Designing Environments That Heal Minds, Supporting Staff and Patients Through Biophilic and Neuroscience-Informed Design
Tracks
Springbrook Room - In-Person Only
| Tuesday, June 23, 2026 |
| 1:55 PM - 2:15 PM |
Overview
Joanne Caughtry, NeuroNature Design
Presenter
Ms Joanne Caughtry
Founder
Neuronature Design
Designing Environments That Heal Minds, Supporting Staff and Patients Through Biophilic and Neuroscience-Informed Design
Presentation Overview
The spaces we inhabit shape our mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. For healthcare professionals, the daily demands of patient care can lead to burnout, stress, and reduced cognitive performance. Similarly, patients’ recovery and emotional wellbeing are heavily influenced by the design of their environment.
This presentation introduces NeuroNature, a framework combining neuroscience, biophilic design, and environmental psychology to create spaces that actively support the mental health of staff and patients. Attendees will learn how thoughtful design, natural light, sensory engagement, wayfinding, and restorative spaces, can reduce stress, improve attention and mood, enhance recovery, and create a culture of wellbeing within healthcare settings.
Through real-world case studies and post-occupancy evaluations, this session demonstrates measurable outcomes for staff retention, patient satisfaction, and therapeutic environments. Participants will gain actionable insights into how small design interventions can deliver significant mental health benefits, making NeuroNature an essential approach in modern healthcare design.
Three Key Learnings
1. Understand the principles of NeuroNature and its connection to mental health in healthcare environments.
2. Identify environmental features that reduce stress and support cognitive performance for staff and patients and apply practical design strategies, including biophilic patterns, restorative spaces, and sensory engagement, to their own workplaces.
3. Recognise the return on investment in staff wellbeing, patient outcomes, and organisational culture.
This presentation introduces NeuroNature, a framework combining neuroscience, biophilic design, and environmental psychology to create spaces that actively support the mental health of staff and patients. Attendees will learn how thoughtful design, natural light, sensory engagement, wayfinding, and restorative spaces, can reduce stress, improve attention and mood, enhance recovery, and create a culture of wellbeing within healthcare settings.
Through real-world case studies and post-occupancy evaluations, this session demonstrates measurable outcomes for staff retention, patient satisfaction, and therapeutic environments. Participants will gain actionable insights into how small design interventions can deliver significant mental health benefits, making NeuroNature an essential approach in modern healthcare design.
Three Key Learnings
1. Understand the principles of NeuroNature and its connection to mental health in healthcare environments.
2. Identify environmental features that reduce stress and support cognitive performance for staff and patients and apply practical design strategies, including biophilic patterns, restorative spaces, and sensory engagement, to their own workplaces.
3. Recognise the return on investment in staff wellbeing, patient outcomes, and organisational culture.
Biography
Jo Caughtry is a registered nurse, certified biophilic designer, and founder of NeuroNature Design, a consultancy dedicated to creating environments that nurture wellbeing, recovery, mental health. With extensive experience in aged care, healthcare commissioning, and executive health management, Jo combines her clinical insight with environmental psychology and neuroscience-informed design to transform spaces for staff, patients, and communities. She delivers post-occupancy evaluations, training, and workshops that demonstrate measurable outcomes in wellbeing, cognitive performance, and engagement. Jo is a sought-after speaker and thought leader, advocating for the power of thoughtfully designed spaces to reduce stress, enhance recovery, and support resilient healthcare teams.
