Every year, the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) handles over 100,000 enquiries from consumers and industry professionals seeking clear and accurate information on building and plumbing regulation. To meet this growing demand, the VBA developed JAVIS (Just Another Very Intelligent System), an AI-powered knowledge management system built entirely in-house.

Launched in November 2024, JAVIS draws on more than 12,000 internal and external data points to deliver fast, reliable answers with 98% accuracy. It empowers staff with immediate access to regulatory insights, improves consistency in technical advice, and enhances trust between the VBA and the community. Since its launch, over 10,000 searches have been completed, saving time and streamlining communication.

Created through extensive research and testing, JAVIS incorporates live feedback, citation highlighting, and document linking, making it both user-friendly and future ready. As the VBA transitions into the new Building and Plumbing Commission in 2025, JAVIS will support integration efforts with partners such as VMIA and DBDRV.

JAVIS represents a smart, scalable solution to modern regulatory challenges, enhancing internal capability while improving public access to vital regulatory knowledge. It’s a prime example of innovation in action, delivering meaningful, community-focused outcomes through digital transformation.

Moonee Valley City Council launched Register to Reunite with your Pet to tackle the high number of unregistered dogs and cats and reduce animals being impounded or euthanised. The program offers a compelling value exchange: heavily discounted first-year registration fees, waived impound charges, free pet return services, and no fines for registered pets found at large.

This future-focused, cost-effective approach promotes responsible pet ownership while easing pressure on local pounds. Key partnerships with local vets, pet care businesses, and the Lost Dogs’ Home support outreach and coordination. The initiative has increased pet reclaim rates and halved response times to animal management requests, freeing up Council resources to deliver broader community services.

Data from council officers, local vets, and the Lost Dogs’ Home demonstrated a clear need for action. Since launch, reclaim rates have increased from 42.2% to 45.2%, and request response times have improved significantly.

The campaign’s engaging messaging, featuring simple language and inviting visuals, makes it accessible and effective. With QR-coded materials and a supportive, non-punitive tone, Register to Reunite is a practical, community-first model for animal registration that improves outcomes for pets, their owners, and the broader community.

The VBA Research Program is a leading example of innovation in regulatory practice, delivering smarter, evidence-based solutions to complex and evolving challenges in Victoria’s building and plumbing sectors. Through strategic partnerships with academia, government, and industry, the program is reshaping how regulation is designed and delivered – boosting safety, sustainability, and public confidence.

Future-focused and cost-effective, the program prioritises proactive, data-driven interventions. From launching a Virtual Reality self-assessment tool for practitioners with RMIT, to investigating waterproofing failures and condensation risks in residential buildings, each project is grounded in robust evidence and co-designed with stakeholders to ensure practical impact.

Collaborations with partners like the Building 4.0 CRC and leading universities have produced actionable outcomes, such as remote inspection guidelines, supply chain traceability, and updated NCC recommendations, that improve compliance and reduce risks across the sector.

The VBA ensures findings are accessible and usable through practitioner webinars, consumer safety guides, and industry-specific resources. With a flexible grant model and a dynamic research agenda, the VBA Research Program is not only driving regulatory excellence, but also helping to build a safer, more sustainable built environment for all Victorians.