Process
SARO's engagement model follows the facility development lifecycle — each phase builds on the last. Most clients engage for one or two phases; some require the full sequence. The scope is always calibrated to what the project and organisation actually need.
Discovery & Needs Analysis
Every engagement begins with a structured discovery process. SARO reviews existing documentation, conducts stakeholder interviews, and develops a clear picture of what the organisation actually needs — separating aspiration from viable program.
Clubs, federations, councils at the start of a project — before any design work is engaged.
Strategic Report & Feasibility Study
The strategic report is the foundational document for any facility project. It defines the spatial program, construction cost parameters, site constraints, operational requirements, and risk profile — in language suitable for board approval and funding submissions.
Organisations needing a credible internal business case or a supporting document for a government funding application.
Funding Strategy & Grant Applications
SARO identifies the right funding programs for each project, assesses eligibility, and manages end-to-end grant application production — including all supporting documentation, budget preparation, compliance statements, and submission coordination.
Community clubs and councils applying to state/federal infrastructure programs. Prior success: Victorian Government ($64.6M), Geelong City Council, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, Norwood Payneham & St Peters Council.
Procurement Advisory & Architect Briefing
Choosing the right delivery method and the right design team is the most consequential decision in any project. SARO prepares design briefs, evaluates delivery options (D&C, traditional contract, superintendent models), runs architect shortlisting, and manages appointment processes.
Clients who have secured funding and are preparing to engage a design team.
Design Review & Independent Oversight
Once a design team is appointed, SARO provides independent peer review through design development and documentation — checking that the brief is being met, the budget is being respected, and the client's interests are protected. This is particularly valuable for clients without in-house technical capacity.
Clients who have engaged a design team but lack the in-house expertise to interrogate design decisions.
Scope to the situation
Not every client needs every phase. Engagements are structured around what the project actually requires — a community club applying for its first government grant needs different support than a council running a competitive architect tender.
Fixed-fee, milestone-aligned
SARO works on fixed-fee packages aligned to project milestones, not open-ended retainers. Clients know what they're getting and what it costs before work begins.
No design conflict
SARO does not compete for design commissions on projects it has advised on. Procurement advice, architect shortlisting, and tender evaluation are genuinely independent.
Registered architect accountability
All advice is provided by a triple-registered architect (QLD, NZ, SA). Reports and feasibility studies carry professional weight that generic consultants cannot match.
All fees are fixed-price and agreed before work commences. Indicative only — final scope determines pricing.
If you're unsure which phase applies to your situation, the right starting point is a scoping conversation — 30 minutes, no obligation, no jargon.
SARO works with organisations at every stage — from clubs that have just started thinking about a new facility, to councils that have a site and a budget but no team.
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