WELLBEING FOR ARCHITECTS
understanding wellbeing
WHY WELLBEING MATTERS
Health bodies have recognised the workplace as a priority setting for promoting health and wellbeing as most Australians spend about one third of their lives working.
This tells us we need to make sure we are thinking about how we can positively influence the people who work in our organisations or practice, and how we can support their work life to ensure staff welfare.
Without wellbeing at the forefront, there is higher chance of burnout, discontentedness, employees feeling insecure and a lack of psychological safety when the workplace doesn’t recognise there is a important role to play in aiding employee wellbeing.
WELLBEING IN THE WORKPLACE
Workplace health promotion is about fostering healthy workplace policies and supportive environments, enhancing positive social conditions, building personal skills and organisational resilience, and promoting healthy lifestyles.
Workplace health and wellbeing programs not only have real potential to positively influence the health of the workforce, they also make good business sense – increasing employee engagement and team cohesiveness in the short-term, and leading to reduced absenteeism, increased productivity and improved corporate image in the longer term.
As an Institute member, you can access our HR HUB content which includes downloadable resources. *Sign into the member portal first to view page directly.
nationwide survey of practitioners
the WELLBEING of architects project
The survey of Australian practitioners, conducted online in 2021, had 2066 respondents drawn from a wide range of practice sizes and types, levels of seniority and leadership, geographic locations and genders.
It employed quantitative methods to collect data about work-related wellbeing, professional identity, perceptions of support, and the impact of work cultures on individual wellbeing. It also included open-ended questions where participants were invited to reflect on factors intrinsic and extrinsic to architecture that they perceived to be affecting their own wellbeing and that of the architectural workforce as a whole.
Architecture Australia – wellbeing edition
The Sep / Oct edition of Architecture Australia covers this research with Naomi Stead, Maryam Gusheh and Bryron Kinnaird in Dossier – The wellbeing of architects project. Read pages 49–68.
You must be logged in our website to view AA.
nationwide survey of practitioners
the WELLBEING of architects project
The Institute has financially contributed towards this research conducted by Monash University.
The survey of Australian practitioners, conducted online in 2021, had 2066 respondents drawn from a wide range of practice sizes and types, levels of seniority and leadership, geographic locations and genders.
It employed quantitative methods to collect data about work-related wellbeing, professional identity, perceptions of support, and the impact of work cultures on individual wellbeing. It also included open-ended questions where participants were invited to reflect on factors intrinsic and extrinsic to architecture that they perceived to be affecting their own wellbeing and that of the architectural workforce as a whole.
Architecture Australia – wellbeing edition
The 2022 Sep / Oct edition of Architecture Australia covers this research with Naomi Stead, Maryam Gusheh and Bryron Kinnaird in Dossier – The wellbeing of architects project. Read pages 49–68.
You must be logged in our website to view AA.
Architecture Bulletin
DESIGN FOR WELLBEING
The call out for the July 2024 edition of Architecture Bulletin asked how architecture can support the wellbeing of building users. The responses made it apparent that wellbeing in design has a broad focus with contributors examining the topic from diverse viewpoints. The common thread is the aspiration for buildings to be designed not only for efficiency of users, but also to support their health, welfare, and comfort.
Wellbeing, with a new focus on psychosocial hazards is something that institutions, governments and the public are increasingly aware of, particularly in the workplace. Indeed, for some time this has been a point of contention within the architectural profession, prompting recent research into the wellbeing of practitioners and pervasive work practices.
While much of the current discourse on wellbeing has centred on the workplace, residential architecture should not be forgotten (or considered separately), particularly with the current pressure to increase housing stock. Considering the wellbeing of occupants in all building typologies must be a fundamental design driver: the balance of privacy and fostering community, efficiency and amenity being central to the mental and physical wellbeing of occupants.
VIDEOS
CONTENT ON WELLBEING
1. Watch the 2022 Lost Opportunities Symposium talk: Mental Wellbeing in Architectural Education and Practice, featuring Professor Naomi Stead from RMIT University, as well as Leanne Haidar, and Nicole Mesquita-Mendes from SONA.
2. A short film on Dino Vrynios and his ‘make better’ ethos. Dino is a co-owner of DAS Studio in SA, and 2021 EAP Prize Winner.
3. See what is happening at a national level from Dr Ruth Vine – Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Mental Health from the Department of Health and Age care who talks about the results from the National Study of Mental and Wellbeing.
What's on
events in the wellbeing space
For me
Learn what is available for me
Chapters
Want to know what’s going on specific to your state?
Navigate to your chapter page to learn about wellbeing content and initiatives from your chapter.
Community Forum
Have a look at the Wellbeing discussion thread. Maybe there is something you’d like to share, or someone who could use support?
Lean on your community.
INSTITUTE RESOURCES
LEARNING AND SUPPORT MATERIALS FOR WELLBEING
We endeavour to continue to grow these resources over time as we look to expand on Policy and Advocacy content on wellbeing. Below are resources that will help you or your practice encourage furthering wellbeing in the workplace.
CPD
Advocating a diverse range of topics to support architects – see public campaigns and policy statements.
HR Hub
Understand key areas affecting wellbeing that can help in developing an effective workplace wellbeing program, as well as benefits that can assist employee wellbeing.
Prepare for performance review
Fee relief
Pay advice
acumen
HR HUB
CPD
Guides that detail information on how performance appraisals should be conducted and how to prepare for your own performance appraisal.
HR HUB resource
As part of our commitment to the support of members at all career stages, the Institute provides fee relief to members who have reduced their working hours to care for children under the age of five.
Those who are approved gain access to yearly complimentary and discounted CPD bundles.
There are various pay obligations that are relevant to every workplace including minimum wages, pay slip and record-keeping requirements and restrictions regarding unpaid work.
HR HUB resource
Our mentoring platform, Mentorloop, enables you to easily match with other members of the Institute community.
Mentoring is a powerful personal development and empowerment tool, where meaningful relationships are fostered between mentor and mentee.
Mental health in the profession. Industry research shows that constant or excessive working hours can take a toll on architects and those around them.
Join the discussions on the Institute’s forum about Best Practice, including wellbeing.
RELATED ARTICLES
Burudi Gurad, Burudi Ora: Critical spatial, relationalities of care
Wellbeing in a crisis
How architecture can support the wellbeing of building users
Related News and media
Architects and Built Environment Professionals Unite to Raise Funds for Dawn House
The Northern Territory Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, Engineers Australia Northern Division, and the Planning Institute of Australia held a trivia night at the Darwin Trailer Boat Club
Student Sponsorship at the 2024 Australian Architecture Conference
As we reflect on the Australian Architecture Conference and the amazing experience shared, we would like to take a moment to express our gratitude to our members and corporate partners
Architects push for $4bn First Nations housing boost
The Australian Institute of Architects has called for the acceleration of First Nations housing development to keep pace with the Closing The Gap initiatives. The nation’s peak body for the
International Women’s Day
WOMEN IN ARCHITECTURE – ACT CHAPTER As part of International Women’s Day, we’d like to shine the light on the significant contributions from our Female ACT Leaders. Architecture has been
A week of events – 2024 International Women’s Day
2024 International Women’s Day SAVE THE DATES! For the first time, the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, Planning Institute Australia and the Victorian Chapter of the Australian
ARCHITECTURE WITH PRIDE 2024
In 2024, Architecture with Pride will be delivering events in Sydney and Melbourne bringing together the LGBTQI+ design community in the built environment.
