In an era where aged care is under the national spotlight, a groundbreaking collaboration is showing how design, research, and compassionate care can come together to meaningfully improve the lives of older Australians.
Hames Sharley, in partnership with Adventist Care, Gabriels Hearne Farrell, Edith Cowan University (ECU), and the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), is proud to be part of a cross-disciplinary team working to raise the standard of Residential Aged Care (RAC) environments across the country.
At the heart of this initiative is a forthcoming peer-reviewed scientific publication titled Understanding the Impact of Sound Levels, Temperature Regulation and Light Intensity on Residents and Staff in Australian Residential Aged Care. More than just a study, this ethically approved research represents the culmination of a shared commitment to evidence-based design and user-centred care.
A community of practice in action
What makes this project stand out isn’t just the research, it’s how it came to be. This study is the product of a community of practice: a group of professionals from diverse domains coming together with a singular aim, to improve the quality of life for RAC residents and to support those who care for them.
From early design concepts to post-occupancy evaluation, the collaboration between architects, aged care providers, acoustic specialists, and industry and university researchers has ensured the built environment is not just functional but inherently contributes to the lived experience of its users.
The multi-phase project focused on a newly constructed RAC facility in Perth, Western Australia, developed by Adventist Care. The facility replaced an existing one on the same site, offering a rare opportunity to conduct a comparative study involving the same residents and staff across two different buildings and operational models.
By comparing pre-occupancy and post-occupancy data collected via surveys and environmental sensors measuring light, temperature, and sound, the study aimed to understand how built form directly influences comfort, wellbeing, and performance.
Preliminary outcomes and positive trajectories
Although specific data insights remain under embargo pending formal publication, early outcomes show promising trends. Both subjective survey feedback and environmental datalogging indicate improvements in resident comfort and staff satisfaction following the move to the new facility.
More than a technical achievement, these early results affirm the potential of good design. “It’s not just about meeting standards,” says one of the lead researchers. “It’s about creating spaces that support dignity, rest, and connection for both residents and the people who care for them.”
Setting a national benchmark
Australia’s aged care sector is undergoing rapid transformation, not least due to demographic shifts and growing expectations for quality of life in later years. As pressure on aged care infrastructure increases, this research arrives at a critical time.
The methodology behind the study is designed to be reproducible. It combines scientific environmental monitoring with rigorous peer reviewed survey tools to analyse thermal comfort, lighting quality, and acoustic performance against published recommended thresholds in settings for sensitive persons, including RAC facilities. These findings will serve as a foundation for future design and regulatory frameworks, guidelines, and standards, and contribute to the much needed scientific research literature and discourse.
Importantly, the study also brings attention to population-specific needs such as the heightened sensitivity of older individuals to sound, temperature, and light, offering contextualised insights that can inform both spatial planning and operational protocols.
Looking ahead
The forthcoming publication will provide a robust, evidence-based analysis that contributes to the growing global body of knowledge on ageing and the built environment. But the impact of this work goes far beyond academia.
The lessons from this collaboration are already being translated into design briefs, informing other aged care projects across Australia. As care providers, architects, and policymakers look for ways to make aged care more responsive, safe, and supportive, the value of partnership-driven research like this cannot be overstated.
“This is what happens when different sectors commit to working together,” says Hames Sharley. “Our shared goal is to create spaces that empower and provide comfort for residents as a living space, and for staff as a workplace. And we now have the data to back it up.”
A model for future collaboration
This project serves as a powerful model for how communities of practice can tackle complex challenges in the built environment. By aligning design innovation with real-world operational feedback and robust scientific inquiry, the partnership behind this study is helping redefine what aged care can and should look like.
As the scientific article moves toward publication, Hames Sharley and its partners remain committed to sharing the findings, supporting the sector, and continuing the conversation around what it means to age well, with dignity and care.
