyde Park, a new venue for this year’s event, it was an evening filled with excitement, inspiration, and well-deserved recognition for those who continue to push the boundaries of excellence in the cabinetmaking, furniture, and design sectors.

From the moment guests arrived, there was a buzz in the air, and the positive energy carried throughout the night. The venue’s beautiful setting provided the perfect backdrop for an evening that honoured the best in the industry. The feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising not only the fantastic entertainment and delicious food but also the smooth organisation of the event. The magician and entertainment acts were crowd favourites, with many attendees mentioning how much they enjoyed the fun and lively atmosphere.

We received heartfelt comments like, “The vibe and energy have been lovely, great event!” and “The food and service were amazing!” These glowing remarks only confirm what we already knew – it was truly a night to remember. With such high satisfaction from our attendees, it’s clear that the ACFA Awards Night continues to be one of the most anticipated events on the industry calendar.

Of course, the night would not have been the same without our extraordinary nominees and winners. Their contributions and outstanding projects were the highlight of the evening, and we were thrilled to celebrate their successes with them.

Each nomination represented dedication, creativity, and innovation – values that continue to drive our industry forward. We congratulate all the nominees and winners for their achievements and thank them for helping make the night such a memorable occasion.

As we look ahead to next year, we’re already excited about the incredible projects and talent we’ll have the privilege of celebrating. The bar has been set high, and we know that the talent in this industry will continue to rise to the challenge.

We look forward to seeing even more inspiring nominations and projects at the ACFA Awards next year, as we continue to recognise the very best our industry has to offer. Here’s to another amazing year of innovation, craftsmanship, and achievement!

Many ACFA members may not be fully aware of the comprehensive services offered by our Energy Partner, Choice Energy, one of which is bill validation. This service ensures that all charges on your energy bills are accurate and helps members avoid any unnecessary overcharges.

A notable example of the effectiveness of Choice Energy’s bill validation service can be seen with one of their members, Romeo’s Retail Group. Recently, Choice Energy identified a significant overcharge amounting to $50,000 by Romeo’s energy retailer. If this error had gone unnoticed, it could have resulted in an additional cost of $150,000 for Romeo’s over the course of the year. Since notifying the retailer, this amount has now been credited back to Romeo’s.

The effectiveness of Choice Energy’s services extends beyond bill validation though, especially in this case study. Their energy broking services have also been instrumental in achieving substantial savings for Romeo’s Retail Group, resulting in Choice finding savings of $2.8 million for the Independent Supermarket Retailer. This significant figure highlights the value of Choice Energy’s expertise and commitment to optimising energy expenses for their members.

We believe this information is worth sharing because it highlights the potential for significant cost savings that any of our members could access through Choice Energy’s services. Whether through bill validation,energy broking or commercial solar, Choice Energy’s services could help prevent overcharges and optimize energy costs, ensuring that members only pay for the energy they use and at the most competitive rates available.

July and August are crucial months for reviewing your energy bills, as retailers implement rate increases at the start of the new financial year, it is essential to assess your bills to ensure you’re securing the best rates for your business for the months ahead.

Don’t miss this opportunity to safeguard your business against unnecessary expenses, upload your bill for review here or contact Partnership Relationships Coordinator Amelia via email amelia.pinkard@choiceenergy.com.au or call her on 0413 874 116.

Every small business in NSW has a responsibility to provide a safe and healthy workplace – including both physical and psychological wellbeing. It’s good business sense, leading to higher productivity and reduced sick leave and staff turnover.

If you’re a small business owner looking to better understand psychological health and safety, this introductory seminar is designed for you.

Join SafeWork NSW inspectors as they break down what psychosocial risks look like in real workplaces and how you can proactively identify, manage and reduce them.

Gain practical guidance on your legal obligations, your role in supporting workers’ mental health, where work re-design can assist in managing risks and how to consult effectively with your team about psychosocial hazards.

Small Business Psychological Health and Safety Seminar

Tuesday 30 June | Online

SafeWork NSW is inviting small business owners to attend a free online seminar on managing psychosocial hazards at work. Every small business in NSW has a responsibility to provide a safe and healthy workplace, including both physical and psychological wellbeing. It makes good business sense, leading to higher productivity, reduced sick leave and staff turnover. 

Join SafeWork NSW inspectors as they break down what psychosocial hazards look like in real workplaces and how you can proactively identify, manage and reduce them, including:

• What psychosocial hazards are and how they affect workers
• How to identify, assess and manage psychosocial hazards
• Legal responsibilities of small business owners
• effective consultation with workers
• practical steps to meet work health safety obligations
• How work redesign can reduce risks
• Free tools and resources are available from SafeWork NSW.

Seminar details
Date: Tuesday 30 June
Time: 10:00-11:00am
Format: Online (Microsoft Teams)

Places are limited; secure your spot by registering.

By attending this event, eligible business owners may qualify for the $1,000 SafeWork Small Business Rebate.