Overview
Who are we?
The Australasian Tertiary Education Facilities Management Association (TEFMA) was established in October 2003 as an independent association of facilities managers operating in the tertiary education sector of Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore. TEFMA was formed from AAPPA which was the Australasian chapter of the US parent APPA, which is The Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers. APPA is an international association dedicated to maintaining, preserving, and promoting the quality of educational facilities. TEFMA has a similar raison d'etre to APPA and has a strategic partnership with them. TEFMA also has a strategic partnership with AUDE, the United Kingdom association of University Directors of Estates in and HEFMA, the Southern Africa Higher Education Facilities Management Association.
TEFMA assists facilities managers in universities, colleges and other educational institutions in the Asia-Pacific region by promoting excellence in the planning, construction, maintenance, operations and administration of educational facilities.
TEFMA serves the education community by conducting research, developing educational programs, holding conferences and workshops, producing publications, developing guidelines, and serving as a central information source for its members.
Who are our members?
TEFMA has some 981 members representing 92 tertiary education institutions in Australasia. TEFMA promotes engagement with industry through its Business Partner membership category.
What do our members do?
Our members provide vital infrastructure and service in support of the effective operation of tertiary education in the Australasian region. Our strategic plan clearly articulates our vision, mission and values. It also sets out our goals grouped under the themes of competency, collaboration, and credibility. Through participation in activities of the Association and guided by the principles of our strategic plan, our members will add real value to their institutions and in turn will enhance teaching and research outcomes. As individuals, our members will experience professional growth and develop strong working relationships with their peers across the sector.
Our vision
TEFMA will be recognised as the pre-eminent body which promotes and supports excellence in facilities management in the Australasian tertiary education sector".
Our members have responsibility for planning, capital works, design and construction, maintenance, cleaning and landscape services, environmental management, lifts, energy management, engineering services, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, lighting, safety, training, hazardous materials management, and financial planning for infrastructure. Their responsibility for campus services includes Security (both physical and personal), and depending on the institution, may include timetabling, mail, transport, stores, catering, and printing services. All these activities take place under an umbrella of compliance with disabilities, heritage and environmental legislation, and workplace health and safety requirements.
Why is TEFMA an important market?
TEFMA members are the key decision makers representing a multimillion-dollar market for products and services. In Australasia, the tertiary education sector has assets with a replacement value exceeding $22 billion and spends over $500 million annually on maintenance and operations. The sector also spends about a billion dollars annually on new construction and refurbishments.
Put into perspective, the facilities expenditures totals 15 percent of the entire tertiary education institutional budget. TEFMA members value their Association, and consider it to be an important resource, as demonstrated by our long-standing membership renewal rate of 100 percent of universities and polytechnics in Australia and New Zealand.
Details of the range of activities and services provided by TEFMA to its members through its Education and Information Services Committees are provided elsewhere on this website.
Strategic Partners
AAPPA History
For further information, download the AAPPA History document from the Related Documents panel below.
