Raising awareness, building strength, and supporting youth mental health through workplace giving and team effort.
When Architecture & Access first designed their Workplace Giving project, choosing which charities to support was no easy task. With so many organisations doing vital work across causes, the decision required thoughtful consideration.
One of the charities selected was headspace, a national organisation supporting the mental health of young Australians. At Architecture & Access we value all people – including our young team members. Currently, two of our staff are under 25, and we value their contributions, perspectives, and energy.
From 4 – 26 June, our team participated in the Push-Up Challenge, a national initiative designed to raise awareness and promote mental health. Our goal was to complete 1,607 push-ups over 23 days and raise $500 for headspace. This number represents the lives lost to suicide in Australia in 2023 (the most recent available data).
“I thought this would be a very doable challenge, but halfway through I was very grateful to have alternatives like sit-ups or squats. I had to give my shoulders and triceps are rest!”, explains Melinda Team Participant
The Architecture & Access team went above and beyond, collectively completing 12,641 push-ups and raising $1,855 – more than triple our original fundraising goal.
Using The Push-Up Challenge app, we tracked our progress and received a new push-up target each day, each linked to a compelling Mental Health Fact. These facts provided daily inspiration and reinforced the importance of the cause. For example:
- Day 18 – Positive Emotions: 191 push-ups – Adolescents with parents who express positive emotions are 1.91 times more likely to maintain good mental health.
- Day 20 – Mindfulness & Loneliness: 220 push-ups – Highlighting a 22% decrease in loneliness among those who practice mindfulness.
- Day 21 – School-Aged Students: 170 push-ups – Representing the 1 in 7 school-aged students experiencing mental illness.
We were especially grateful for Sundays, which were designated rest days – perfect for recovery or catching up on missed targets.
Image: Chris Porter, Director and team in Push-up mode.
Workplace Giving at Architecture & Access
Our unique capabilities allow us to donate services to community groups, particularly those supporting people with disabilities. Through our Workplace Giving program, employees can make regular donations via payroll, which we match up to a capped amount.
Charities we support include:
- ASRC (Asylum Seeker Resource Centre)
- Disability Sports Australia
- The Fred Hollows Foundation
- Spinal Research Institute
- headspace
