More mutual support, solidarity and camaraderie! Parlour Talks is our latest event series, offering key conversations on an eclectic mix of topics – the things we think matter!
Building on the legacy of Light at End of the Tunnel, Parlour Talks helps to navigate the world of work, improve equity and make the professional futures we want and need.
Like most Parlour events, Parlour Talks are based in conversation – the aim is informal but informative. We will talk with experts and those with lived experience, with established practitioners and new voices, with people embedded deeply in architecture and those working beyond. We seek to build knowledge and catalyse action – and to have great discussions while we do it. Join us!
The 2025/26 sessions of Parlour Talks are supported by Parlour Provocateur NH Architecture.
CPD
Formal CPD is available for each session, on completion of the questions. These are all open-ended questions, which ask attendees to reflect on what they learned, and what it means in the context of their professional practice. There are no boxes to tick, but much to learn.
Responses are submitted via an online form. You will receive an email with a PDF of your responses. This provides evidence of attendance and engagement with the session. Please keep the PDF certificate for your records.
Learning objectives
The learning objectives of the series relate to all three Professional Capabilities in the 2021 National Standard of Competency for Architects – Professionalism, Communication and Environmental Practice. Most sessions will relate to the Practice Management and Professional Conduct Unit of Competency. Some sessions may also relate to other Units of Competency – attendees are advised to review specific session descriptions.
The Learning Objectives for Parlour Talks are:
- To increase understanding of opportunities, expectations and obligations in relation to equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion.
- To understand the benefits of a more inclusive profession, and to explore strategies for achieving this.
- To expand knowledge of the structural and contextual factors that affect careers and work in architecture.
- To expand skills in communicating effectively and respectfully – with colleagues, clients and community.
- To increase knowledge of how to support and promote accessible, fair and ethical business practices.
- To explore the ways the built environment projects can support and promote inclusion, respect and diversity of culture, gender and experience in our communities.
- To increase knowledge of how to support and promote healthy workplaces that are inclusive, safe and respectful.
- To network and gain peer to peer understandings and strategies for addressing career disruption or interruption.
- To build skills in career planning and strategy.
Parlour Talks sessions include content relevant to the 2021 National Standards of Competency for Architects – Professionalism, Communication and Environmental Practice Capabilities.
Professionalism encompasses the capacity to understand and enact the role and responsibilities of architects within evolving architectural, social, cultural, ethical, legal, technical and business contexts. This includes understanding community values and obligations around equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion, embedding these within the provision of architectural services, and understanding how they impact Country, colleagues, clients, stakeholders and broader communities.
Communication capabilities encompass the ability to clearly convey and explain the roles and responsibilities of an architect, to coherently and respectfully communicate within workplace and project contexts, and to articulate the value an architect contributes.
Environmental practice capabilities include: “Promoting health, integrating accessibility for all, and respecting the diversity of culture, gender and experience in our communities.”
