Wellbeing, Office Culture & Overtime
Watch our second online wellbeing event from the AMWF Toolkit series, for an important discussion about how office culture, overtime and long hours can impact wellbeing.
This CPD webinar was held on 27 February 2023.
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Successfully managing stress levels within the workplace is an important component of long term health for anyone. Having an office culture that supports and promotes healthy habits will reap many benefits – increased productivity, reduced absence, employee engagement, creativity, reduced staff turnover. A team with long-term healthy working habits will work sensible hours, take full lunch breaks, take annual leave and rest after busy periods.
The ideal is a workplace where individuals work hard and productively during core hours, but have the time to take care of their own lives and health – whether that be playing sport or going to the gym, seeing friends and family, putting time and effort into hobbies and interests outside of work or relaxing in order to get a good night’s sleep. When people feel frazzled, overwhelmed and exhausted they are less likely to give their best, focus, be creative and have patience – attributes that are vital for any architect to be successful in their role (in the short and long term).
For this AMWF event, three practitioners share their experiences around office culture and its impact on wellbeing including policy, and professional and personal tips on tackling the long hours culture in practice. Speakers are Brian Clohessy from BVN, Jenna Holder from Das Studio, and Candice Knight from Hassell. The event also features Naomi Stead, leader of the major research project ‘Architectural Work Cultures: professional identity, education and wellbeing’ who discusses relevant findings from the wellbeing research; and facilitator and ACA CEO Angelina Pillai. See speaker bios below.
RESOURCES
The Australian version of the Architects Mental Wellbeing Toolkit is available for download. Section two of the Architects Mental Wellbeing Toolkit covers Office Culture & Overtime.
SPEAKERS
Brian Clohessy
Brian Clohessy is Head of People and Character at BVN. Working with people and driving change within large architectural practices has led to his holistic approach to leadership, fostering a caring and supportive culture at BVN, one where everyone has a sense of purpose and place. Brian has a special focus on mental wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, learning and development and people retention.
Jenna Holder
Jenna is a registered architect at Das Studio, where she leads commercial and education projects. Outside practice, Jenna has been a member of the AIA National Committee for Gender Equity, an SA AIA Chapter Councillor and a sessional tutor. Jenna’s passions permeate through her qualities as a registered architect – pivoting between empathy, advocacy, ideas and technical aptitude.
Candice Knight
Candice is Hassell’s People & Culture Business Partner. She works closely with leaders to embed a supportive work culture that nurtures the creative talent of employees. Candice is passionate about mental health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and, in particular, the areas of gender equity and reconciliation, and has helped champion flexible and sustainable work hours, and a safe and inclusive culture for all.
Candice Knight
Candice Knight is Hassell’s People & Culture Business Partner. She works closely with leaders at Hassell to embed a supportive and vibrant work culture that nurtures the creative talent of employees. Passionate about mental health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and, in particular, the areas of gender equity and reconciliation, Candice has helped champion flexible and sustainable work hours, as well as deliver Hassell’s initiatives to build a safe and inclusive culture for all.
Naomi Stead
Naomi is a Professor at RMIT University and Director of the Design and Creative Practice research platform – working with researchers across the design and creative practice fields to engage in high-impact research. She is also the leader of ‘Architectural Work Cultures: professional identity, education and wellbeing’, which explores the work-related wellbeing of architects/students.
Angelina Pillai
Angelina is the CEO of the Association of Consulting Architects (ACA) and Head of Diversity, Culture and Inclusion for the Australian Council of Professions (ACoP). Angelina championed the establishment of the Australian Architects Mental Wellbeing Forum and is a keen advocate for professional practice that prioritises equality, equity and ethics.
COST
ACA Members – $10
Parlour Collective Members – $10
Non-Members – $20
Any proceeds over and above the costs of delivering the AMWF Toolkit program will be set aside for future AMWF projects led by ACA.
CPD
Participation in this event will deliver 1 formal CPD point.
Learning outcomes: Comply with the regulatory requirements and obligations pertaining to practice as an architect, including legislation, professional codes of conduct, obligations for continuing professional development and professional indemnity insurance. Implement practice resources and apply ethical employment practice methods and quality assurance systems to facilitate efficient, consistent and timely delivery of architectural services.
Units of Competency and Performance Criteria: Practice Management and Professional Conduct – PC 1 and PC 2
APBSA Core Area: Practice Management
The webinar will include time for a Q&A with the speakers with a self-checked CPD reflection task. Certificates will be provided following participation in the full webinar and online submission of answers to CPD questions.