Australian Health Design Council upcoming events

Healthy Beginnings, the first 1000 days - Webinar Outreach to Tasmania (Thursday, April 16, 2026)

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 06:30:00 GMT

Join us for our second webinar of 2026; now with the added opportunity to connect and participate alongside peers in person from Tasmania, thanks to our Event sponsor Brickworks Hobart Design Studio!

‘Healthy Beginnings: the first 1000 days’ is a conversation about the powerful role early parenting environments play within the broader health ecosystem, supporting the wellbeing of infants, parents and families during the critical early stages of life.

Thoughtful design of these environments can influence health outcomes by creating spaces that foster safety, connection, learning and emotional support during this formative period

Hanz Lee and Jan New from JAWS Architects will share a Tasmanian perspective, referencing Larapi Child and Family Learning Centre and Intensive Residential Parenting Unit. JAWS will discuss the fundamental themes of play and elements to inspire curiosity and connection.

The Victorian Government has recently invested in $168 M in 10 Early Parenting Centres. An initiative that will provide support for up to 8,000 extra families each year.

Eleni Kondos Senior Project Manager at the Victorian Health Building Authority, Laurence Robinson and Christopher Falzon from Brand Architects will discuss the importance of creating calm and comforting experiences in early parenting centres. They will discuss the integration of indigenous art within the landscape and building to cultivate cultural safety for the Aboriginal Community in the Wyndham Early Parenting Centre.

This event explores how architecture can reduce stress, promote connection, and make essential services more accessible; helping families thrive during this formative developmental window.

Speakers


Hanz Lee Director, JAWS Architects	Jan New Architect, JAWS Architects

Eleni Kondos Senior Project Manager, Victorian Health Building Authority	Laurence Robinson Director, Brand Architects	Christopher Falzon Senior Associate, Brand Architects

CPD Information

Registered Architects may be able to accrue 1 formal CPD point, the following being applicable NSCA performance criteria.

PC03 Apply principles of project planning, considering implications for Country, environmental sustainability, communities, stakeholders and project costs.
PC26 Be able to undertake site, cultural and contextual analysis as part of preliminary design research.
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.

Complex Challenges, Connected Thinking | In-Person Event, Perth + Adelaide (Thursday, April 23, 2026)

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:00:00 GMT

Join us for a dynamic AHDC event in Perth, with a live outreach connection to Adelaide, bringing together leading voices from digital mental health innovation, caregiver-focused environmental research, and emerging infection protection technologies. The session will examine how these interconnected elements can work seamlessly to support compassionate care, enhance staff wellbeing, and strengthen patient safety, drawing on the following presentations:

Digital Innovation in Mental Health: Enhancing Patient Experience While Protecting Human Care
The impact of Sensory Technology in Healthcare design
Continuous Infection Protection: The Role of Far‑UVC in Improving Patient Safety and Experience
Designing for the Caregiver: Lessons from ICU and Palliative Care Post‑Occupancy Studies

And More!

The event will then include a panel discussion to further unpack how these three dimensions intersect in practice.

In-person spaces in each of Perth and Adelaide are limited, so book your spot quickly. Many thanks for Hames Sharley (Perth venue) and Lucid (Adelaide venue) for supporting the AHDC for this event. Please note that there will be no options to dial in, so if you cannot attend in-person, please do not register. The sessions will be recorded (subject to speakers' consent), and the recording will be available for AHDC members after the event.

You’ll Hear from:

International speakers dialling from:

Denmark, Eva Wennerwald, Co-founder of Wavecare
UK, Philip Ross, Co‑Founder at Safehinge Primer

Local speakers present in person at the venue in Perth:

(New speaker) Alex Micallef-Jones, Partner at PwC
Chad Wilhelm, Managing Director at Wilhelm Integrated Solutions Pty Ltd
Dr Emil Jonescu, Principal, Head of Research and Development at Hames Sharley and Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at ECU
(New speaker) Leanne Guy, Principal & Health Sector Leader at HASSELL

Event Timing

When: Thursday, April 23, 2026, 4 PM - 7 PM (AWST) & 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM (ACST)

Please note that due to the difference in timezone between WA and SA, the event program in SA will be shorter, starting at 5.30 pm ACST and concluding at 7.30 pm ACST.

CPD Information

Registered Architects may be able to claim 3 formal CPD points by attending this event. The following NSCA competencies apply:

PC28 - Be able to draw on knowledge from building sciences and technology, environmental sciences and behavioural and social sciences as part of preliminary design research and when developing the conceptual design to optimise the performance of the project.
PC33 - Be able to investigate, coordinate and integrate sustainable environmental systems – including water, thermal, lighting and acoustics – in response to consultants’ advice.
PC60 - Apply appropriate methodologies for undertaking post occupancy evaluations and life cycle assessment where required under terms of engagement.

The Peninsula University Hospital in Frankston – Site Visit (Monday, May 04, 2026)

Mon, 04 May 2026 03:00:00 GMT

Join us for an exclusive site visit to the newly redeveloped Peninsula University Hospital, a landmark $1.1 billion investment by the Victorian Government and the largest health infrastructure project ever delivered in Melbourne’s south-east.

Officially opened in January 2026, the redevelopment has transformed the former Frankston Hospital into a state-of-the-art healthcare facility designed to meet the needs of one of Victoria’s fastest-growing regions. The project features a new 12-storey clinical services tower and main entrance, 130 additional beds, 15 new operating theatres, and dedicated spaces for mental health, oncology, and specialised care.

Set to redefine clinical care in Melbourne’s south-east, the public-private partnership was delivered by Lendlease with Bates Smart and Architectus providing architecture, interior design and clinical health planning for the Victorian Health Building Authority and Bayside Health.

Special thanks to Peninsula University Hospitalfor supporting the Australian Health Design Council in organising this exclusive site visit for our members. Tickets are limited to 24 and available exclusively for AHDC members on a first-come, first-served basis, so please be mindful when booking your ticket.