Oh my goodness

Oh my goodness Welcome to The Healthy Home. I'm here to help you create a healthier home environment so you and you Magazine, Fairfax health online.

Zara D'Cotta is a keynote speaker on a mission to change the way people think about their homes and workplaces and their health. Zara learned first-hand the vital role our living environment has to play in supporting our health and wellbeing after going through two different types of cancer. Zara is passionate about shining the spotlight on what she believes to be the least understood but most imp

ortant health challenges of our time, and empowering others with practical tips that will have a profound impact not only on their own wellbeing, but that of their families, work colleagues and communities. Zara was recognised as one of Australia’s leading health influencers in the Bupa Health Influencer of the Year Awards. She has appeared on TEN News, Today Show and The Project, been featured in the Herald Sun, Sarah Wilson's I Quit Sugar, and contributed to Medibank Be. Zara contributed to the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s first comprehensive report on young women in Australia.

Last night, I had the incredible opportunity to be a panelist at the Brisbane launch of the Australia study on air tigh...
04/06/2024

Last night, I had the incredible opportunity to be a panelist at the Brisbane launch of the Australia study on air tightness and moisture management.

When a German construction engineer and Master Carpenter, at asked me to join the panel with Jesse Clark, a leading building scientist, and author of this study, I laughed and said, “I’m not smart enough to be on a panel with Jesse!”, not realising Jesse was in earshot 😆 , after triple checking this wasn’t a joke I was assured they valued my perspective as a Building Biologist and someone who has experienced mould illness firsthand.

As a woman in the construction industry, I’m continually touched by the support and inclusion from industry peers, whom recognise the importance of diverse perspectives and experiences in driving change. This study is a significant piece of work for builders and designers, providing essential guidance on reducing mould risks.

It was wonderful finally to meet Amelia in person and have her as an epic industry wing woman on the panel sharing valuable insights with builders from her work with homeowners, whom are becoming increasingly aware and informed about the harm mould in their homes is doing to their health (she’s done a great video wrap up of the event over in her page).

It was awesome to see some Mastermind community faces there as well

It’s an exciting time to be at the forefront of change in the construction industry, with a key takeaway being that there will be many more changes to our National Construction Code in the years to come and the pace of change will get faster; emphasising the importance of ongoing education and up-skilling.

A 90-day termination notice to vacate the home I’ve been living in for nearly 5 years, wasn’t a curve ball I sure wasn’t...
30/04/2024

A 90-day termination notice to vacate the home I’ve been living in for nearly 5 years, wasn’t a curve ball I sure wasn’t expecting to start the week. Life sure is what happens while you’re busy making other plans, isn’t it?

It’s triggered a whirlwind of emotions, deep fears, doubts, frustration, and rage , as I embark on the search for a new home. 

This search carries the weight of past experiences, after the previous four years spent on the move, from one water damaged building to the next, and the toll that took on my physical and mental health. 

As I begin the search for a new home, it’s heartbreaking and infuriating to have seen a recent example of a total lack of awareness of the requirements of NCC 2022 (condensation management) that I’m certain will result in significant mould problems in new builds in my region.

I know I’m not the first, and won’t be the last environmentally sensitive person to once again commence what can feel like an incredibly overwhelming journey towards finding a home that will support my wellbeing, and I’m determined not to lose hope, completely trusting that I am being guided to an even better home, and that getting comfortable with the inevitable discomfort I’m going to feel through this process, knowing it’s where the growth happens.

Knowing that a positive mindset is going to be everything over the next few months, I’ve put together these affirmations as a guiding light through this period of uncertainty, that I wanted to share in the hope they may help others in similar circumstances.

Together, let’s continue to advocate for better building standards and strive for a future where everyone has access to spaces that nurture their health.

The healthier building movement in Tassie is making headlines 📰.. The Examiner featured this story today 🙌A huge shoutou...
20/03/2024

The healthier building movement in Tassie is making headlines 📰.. The Examiner featured this story today 🙌

A huge shoutout to Professor Mark Dewsbury, Clarence McAllister and Tim Law for their invaluable research and contributions to bringing about changes to the national construction code and education in the critical field of building science.

And a big thank you to the Tasmanian building community for their openness to explore how we can incorporate building biology principles into your builds for ultimate health and well-being. This is an incredible acknowledgment of the strides you’ve already taken and I know based on last nights conversations, are committed to building on. You fill me with hope. Let’s keep this momentum going!
build

A pinch myself moment, meeting past and present participants, aka my real-life superheroes, in person at after countl...
20/03/2024

A pinch myself moment, meeting past and present participants, aka my real-life superheroes, in person at after countless Zoom calls.

A huge thank you to the Tasmanian building community for showing up in force last night; to .build and for sharing their invaluable perspectives and experiences as two of Tasmania’s leading builders.

The spirit of collaboration and support here in Tassie is truly remarkable. It’s this tight-knit community connection that will propel our movement forward.

Special thanks to Master Builders Tasmania and for their support, Sean Buchanan for rallying his builder mates, John Harris for being our MC, and Clarence McAllister for making it all happen.

The overwhelming support from everyone involved speaks volumes about the strength of our community.

Also, a big shoutout to all those who inquired about bringing this event to Hobart. We’re looking into making it happen early 2025.

tune in to ABC Radio Tasmania tomorrow at 10:40am, where I’ll be discussing the importance of healthy homes. It could be worth sharing with clients who might be interested in joining this journey with you.

Spending time onsite with industry professionals like Matthew O’Grady and Marshall Clarkson of , who are dedicated to ...
18/03/2024

Spending time onsite with industry professionals like Matthew O’Grady and Marshall Clarkson of , who are dedicated to being masters of their craft, and implementing the principles, has been a highlight of my trip to Tassie.

I was so inspired our conversations and witnessing first-hand how dedicated they are to delivering projects that prioritise the wellbeing of their clients, while also reducing the environmental footprint.

Building this was isn’t easy, it requires courage and dedication. But these change-makers are doing it with passion and humility and creating a legacy that will benefit generations to come.

Big thanks to for making this visit possible amidst your healing. I’m impressed with the team and culture you’ve created at and am grateful for the opportunity to see some of your projects first-hand.

I’m feeling proud as punch of our alumni, and wanted to share a little inspiration from our community, who are making ...
14/03/2024

I’m feeling proud as punch of our alumni, and wanted to share a little inspiration from our community, who are making waves in the industry.

They’re not just re-defining building standards; they’re true pioneers in the movement towards healthier living spaces.

And I’m truly grateful for the privilege of witnessing the awakening and transformation our participants go through, during, and well after the course has finished.

Two of our alumni have been featured in big publications for their work and commitment to healthier building practices.

Evan Graham Master Builder has taken his learnings to new heights since he took part in 2022, collaborating with architect Steele Olney to produce the first passive house pods that incorporate Building Biology principles.

This groundbreaking work has been featured in showcasing the importance of healthier building practices.

Brett from was featured in talking about not only the materials used but also the importance of taking steps to protect occupants from radiation from a nearby phone tower.

These stories are just the beginning. Our alumni are not just builders, designers, and architects; they’re visionaries leading the charge towards a healthier future. 🙌

To our alumni: Thank you for your passion, dedication, and for being a pivotal part of this movement. Your achievements demonstrate what’s possible when we commit to building healthier, more sustainable homes.

What a thrill and privilege to be part of Professional Builder’s Summit on the Gold Coast today, thank you Russ and Skye...
08/09/2023

What a thrill and privilege to be part of Professional Builder’s Summit on the Gold Coast today, thank you Russ and Skye for the opportunity to define for your community, what it truly means to build a healthy home.

I admire the work you do to help builders propel their businesses forward and loved the opportunity to meet your community today.

Tim was the first builder to join the Healthy Building Materials Mastermind exactly two years ago this month, during lo...
29/07/2023

Tim was the first builder to join the Healthy Building Materials Mastermind exactly two years ago this month, during lockdowns and border closures.

I know his gorgeous wife, Lauren, played a hand in that. Having exchanged many voice messages with Lauren here on the gram since then, it was such a treat to finally meet her in person, and to be included in the Christmas in July celebration at their farm in country QLD, where they truly live and breathe a healthy organic lifestyle, growing their own food, raising 🐓 and 🐄… I tried to explain to their 6 year old son, Kai, that the lifestyle they’ve worked so hard to create for him and his baby sister is the stuff of dreams for many adults!

What a great team culture these two have created, as well.

The support they’ve shown me since day dot, of being a newcomer in their industry, has been epic and I’ll be forever grateful 🙏

These are questions I find helpful to consider and I think will be among the most important questions for architects, bu...
23/05/2023

These are questions I find helpful to consider and I think will be among the most important questions for architects, building designers, and builders when specifying materials, to meet the new requirements of NCC 2022.

If you find these helpful, ‘save’ the post and feel free to share it with your industry peers.

If you are planning updates to the materials you specify and you don’t fancy spending days on end trying to do all the research yourself, there’s a handful of spots left for the May intake of the , we start May 30th and for the first time ever we have representation from every state in Australia. It’s set to be 🔥.

This will be the last opportunity to go through the course in full before October 1.

Head to link in bio for more info or DM me the word Mastermind (and feel free to reach out to me with questions)

Pondering my chances of assembling a healthy home build dream team willing to temporarily relocate to a tropical island ...
01/05/2023

Pondering my chances of assembling a healthy home build dream team willing to temporarily relocate to a tropical island in the Gulf of Thailand to bring my healthy home to life 🧐

Must be versed in building science, passionate masters of their craft with exquisite attention to detail, no ego, openness and willingness to learn along the way, collaborative mindset, and all round awesome humans with a good sense of humour of fun.

Friday knock-offs will be on me.

What do you think.. any takers?

I’m envisioning neutral tones, natural textures and finishes, and lots of frangipani trees (some with fairy lights), and bougainvillea 🤩

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Hobart, TAS

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