The Business of Architecture*

The Champions of Change Architecture Group has conducted a series of in-depth interviews to better understand the diverse experiences of parents and carers, and the barriers they face. Carer's Leave: Greater equity for all outlines the findings and offers detailed recommendations and topics for consideration.

The Champions of Change Architecture Group argues that considered, structured conversations are an effective way to address presenteeism within practices and offers a guide to get started – Presenteeism and Work: A Talking Toolkit. 

What are the structural barriers to women attaining ownership or partnership positions? Research conducted by the Champions of Change Architecture Group identifies the challenges and provides concrete recommendations in the Women in Ownership/Partnership in Architecture and Design toolkit.

How do power and privilege impact career progression and opportunity? The Champions of Change Architecture Group has conducted a demographic survey of practice leaders that provides a preliminary evidence base. They offer a set of recommendations to help understand the impact of privilege and how leaders can use their power to improve equity for others.

What is psychological safety and how does it impact on equity, inclusion and wellbeing in the workplace? Understanding Psychological Safety and Wellness in the Workplace aims to raise awareness around psychological safety, demonstrate the benefits for both employers and employees, and offer strategies and frameworks to encourage workplaces to pursue a significant cultural shift.

Do you have a standard performance review process? Is it fit for purpose? The Champions of Change Architecture Group believes that regular development-focused conversations are a much better way to support individual professional growth. The group has developed the Career Development Conversations toolkit to encourage practices of all sizes to implement a process of regular meaningful conversations throughout the year.

Small, cost-free workplace adjustments can make an enormous difference to staff with invisible disabilities, with a flow-on effect for everyone in the business. Ainsley Ryan shares some of the adjustments she has requested and implemented at work to ensure she can thrive in the workplace.

Career planning within practices helps them plan for the future, identify opportunities for training, development and mentoring, and develop areas of collective knowledge and expertise. It helps individuals to understand their role within a team and to better articulate their skills, value and ambitions. All together this helps create a stable workplace that people can feel confident within.

Workplaces that support best-practice career sponsorship are collaborative, collegial and inclusive. They have cultures that share knowledge and work to enhance the careers of all as a collective endeavour. So, what are the characteristics of such a workplace, and how can they be achieved?

How can we best use our power and influence to enhance and accelerate the careers of others? Sponsorship provides a framework for collaborative career development that, when done well, supports concrete outcomes and direct advancement, and improves workplace culture.

The Champions of Change Architecture Group has developed the Role Descriptions Tool and Competency Map to support architectural practices in developing a transparent system of career development within their practice. This creates a clear visual guide of many skills required in our industry and the expected competencies for various career stages.

A good Parental Leave Policy is essential to creating a workplace culture and policy environment that supports parents at all stages. This helps ensure that raising a family doesn’t derail or devalue the career of a talented and valued individual, while also enabling the practice to accrue long-term benefits from investing in staff training and development. This article offers an approach to developing and implementing a parental leave policy. 

Parental leave is much more than a short-term leave entitlement for working mothers. Good parental leave policies are applicable to all, helping everyone to lead a balanced life, with time for families, and time to commit to projects, practice life and career. The following article outlines the benefits and challenges of good parental leave policies, and some recommended strategies to implement before, during and after leave.

Monica Edwards summarises the process, objectives and outcomes of the Listening and Learning sessions, developed by the Champions of Change Coalition.

Listening and Learning is fundamental to the Champions of Change Coalition approach. Monica Edwards outlines the four-step process, describing it in relation to design processes.

Monica Edwards and Shaun Carter were instrumental in getting the Champions of Change Architecture Group going and remain highly involved. They discuss the Champions’ origins, achievements and challenges, and plans for the future.

The ACA is delighted to continue the Stepping Up series for 2023, a collaborative event and editorial series with Parlour and the Architecture Group of the Champions of Change. See CPD offerings from 2022 and the full event calendar for 2023.

The issue of pay equity has been on the agenda for Australian governments and business for decades, but pay disparities remain a persistent problem in many workplaces.

Compare and contrast pay rates and don’t misread confidence for competence, advises Cassandra Keller.

Sarah Lebner reviews her experience of preparing for maternity leave while balancing her responsibilities as a principal architect.

New data analysis by Parlour's Gill Matthewson shows that we've seen some improvement in the stats for women architects, particularly registration and business ownership, but the gender pay gap persists and it's clear there is still much work to be done.

Providing support and easing the transition for an employee returning to work makes good business sense, argues Jennekin Dicks.

Part-time employment can have enormous benefits - to employers and employees, but also to the creative process, argues Madeline Sewall.

Lee Hillam reflects on the long-hours culture in architecture.

Women make great leaders, but a seat at the top table is often elusive. Emma Williamson explores the obstacles women face on the road to the top.

Leone Lorrimer offers a series of resolutions to help ensure that architectural practices provide fair and equitable remuneration, and a set of resources to support them.

Sydney-based representatives from top Australian architecture practices have signed up for the first Male Champions of Change program in architecture. Leone Lorrimer reports on the launch event, the initiative, and what it means for Australian architecture.

Recent research on registration has identified concerns about the way the process impacts negatively on women - and thereby on practice more broadly. What can the ACA and architectural practices do to help improve things?

What does the recent Human Rights Commission report mean for architectural businesses?

The Parlour Guides to Equitable Practice aim to help Australian architecture move towards a more equitable profession; one that offers opportunity for all and is better positioned to meet contemporary challenges.

Equal Pay Day draws attention to the pay disparity between men and women. We list some resources to help you ensure this is not an issue in your practice.