VTAS understands and recognises that as architects and designers of the built environment we contribute to the impacts upon the environment in both the design and the operation of our practice. Of the two, our designs are likely to be the more significant source of improvement in reducing human’s impact on the environment. It is, however, also important that we do things by example and try our utmost to reduce our office’s.

We seek to be the avant-garde in sustainable building design and through our practices the positive contributor to a sustainable design process. We have implemented and committed to the continual review and improvement of the way we operate environmentally as part of our quality assurance policy and effectively circulate this information among the team members.

We take pride in our operation with full compliance in all relevant environmental regulation and to protecting the environment and minimize adverse environmental impacts.

The Architecture

VTAS encourages and assists its clients and consultant teams to consider and implement the use of sustainable principles in all of their works. These sustainable principles are aimed as raising the quality of the occupants’ life, conserving natural achieving significant and sustained reductions in all forms of adverse environmental impacts.

In this pursuit of the principle of sustainable development, our aim is to ensure that every intervention into the built environment not only improves a group or individual’s quality of life but also seeks to eliminate waste, minimise  pollution and conserve energy and natural resources. The practice consciously aims to avoid the use of materials and products that may be damaging to the environment.

Sustainability to us is a multilayered undertaking, we not only try to reduce the impact on the environment with the design and construction of buildings and installations, but also in the maximization of the utility of our design so that it may minimise the need for more construction and hence reduce further impacts in the long run. To VTAS a sustainable building does not stop at being certifiably sustainable but has to also be desirable, maintainable and flexible, all of which will contribute to the longevity of the buildings and as a result more sustainable.

Our aim is to deliver sustainable development through sustainable design, insofar as this is possible within the instructions received from our clients, and through such developments encourage and facilitate lifestyle activity that together with those developments support and enhance the long term well being of the global ecosystem and all of its inhabitants.

The Practice

Our aim is to deliver our services in a manner that reduces our potential impact on the environment at the same time providing a safe and healthy workplace for our employees and visitors. We strive to:

• Integrate the consideration of environmental concerns and impacts into everything that we do.

• Promote environmental awareness amongst all our employees.

• Encourage the efficient use of materials and resources and the reduction of waste through re-use and recycling.

• Where possible purchase recycled, recyclable or refurbished equipment, products and materials where these alternatives are available, economic and suitable.

• Promote the efficient use of energy in the workplace in terms of heating, lighting and equipment usage.

• Endeavour to reduce water consumption.

• Where required by legislation or where significant health, safety or environmental hazards exist, develop and maintain appropriate emergency response programmes.

• Encourage the use of alternative forms of transport, including cycling, where it is safe and effective to do so.

• Encourage the use of public transport in preference to travel by car/taxi wherever it is possible and effective to do so.

• Endeavour to reduce the use of air travel as far as possible by the use of alternative communication tools such as video conferencing etc.

• Communicate our environmental commitment to clients, customers and the public and encourage them to support it.

• Strive to continually improve our environmental performance and reduce the impact of our activities by periodically reviewing our environmental policy in the light of our current and planned future activities.

Policy

VTAS (the Company) is committed to the vision of an inclusive and equitable work environment for everyone. This policy outlines the Company's strategy to achieve this goal and the means by which it will measure its success in this regard over time in accordance to the principles set out in the ISO9001 Quality Management System.

The Company recognize that diversity is not only a morally compelling but also business-wise beneficial. It helps safeguarding the future success of the company by:

• improving productivity and competitive advantage through aligning its internal demographics to those of its customers and the community at large; and

• improving team relationships and employee attraction and retention by harnessing the talents diversity of perspectives, skills, and life experiences of a broader group of people.

Within the legal and cultural parameters of the jurisdictions in which we may find ourselves operating, we will endeavor to orient hiring and promotions processes and decisions transparent and incorporate a diverse pool of talent to support the development and preparation of senior management roles.

Application

This Policy applies to all Directors, company officers, executives, senior leaders, employees and contractors of the Company.

The Company's vision for diversity follows the principles and details of Australia’s many anti-discrimination acts at both States and Commonwealth levels. The factors include but not limited to gender, ethnicity and cultural background, disability, age and educational experience.

Responsibilities and Application

Strategies for Promoting Workforce Diversity

Specific strategies for promoting workforce diversity include:

• setting measurable objectives relating to at levels and measuring against those objectives;

• broadening the field of potential candidates for senior management and Directors appointments;

• continue to improve upon our policies which address impediments to diversity in the workplace;

• introduce or review and expand on, existing initiatives designed to identify, support and develop talented employees from a diverse range of backgrounds.

Underpinning these strategies are the principles of:

• Meritocracy – decisions about recruitment, development, promotion and remuneration are based on performance and capabilities.

• Fairness and Equality – no tolerance for unlawful discrimination, bullying, harassment or victimisation.

• Contribution to our future – focusing on results for our people and our business, not on processes or programs for their own sake.

Measurable Objectives

Each year the Directors will set measurable objectives with a view to progressing towards diversity and a balanced representation of all groups in the workplace.

The Directors will review performance against these objectives annually as part of its annual review of the effectiveness of this Policy.

Policy Review and Communication

The Directors commits to reviewing this policy at least annually. During such reviews, this policy may be amended by resolution of the Directors.

A copy of this policy will be made available to all directors and employees of the Company, by one or many of the following means:

• on the Company's website;

• on the Company’s intranet;