Each year the industry calls on clients to respect a tender pause for wellbeing. This year we are calling for a pause on procurement activities by:

• closing live procurement processes by Monday 15 December 2025, and
• not commencing new procurement processes any earlier than Monday 5 January 2026.

Pause for Wellbeing is our annual tender campaign calling on government clients to prioritise mental health and wellbeing by pausing all live procurement tenders over the end-of-year holiday period. 

It had been common practice for government clients to release live procurement tenders over December/January. To meet the timelines, industry participants often needed to work over the period without a break – despite agencies observing government shut-down periods.  

As part of the campaign, we ask clients, as partners in the delivery of infrastructure and built environment projects, to support and commit to providing the whole industry with an uninterrupted rest during the end-of-year holiday period. This supports the health and wellbeing of the people who work across projects, which is vital. 

In 2018, QLD's Department of Transport and Main Roads was the first government client to agree to the pause and introduce a relevant policy.  

The campaign has grown stronger over time, with other industry colleagues joining Consult Australia in the campaign from 2021 onwards. This includes the Australian Constructors Association, Engineers Australia, Roads Australia, Australasian Railway Association and the Association of Consulting Architects. 

Over time, more and more agencies have committed to procurement pauses for wellbeing.  

We now engage with 114 clients/agencies across sectors including defence, transport, local government, social infrastructure, resources and utilities. 

If you would like to know more about supporting a mentally healthy industry, visit Consult Australia’s Mental Health Knowledge Hub or the Architects Mental Wellbeing Forum developed by the Association of Consulting Architects.