Join us for our next webinar exploring innovative approaches to creating culturally safe, sensorily supportive, and therapeutically rich healthcare environments. Drawing from real-world practice and research, our speakers will challenge traditional methods and explore how changing communities and emerging needs are reshaping design responses—particularly in mental health settings.

The session will delve into key design strategies for enhancing therapeutic outcomes, including the integration of biophilic design—a nature-based approach shown to support patient recovery, improve staff well-being, and create calming, healing environments. We’ll unpack evidence-based benefits and practical steps for applying biophilic principles in both clinical and community contexts.

Additionally, we’ll spotlight the growing role of communal gardens in healthcare settings. These spaces foster joy, connection, and therapeutic engagement while offering broader social value. Discussion will include successful management frameworks and design considerations to ensure they are safe, inclusive, and sustainable.

Whether you're a designer, health professional, or facility planner, this session will offer valuable insights into how we can move beyond “nice to have” and embed therapeutic design as a core element of healthcare infrastructure.

Online access is for members-only. Members and non-members located in Tasmania are invited to attend the AIA studio located in Hobart to watch the webinar live and connect with fellow local health design professionals. This opportunity is brought to our health design professionals located in Tasmania exclusively, as part of the Health Architecture and Design Network (HADN), in partnership with the Australian Institute of Architected (AIA) and NH Architecture. Thank you AIA and NH Architecture for your valuable support for this event.

Speakers

Sanaz Memari, Sessional Academic, Western Sydney University & Macquarie University	Paula Wright, Researcher, Social Scientist and Managing Partner, Cultivation consultants	Jo Caughtry, Registered Nurse and Creative Director, Sea of Ideas Design Studio

Continuing Professional Development

This event provides opportunities for CPD points for Architects, Project Managers and Engineers. For more information go to www.aushdc.org.au/cpd. Relevant NSCA Units for this event (Architects Only):

• PC1 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.
• PC03 Apply principles of project planning, considering implications for Country, environmental sustainability, communities, stakeholders and project costs.
• PC17 Have an understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ aspirations to care for Country and how these inform architectural design.
• PC28 Have an understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ aspirations to care for Country and how these inform architectural design.
• PC29 Be able to develop and evaluate design options in terms of the heritage, cultural and community values embodied in the site, and in relation to project requirements.
• PC30 Be able to explore options for siting a project, including integrating information and analysis of relevant cultural, social and economic factors.