SONA members have exclusive access to a comprehensive suite of resources to help you develop the confidence and knowledge to enter the profession and to add value.
As students we understand that life, study and work can sometimes be challenging to juggle and this can take a toll on our mental health and well being. Fostering a community that is connected where students feel empowered and supported is very important to SONA, this is why we continue to help raise awareness and champion the work being done by RUOK? DAY a harm prevention charity that encourages people to stay connected and have conversations that can help others through difficult times in their lives.
RUOK? Day Resources
In 2020 SONA released a survey for architecture students, we asked you what are some of the things that cause you stress or impact negatively on your well being.
The results from this survey told us that the main triggers for stress for architecture students are caused by factors like managing competing priorities, feeling like you should be doing more and feeling under prepared to enter the profession.
We asked some industry professionals from different levels of their career to share some of their advice for overcoming these feelings and provide some tips to ensure you on track to take care of your mental health and wellbeing as you progress in the profession.
Naomi Stead, Professor of Architecture, Monash University
Naomi shares three points of advice for forming good habits when managing university workload: learning about time management, putting into practice time management skills and techniques and, keeping lecturers and tutors aware if there are issues about the workload given.
Naomi Stead is Professor of Architecture at Monash University, where she was Head of the Department of Architecture 2017-2020. She is the leader of the Australian Research Council-funded project ‘Architectural Work Cultures: professional identity, education and wellbeing’ which aims to improve cultures of wellbeing in architectural practice and education.
Ahmed Elsayed, Graduate of Architecture, Matthews & Scavalli Architects & EmAGN WA Co-Chair
Ahmed shares his experience after graduating. He further discusses learning from mistakes and continuing to learn new things along the way to help with developing confidence and resilience towards moving forward.
Ahmed believes that one must have the fortitude to carry on through events that might seem at first overwhelming and, from his experience, you end up learning a lot from your mistakes and come out the other side with many lessons & experiences that eventually make you more confident in your work. Also, that you need to have a certain balance between work / life to keep you from burning out. He has learnt to bit by bit balance those layers to keep everything at a specific standard that he can be confident of.
Brian Clohessy, Head of People and Character, BVN Architecture
Brian talks about helping to improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in the architecture office where he works. He discusses the approach towards and, the services and resources offered to further support the health and wellbeing of staff involved with the office.
Brian Clohessy’s career path has taken him from architect, to project leader, to BVN’s Sydney Studio Director, through to his latest incarnation at BVN, as Head of People and Character. Brian’s 20 odd years practicing architecture, covers a diverse spectrum and scale of award-winning work, most recently as Project Director of the Marrickville Library and Community Hub project. . He has a special focus on mental wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, learning and development and people retention. Essentially Brian sees his role as maintaining BVN’s evolving culture based on human needs and aspirations which inevitably improves the collective’s wellbeing.
Nicole Mesquita-Mendes, President-Elect SONA
Nicole speaks about the importance of understanding what matters to you and, focusing on looking after yourself when balancing other obligations along with studying. She further shares her own experience about balancing priorities.
Nicole Mesquita-Mendes is the President-Elect of SONA, and is currently completing her Masters of Architecture and Project Management at Bond University. She is working at Redcoop Architects and as a Teaching Assistant at Bond University.
Free webinars are designed to help design students and emerging professionals learn more about the industry, develop skills and knowledge, and connect to peers within the built environment industry.
Webinars will continue to be released throughout 2021, Covering a range of relevant topics for design students and emerging professionals.
If there is a topic you would love to learn more about or you are a presenter looking to share your knowledge with our student and emerging professional members, please get in touch.
Thank you for attending our SONA x EmAGN Portfolio Night! We are planning further Portfolio workshops based on the feedback we get back from attendees. So, we would love to hear
Presented by the Unimelb SONA Committee, the Alumni Dialogue is a series of virtual alumni discussions that explore topics which shed light on the architectural journey beyond the university curriculum. The first event draws 4 speakers from University of Melbourne’s network of domestic alumni, who share their experience starting out in their careers, some lessons they have learned, and advice regarding finding a first jobs, building professional networks and adjusting to the industry from university.
Diverse thinking encourages viewing issues through different lenses. Ensuring a diverse workplace is an important start but to create successful organisations, workplace culture and design solutions, celebrating diverse thinking is critical.
As students and recent graduates we understand that life, study and work can sometimes be challenging to juggle and this can take a toll on our mental health. We want to take the time to connect with our SONA community and open up a conversation between practitioners, graduates, and students about mental health and wellbeing.
The importance of equity, diversity and inclusion within architectural practice and design processes has been well documented to ensure that our offices and design cultures reflect the communities we serve. This Lean In session covers how to work towards a more intersectional, inclusive practice.
The session will explain why high performing people often doubt their abilities and find it hard to enjoy their successes. It will also show the links to perfectionism and self-handicapping strategies such as procrastination, avoidance and overcommitment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLz31l404Rc&feature=youtu.be Heritage provides recognition to the Cities. Talking about Cultural Heritage, the element predominant to almost all heritage sites worldwide is an Arch. Colosseum, Rome to Sydney Opera and Hagia
Is architecture is just an artful indulgence patronised by the rich, or if is there a meaningful career to be pursued by idealists wanting to serve humanity?
Architecture can communicate ideas and relationships through the language of space. What do we want to say and who do we want to talk with?
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https://youtu.be/E8nHbUPeWdA SONA and EmAGN NSW present its first International Practice Talk with Anand Sonecha of SEALAB, an architecture practice based in Ahmedabad, India. Anand Sonecha is a graduate of IPSA,
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The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
