There’s a lot more to an Employee Assistance Program than meets the eye. ACA members who have signed up for our discounted member offer have found a wealth of resources and assistance, including an advice line for managers who need to discuss a tricky workplace issue, help an employee in trouble, or are seeking advice on general workplace stress.

Would you like to offer your employees access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) but can’t justify the cost? The ACA is delighted to offer a high-quality EAP to our members at a fraction of the cost. The EAP service is available from TELUS Health, a trusted mental health and wellbeing partner to over 15,000 organisations around the world.

The Australian AMWF has adapted the Architects Mental Wellbeing Toolkit (UK), with local resources and simple practical advice to individuals and practices on coping with the stresses of an increasingly pressured profession. Available for download today!

The ACA is delighted to take the lead on the development of an Architects Mental Wellbeing Forum (AMWF) in Australia, which will build on the great work being done by AMWF in the UK. Forums were established in Victoria, Queensland and NSW in 2020, with SA and WA groups up and running in early 2021.

The ACA is once again pleased to join Consult Australia’s End of Year Tender campaign, which advocates for a pause in new procurement activities over the Christmas break to prioritise the mental wellbeing of all.

At a recent AMWF online event, Rob Henry shared valuable advice on how to improve mental wellbeing in small practice. Here he shares some useful reminders on what we can do to improve wellbeing for ourselves and our employees.

The Wellbeing of Architects Symposium on 8–9 May was a two-day event of rich layered discussions around mental wellbeing in architecture. Educator and practitioner Sarah Hobday-North did a brilliant job live-posting about the event. Here she offers a summary and some food for thought.

The ACA is delighted to share the Guides to Wellbeing in Architecture Practice, an output of the Wellbeing of Architects research project, of which we are a proud partner. The Guide topics have particular relevance to the business of architecture, and we encourage all members to download the Guides and put them to work in their practices.

New technologies can help us complete tasks more quickly and efficiently, as well as offering us increased accessibility and convenience – but there is a downside. Our resource roundup includes articles, books and podcasts about the connection between technology and wellbeing, and strategies for navigating new technologies.

Navigating the podcast landscape and finding the gems can be a time-consuming task. Michael Lewarne generously shares his favourite podcasts (with links!), with topics ranging from mental wellbeing to workplace culture and unforgettable one-off episodes.

The ACA’s Employee Assistance Program Trial has attracted strong interest, with 25 practices signing up so far. It’s not too late for ACA members to express their interest. You can register an EOI today!

ACA members are invited to join the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Trial, which delivers a high-quality EAP at a fraction of the cost. The EAP service is available from LifeWorks, a trusted mental health and wellbeing partner to over 15,000 organisations around the world.

Would you like to offer your employees access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) but can’t justify the cost? The ACA is delighted to offer a high-quality EAP to our members at a fraction of the cost. The EAP service is available from TELUS Health, a trusted mental health and wellbeing partner to over 15,000 organisations around the world.

ACA CEO Angelina Pillai was recently invited to comment on the results of the Monash Wellbeing of Architecture Survey, which revealed concerning statistics about the impact of work practices on the mental wellbeing of people working in the profession. Angelina offers the ACA’s perspective on these results.

Monash University Professor of Architecture Naomi Stead provides an update on the three-year, Australian Research Council–funded research project about the wellbeing of practitioners and students in architecture, with an emphasis on some early findings of the recent practitioner survey.

Conrad Gargett HR Manager and AMWF member Brooke Tranberg outlines some of the practice’s wellbeing initiatives, including in-house Social and Wellbeing Committees, a well-promoted EAP, open conversations about mental health, and a pre-COVID all-company Archi-Tour to foster connection.

Popular wellbeing initiatives for Fulton Trotter have included Wellness Wednesday, a formal EAP, Zoom drinks, yoga and art classes, and a little ‘lockdown love’, says FT Director and Chair of the AMWF QLD/NT Justine Ebzery.

Our Architects Mental Wellbeing Forums have been sharing podcasts, videos, TED Talks and lots of excellent ideas on how to get through lockdowns and difficult times during this pandemic. Here are a few of their recommendations.

Great news! The recent Architects & Wellbeing survey had a huge response, doubling its target, with more than 2100 participants.

With one in five Australians experiencing a mental illness every year, and COVID amplifying the stresses of life even further, the need for education around mental health is more important than ever. Here we explore some of the options.

The Australian AMWF has adapted the Architects Mental Wellbeing Toolkit (UK), with local resources and simple practical advice to individuals and practices on coping with the stresses of an increasingly pressured profession. Available for download today!

The quality of the physical office environment in which you work, whether in practice or at home, can have a huge impact on wellbeing and productivity. Section five of the Architects Mental Wellbeing Toolkit offers tips on how to make positive adaptations to work spaces.

Regular movement, physical exercise and mindful activities help to improve mental wellbeing during the work day but also productivity. The final section of the Architects Mental Wellbeing Toolkit offers useful reminders on prioritising group activities and exercise.

Adopting wellbeing initiatives in practice is important, but monitoring how these are going should also be a priority. Section seven of the Architects Mental Wellbeing Toolkit offers tips and resources around maintaining a healthy, positive and supportive workplace.

New technologies can help us complete tasks more quickly and efficiently, as well as offering us increased accessibility and convenience – but there is a downside. The sixth section of the Architects Mental Wellbeing Toolkit warns against us becoming slaves to new technology, with increased stress and information overload.

Low fees, under-resourced projects and difficult clients can have an enormous impact on the wellbeing of all within practice. The fourth section of the Architects Mental Wellbeing Toolkit tackles these important issues.

The third section of the Architects Mental Wellbeing Toolkit emphasises the importance of structured development and a supportive environment to help make the work/study balance as easy as possible for students, interns, and graduates on the pathway to registration.

How can support systems and workplace training opportunities help staff wellbeing? The second section of the Architects Mental Wellbeing Toolkit offers tips and resources on creating a mentally healthy workplace.

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) aim to improve wellbeing among employees and their families, and to offer expert on-call assistance when needed. Early intervention can help alleviate stress and reduce the likelihood and severity of serious work-based and personal problems.

Successfully managing stress levels within the workplace is an important component of long-term health for anyone. The first section of the Architects Mental Wellbeing Toolkit covers the importance of a good healthy office culture, effective time management and prioritising time away from work.

Being vulnerable is challenging but it’s often necessary to make change happen. Modelling vulnerability is the action of a leader, writes Michael Lewarne.

Improving mental wellbeing in practice is fundamental to the future of the profession. The ACA is proud to support the major research project Architectural Work Cultures: professional identity, education and wellbeing, and encourages all to participate in this important survey on work-related wellbeing.

Parlour’s Work & Wellbeing survey increases understanding of the impacts of the pandemic on Australian architecture. What are the opportunities to improve and change leadership and management in the profession? What might that mean for practices? Anwyn Hocking unpacks the answers to the open questions.

Parlour’s comprehensive Work & Wellbeing survey increases understanding of the impacts of the pandemic on Australian architecture. The answers to the open questions, in particular, contain a wealth of advice and reflection, and reiterate the need for improved communication. Anwyn Hocking identifies the core themes and assembles key advice.

Our updated mental wellbeing resource roundup highlights the work of a number of key organisations, who work hard to support people and develop useful toolkits, online forums and other avenues of support.

The ACA is delighted to take the lead on the development of an Architects Mental Wellbeing Forum (AMWF) in Australia, which will build on the great work being done by AMWF in the UK. Forums were established in Victoria, Queensland and NSW in 2020, with SA and WA groups up and running in early 2021.

The ACA Pulse Check No 2 survey invited participants to answer questions about the mental wellbeing of their practice and people. Susie Ashworth unpacks the results and highlights the best tips and advice for looking after the mental wellbeing of all within practice.

The full video presentation of the Architects Leadership Series Culture + Wellbeing breakfast event is now available online.

The lead-up to Christmas may be a magical time of year for some. But for many of us, it’s much more about increased workloads, stress and trying to stay on top of it all. Merilyn Speiser explores what you can do to avoid suffering burnout in the Christmas busy period.

There are a number of excellent organisations providing a range of initiatives and services to support Australians living with mental illness.

Katie Vivian from the UK-based Architects Benevolent Society introduces us to the charity’s history, the modernisation of its support services and its current AnxietyArch campaign.

Running and directing an architecture practice is often gruelling, and can take a real toll on your mental health. Peter Raisbeck identifies the stress factors and offers some basic tips on self care.

Ben Channon's new book Happy by Design: A Guide to Architecture and Wellbeing explores the ways that buildings and spaces can impact on our mental health and wellbeing.

Professor Naomi Stead, Head of Architecture at Monash University, is one of the champions of a proposed new research project currently under development, Mental Wellbeing of Architects and Architecture Students: Culture, Education and the Workplace, which aims to examine links between architectural culture and identity and mental wellbeing. Here, Naomi takes a quick look at the issues.

Ben Channon is an Associate and Mental Wellbeing Ambassador at Assael Architecture, and chair of the Architects' Mental Wellbeing Forum in the UK. Ben talks us through the forum's origins and ambitions.

Self-care is often not a top priority in the life of the small business owner, but it is the most fundamental - not only to your personal health and wellbeing but the success of your business.

The topic of mental health is receiving increasing attention in architecture. So, how can you ensure that your practice is safe and healthy? ACA partner Cbus works with SuperFriend to provide knowledge and resources about mental health, some of which is shared below.

John Held on happiness, mental health and the construction industry.