AUSTRALIAN HEALTH DESIGN COUNCIL

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  • Thursday, January 18, 2024 11:36 | Anonymous member (Administrator)


  • Wednesday, January 17, 2024 11:27 | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    We have a wide variety of events planned for 2024. Please take a look at our calendar and add these important dates to your calendar. Subscribe to our website or LinkedIn to stay updated.


  • Wednesday, November 08, 2023 18:28 | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Following on from the process undertaken earlier this year regarding AusHFG Operating Suite resources, the AusHFG Team are seeking to continue improving feedback opportunities for industry experts. Enhanced feedback loops will support ongoing improvements to the AusHFG and continued support for project teams involved in the planning, design and construction of health facilities.

    Feedback on the AusHFG resources relating to Emergency Departments may include proposed improvements to the resources, suggested areas of focus for the upcoming review, relevant feedback from recent projects and associated references and related research. 

    Interested members are encouraged to provide comments regarding the following resources via the feedback form available from the link below by 15 December 2023. This will be considered during the upcoming review process, which will be undertaken in consultation with clinical, operational and technical experts, as well as consumer representatives.

    • HPU 300 Emergency Unit 

    • Related Standard Components:

      • Consult Room - ENT/ Ophthalmology

      • Patient Bay, Emergency - Ambulance Triage

      • Patient Bay, Emergency - Acute Treatment

      • Patient Room, Emergency - Acute Treatment Special

      • Patient Bay, Emergency - Fast Track

      • Patient Bay, Emergency - Non-Acute Treatment

      • Patient Bay, Emergency - Resuscitation

      • Reception, Emergency

      • Triage Assessment Room, Emergency - Type 1

      • Triage Assessment Room, Emergency - Type 2

    AHDC members are also welcome to provide feedback relating to other AusHFG resources at any time via the AusHFG website ‘Give Feedback’ link.

    Response form

  • Wednesday, August 30, 2023 08:00 | Alison Huynh (Administrator)

    We're pleased to announce the call for nominations for the Australian Health Design Council (AHDC) Committee for 2024. The AHDC Committee, comprising 9 members plus the immediate past chair, has 3 positions up for reelection each year.

    Nomination is open to current Individual, Student and Non-practicing Members. To nominate, follow these simple steps:

    • Complete the Nomination Form
    • Email the form to Andy Bradley by September 20th

    Please note the following dates:

    • Deadline for Nominations: September 20th
    • Voting Period: October 2nd - 14th
    • Annual General Meeting: October 19th
    AHDC - Committee Nomination Form 2023.docx


  • Wednesday, August 02, 2023 11:14 | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    AHDC is proud to continue its support for research in health design with our Research Scholarship now in its 2nd year. This unique opportunity provides a PhD or Masters student to apply for funding to specialise in the field of health facility design.

    Congratulations to this year’s winner; Carla Mileo, a Master of Architecture candidate at the University of Melbourne; for her thesis on the topic on “Towards an Architecture of Healing: Sensory Approaches to Restraints and Seclusion in Mental Health Facilities.”

    Research Summary

    This research aims to explore how sensory design strategies can contribute to making acute

    psychiatric inpatient environments more restorative and so help reduce and eliminate the

    use of restraint and seclusion. This is important for at least three reasons:

    1. This is an area of mental healthcare design that has been under researched
    2. There is increasing societal need for evidence-based care that addresses a range of factors contributing to poor mental health, including psychological, biological and social
    3. There is potential to develop effective strategies that will contribute to achieving the Royal Commission reform priority to eliminate restraint and seclusion Research findings will contribute to an increasing knowledge of best practice for mental health facility design.

    Selection Committee Statement

    Committee findings were especially impressed by the topic of Towards an Architecture of Healing- Sensory Approaches to Reduce Restraint and Seclusion in Mental Health Facilities, as a worthwhile pursuit of a potential enhanced practice. Carla’s methodology and the quality of her academic support team also showed the merited rigour towards the potential positive application of any findings within practice.


    Learn more about our Research Scholarships.

  • Thursday, June 29, 2023 19:16 | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Researchers at the University of Adelaide are undertaking a study examining the engagement of perioperative nurses in the design of operating room spaces. This research project is about understanding staff engagement and perceptions regarding the process of operating room design to consider factors that influence safety and function when designing operating rooms. 

    AHDC members are invited to complete an anonymous survey regarding their experience operating room design planning and their interaction with operating room staff, to provide insight into factors that may improve safety and function. The online survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

    Please read the attached Project Introduction and Participant Invitation before completing the Survey.

    H-2023-095 Participant Recruitment Letter.pdf

    Letter of Introduction _ AHDC June 2023 .pdf

    Click here to complete the survey.


  • Monday, June 26, 2023 17:30 | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The Australian Health Design Council is delighted to announce the results of the International Student Competition "Next Generation of Stroke Rehabilitation Centres". The competition was organized by the UIA - International Union of Architects and NOVELL redesign team and co-sponsored by Australian Health Design Council. 

    Our aim in supporting this competition is to foster and encourage research and creative exploration at the intersection of health and design. The competition invited students to design a rehabilitation center seeking creative and ambitious designs for meeting recovery needs for 30 stroke survivors. 
    Special mention to AHDC members Warren Kerr AM on the organizing committee, Dr Jane Repin Carthey as a jury member and Ruby Lipson-Smith in the Novell Design Team. Congratulations to all the winners!

    In accordance with the rules, participants in this international competition submitted their projects anonymously. 175 projects were submitted by teams from 40 different countries.

    The international jury, supported by the coordinator of the Technical Committee Zhipeng Lu, met virtually in May 2024 to evaluate the competition entries, and selected the 5 prize winners and 7 honourable mentions. The jury consisted of John Cooper (UK), Fani Vavili-Tsinika (Greece), Philip Patrick Sun (USA), Jane Repin Carthey (Australia), Innocent Okpanum (South Africa), Henning Lensch (alternate – Germany).

    The first prize was awarded to Zheyuan Zhao, Jiayu Sun, Yutong Sun, Haibo Sun and their advisor Fei Lian from the Harbin Institute of Technology, China, for the project “Xhosa Miracle Spring” in Coffee Bay, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

    The jury lauded the entry for its “exquisite design, remarking on its provision of culturally appropriate, economically feasible solutions for Xhosa stroke survivors in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, a region characterized by rural poverty and an extremely arid climate. The design artfully harnessed the natural landscape, light, and ventilation to create therapeutic spaces. Public areas within the facility were transformed into cultural showcases that nurtured social interactions and provided positive distractions.”

     “Xhosa Miracle Spring” in Coffee Bay, Eastern Cape, South Africa, by Zheyuan Zhao, Jiayu Sun, Yutong Sun, Haibo Sun and Fei Lian, Harbin Institute of Technology, China


    The jury awarded the remainder of the prizes as follows:

    Second prize

    Zuozheng Shi, Han Cui, Biao Chen, Xiaohui Guo, Wen Ouyang (Advisor), Tingwan Huang (Advisor)

    Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, China

    Community Patches – Warm Around, Life Around, Beijing, China

    "Community Patches – Warm Around, Life Around", Beijing, China, by Zuozheng Shi, Han Cui, Biao Chen, Xiaohui Guo, Wen Ouyang and Tingwan Huang, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, China

    Third Prize

    Byeongsoo Kim, Kyeonghyeon Park

    Kwangwoon University, South Korea

    Meet Me at S.M.L. !, Seoul, South Korea

    "Meet Me at S.M.L. !", Seoul, South Korea, by Byeongsoo Kim and Kyeonghyeon Park, Kwangwoon University, South Korea

    Fourth Prize

    Sidoine Baudrel Nde Keulek, Steve Wilson Ntakam Tonguembo, Lizette Marlaine Tsafack Donfack, Emy Sandrine Masso

    National Advanced School of Public Works, Cameroon

    Sustainable Survivor’s Village, Yaoundé, Cameroon


    "Sustainable Survivor’s Village", Yaoundé, Cameroon, by Sidoine Baudrel Nde Keulek, Steve Wilson Ntakam Tonguembo, Lizette Marlaine Tsafack Donfack and Emy Sandrine Masso, National Advanced School of Public Works, Cameroon

    Fifth Prize

    Meng Chen, Nan Jiang, Fujia Lv, Yutong Li, Hsin-Hsien Chiu (Advisor)

    Harbin Institute of Technology, China

    Forest Rehabilitation Villa, Miura, Kanagawa, Japan

    "Forest Rehabilitation Villa", Miura, Kanagawa, Japan, by Meng Chen, Nan Jiang, Fujia Lv, Yutong Li and Hsin-Hsien Chiu, Harbin Institute of Technology, China

    Honourable mentions

    Neda Norouzi, Dana Martinez, Ariana Gomez, Narda Parga Moreno
    The University of Texas at San Antonio, United States of America
    Riverside Recovery, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America

    Harriet Asamoah, Nuhu Shuaib Abekah, Yiho Sare Yaboure Aristide Kevin Daouda, Philip Chinwendu Jason, Oliver Ackumey
    Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
    Kumasi Stroke Rehabilitation Center, Ejisu, Kumasi, Ashanti, Ghana

    Salma Essam Eldin Anwar, Ameera Abdallah Anas, Muna Mohamed Elsadig
    University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
    Reinvigorate Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Artur Gała, Jan Kubec (Advisor)
    Silesian University of Technology, Faculty of Architecture, Poland
    Rehabitat, Gdansk, Poland

    Fryderyk Karzkowiak, Ewelina Zub, Barbara Gronostajska (Advisor)
    Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Poland
    Wroclaw Stroke Rehabilitation Center, Wroclaw, Poland

    Liu Qiwei
    Wuhan University, China
    Blending To Harmony, Wuhan, Hubei, China

    Kenfack Azangmo Anselme Raoul, Tekeu Kelly Fakira, Tsafack Fabien Junior, Tiayo Nopousse Diderot, Joubouh Atiofak Bienvenu Espoir
    National Advanced School of Public Works, Cameroon
    Revive Through Nature, Minkoameyos, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    The winning entries will be exhibited at the UIA Public Health Work Programme Exhibition during the 28th UIA World Congress of Architects in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 2-6 July 2023.

    For more information, click here.

  • Friday, March 31, 2023 23:28 | Alison Huynh (Administrator)

    You are invited to attend a webinar on Surgical Planning within the OR using Artificial Intelligence on Wednesday 19 April at 6:00pm AEST. The educational event is hosted by our Foundation Partner Getinge and the speakers are:

    • Dr Thomas Ramolla, Head of the OR management of Klinikum Stuttgart medical center affiliated with the University of Tübingen

    • David Minikin, Product Sales Manager, DHS Global Commercial Operations, will discuss AI surgical planning using the Torin OR management solution.

    • Hamza Ali, Product Specialist – Torin & Insight Asia Pacific


    Register for Webinar  Eve23_Torin_Webinar_Invite.pdf
  • Friday, March 31, 2023 23:23 | Alison Huynh (Administrator)

    AHDC members are invited to provide targeted feedback on the development and improvement of the Australian Health Facility Guidelines

    The AusHFG Team are looking to improve feedback opportunities for industry experts. Enhanced feedback loops will support ongoing improvements to the AusHFG and continued support for project teams involved in the planning, design and construction of health facilities. As an initial trial, the AusHFG Team are seeking feedback from AHDC members on the specific AusHFG resources relating to Operating Units.

    Feedback may include suggested improvements to the resources, suggested areas of focus for the next review, relevant feedback from recent projects and associated references, research and more. 

    Interested members are encouraged to provide feedback on the attached feedback form by 28 April 2023. Comments will be considered during the upcoming review process for these resources, which will be undertaken in consultation with clinical, operational and technical experts.

    HPU 510 - Operating Unit and related Standard Components:

    • Operating Room - General

    • Procedure Room - Endoscopy

    • Anaesthetic Preparation Room

    • Clean-up Room - Shared

    • Scrub Up

    • Store - Sterile Stock

    • Store - Sterile Stock, Central Core


    AusHFG Comments Template_AHDC.doc 

    Submit your feedback to AHDC

  • Sunday, March 05, 2023 14:18 | Alison Huynh (Administrator)

    Welcome to our February 2023 Newsletter. Thank you to everyone who tuned in to listen to our webinar this month, and to Marnie and Shalyce for their presentation. If you missed out, all members can watch the broadcast on our website.

    In this month's issue, we have something for everyone. Please read on to hear about our podcast, a local event in Sydney, our international study tour, and research and student opportunities.

    Health Design Podcast - Series 3 "Mix Bag"

    We return with another series of interviews with our host David Cummins. This Mixed Bag includes a range of perspectives from leading industry experts.

    • Prof Aiden Row, Associate Professor, Professor of Design Studies, University of Alberta
    • Sara Marberry, Healthcare and senior living design expert
    • Warren Kerr AM, National Adviser, Health Portfolio, Hames Sharley
    • Prof Matthew Manso, Founder, VeryNice and Associate Professor of Practice, Design Strategy, University of Southern California
    • Stuart Turk, Critical Care Nurse and Clinical Health Planner, Silver Thomas Hanley
    • David Ross, Design Director, Keppie Design

    Podcast Series 3 "Mix Bag"


    Sydney Build Expo - Health Infrastructure Panel Discussion

    Australian Health Design Council has partnered with Sydney Build Expo to deliver a Healthcare Panel Discussion at their upcoming event which will be held on 6-7 March at ICC Sydney. General attendance is free and our panel discussion will be located on the Infrastructure Stage on Monday 6th March at 11am AEDT. This event is in-person only.

    Our panel discussion will explore how major redevelopment projects can create once-in-a-generation opportunities to change how healthcare buildings are designed and delivered. Future-focused design can build in efficiency, resilience, adaptability and value for money. The conversation will be chaired by AHDC Committee member Alison Huynh, (Associate Director, Bates Smart) with special guests:

    • Wade Sutton - Program Director for Design Excellence, NSW Health Infrastructure / State Design Champion, Government Architects NSW.
    • Sean Madden - Principal, Bridge42.

    Sydney Build is Australia’s leading construction, architecture & infrastructure show that features 500+ exhibitors, hundreds of panel discussions, and incredible networking opportunities. The event connects all key players in the industry and attracts attendees from: contractors, architects, engineers, housebuilders, developers, government, and construction professionals.

    Sydney Build Expo


    Call for Proposals

    We are planning our 2023/2024 event calendar! If you have a project, pitch or paper, we welcome you to submit a presentation proposal for an upcoming event. This might include a panel discussion, presentation, workshop or site visit. Our events include online, in-person and hybrid formats and we host events all over Australia.

    Presenting at an AHDC event is an opportunity to share your knowledge with industry professionals, colleagues and the health design network. Our members value engaging and knowledgeable presentations grounded in research and practice.

    Disclaimer: All submissions will be reviewed by the AHDC Events Sub-Committee. Submission does not guarantee you a presentation opportunity. We have limited spaces and will be in touch if a suitable event is available. If your proposal is selected, we will work with you to tailor the event to suit the interests of our members.

    Submit your Proposal


    European Study Tour: 14 - 23 June 2023

    Our 2023 European Study tour will feature stops in France and Switzerland and is now open to 20 current AHDC members. Review the trip details and register now to secure one of the limited spots.

    Tour dates have been set to follow on from the European Healthcare Design Congress and Exhibition (EHDC2023) which will be held on 12 - 14 June, 2023 at the Royal College of Physicians in London, UK.

    Study Tour


    UIA Student Design Competition

    AHDC is sponsoring an international Design Competition for students of architecture around the world. The International Union of Architects (UIA) has launched the International Student Ideas Competition organised by the UIA Public Health Group and the NOVELL Redesign Team. AHDC Committee Member Dr Jane Repin Carthey is participating on the competition jury.

    This competition aims to encourage architecture and design students interested in design for health and to advance new ideas and futuristic concepts to solve current challenges identified by brain-injured (stroke) patients, family members, and medical staff. It invites students to design a rehabilitation centre for 30 stroke survivors and seeks creative and ambitious designs to meet stroke survivors’ needs during their recovery.

    The Deadline for Registration is coming up on March 15th, with submission due on 14th April 2023.

    Student Design Competition


    2023 Research Scholarship

    In 2023 we will be accepting applications for the AHDC Design for Health Research Scholarship.

    With AHDC support, you can take your career to the next level in the field of health facility design. This initiative is intended for architect-researchers, health facility planners, and other design professionals with an interest in health facility design. This will provide career opportunities, advance the design evidence base within the field, and be a catalyst for knowledge sharing within the health facility design community.

    Updated information will be published in March, along with more information about the Scholarship, submission requirements, eligibility, terms and conditions.

    Research Scholarship


    Membership Renewal

    We are making some minor changes to our membership renewal structure. You can now join AHDC at any time to access 12 months membership from the date of registration. This replaces our previous Financial Year membership model. Current and lapsed members will still need to renew by 1st July each year according to their existing term.

    This reform ensures that you can access membership at a time that suits you. By joining today, you will have access to all our 2023 events, including discounted conference tickets and partner events. Members can also access the Member Directory, database of past presentations, CPD points, Scholarships and more.

    Join AHDC Today

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