With Australia’s population of over 60’s predicted to double by 2050, tomorrow’s architects, designers and urban planners must consider the needs of a population ageing in place.

The Care in the City Best Design Prize will be awarded to the highest achieving undergraduate architecture student enrolled in the studio elective Environments Gender/Place/Drawing elective. This elective is focused on redesigning existing spaces that utilise inclusive design to create safe and responsive spaces for marginalised groups because of their age or ability. Students in the elective will produce a series of design guides that respond to ageing and care in a design context.

In 2024, there is a cash prize of $4,000 on offer for the top performing students in this subject. At the Presentation and Awards Ceremony, students will present their design guides and will be evaluated by a judging panel of industry and academic experts. The prize is generously supported in honour of OC Leow and YH Chuah who believe in the transformation of individuals through education.

The event is led by Samantha Donnelly UTS. The students will present their findings on ageing, care, and the city through a series of design guides that illustrate their observations of how older people live in Sydney. Engage with their proposed design strategies that support ageing physically and mentally and hear their experiences of engaging with older people in diverse urban and cultural centres.

Design guide review panel:

Nicholas Loder, Asset Technical Advisor, Homes NSW, Senior Advisor City Space Architecture, and Founding Director of Centre for Universal Design Australia
Hammond Care representative
Vicky Skarlatos, Social Programs Officer, City of Sydney Council
Associate Professor Deborah Debono, UTS UARC representative, School of Public Health
Tze Ay Chuah and Richard Doyle, prize donors

MC: Samantha Donnelly, UTS

The Presentation and Awards Ceremony is open to all with an interest in inclusive design, healthy ageing and ageing in place.

The event is open to the public and will be followed by networking drinks.