Project Description
This research project will develop post-occupancy evaluation (POE) resources to help COX designers and researchers to assess built environments that have incorporated trauma-informed design (TiD) strategies, across a range of typologies and sectors.
The approach will be developed in consideration of the diverse lived experiences and forms of trauma experienced by end-users. The project will establish methods for capturing how end-users experience and respond to TiD strategies in the environments they use, in terms of both resisting retraumatisation and mitigating triggers.
The strategies being evaluated are drawn from COX's in-house Trauma-Informed Design Framework and TiD Toolkit, which translates research evidence into practical design approaches. The framework is also aligned with the principles and approaches established by the Trauma-Informed Design Society.
The project will identify appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods for evaluating user experience and outcomes and establish a consistent yet adaptable approach that can be applied across different project typologies and user groups.
The resulting approach will provide in-house resources for systematically measuring the impact of TiD strategies, building an evidence base for what works, for whom and in what contexts, while strengthening and refining COX's TiD Framework and Toolkit.
Industry: Clean Economy
Study area: Psychology & Human Behaviour, Social Sciences & Advocacy
Partner: COX Architecture
Suburb: Remote / in person: COX Studio, The Rocks, Sydney
Why:
COX Architecture is an Australian design practice with studios across Australia and New Zealand. For more than 65 years, COX has delivered architecture, urban design and interior design across multi sectors and scales. The practice brings together design, research and innovation to create places and spaces that respond to people, communities and their changing needs.
COX’s research and development program explores emerging challenges and opportunities across the built environment, bringing evidence and fresh ideas together to create practical design approaches and industry outcomes.
Paid
Yes
Selection Criteria
Skills wish list:
- Interest in trauma-informed design
- Understanding of trauma and trauma informed care
- Post occupancy evaluation skills (or other built environment impact assessments)
- Research instrument design skills - Quantitative and Qualitative
- Data analytics skills
Research Outcomes
- To develop a suite of quantitative and qualitative resources that measure impact of COX TiD Framework as applied to our built projects;
- To develop basic, standard and advanced versions to suit risk category of projects;
- To tailor resources for multi typologies.
Other Information
- Eligibility: PhD candidates must be within 18 months of commencement at the time the agreement is signed
- Open to Domestic and International Applications
Duration
3 months
Application closing date
19 October 2026
Contact information
Georgia Watson