Life & Culture

Our culture

We’re a values-led, multidisciplinary organisation driven by optimism, genuine care, and high performance. Our purpose unites us: to shape cities and communities for a better future. Our collaborative, authentic and inclusive culture brings together passionate people who thrive on creating meaningful impact.

Our values

As a team of bright minds empowered to transform cities and communities around the world, our four shared values inform the way we work.

• Authentic: We mean what we say, providing independent, impartial advice and communicating clearly, transparently, and respectfully with each other and out clients.
• Collaborative: We communicate openly and constructively, collaborating across teams and partnering witho ur clients to deliver world-class solutions.
• Decisive: We lead with evidence, using our expertise to uncover new ideas and go beyond the brief, helping our clients achieve outcomes.
• Spirited: Were passionate about good ideas and creating meaningful long-lasting impact. Our entrepreneurial and agile approach creates innovative, high-performing solutions.

 

Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion are central to who we are. We believe diverse teams drive innovation, creativity and better outcomes for our people, our clients, and the communities we serve. Our current focuses are:

• Gender equity,
• First Nations inclusion,
• LGBTQIA+ inclusion,
• Cultural and linguistic inclusion.

Other dimensions of diversity are also important to us and we are looking to advance them too. The reason for our current focuses is that we believe them to be areas we have the highest potential for impact. Visit our Inclusion page to learn more.

Artwork: Sacred River Dreaming, Hayley Pigram (Darug Nation). Commission by Urbis.

 

Our achievements

We've received many awards for our efforts in being an employer of choice. These include being a:

• Bronze Employer for the Australian Workplace Equality Index from 2023-2026,
• Family Friendly Workplace Accreditation recipient in 2024
• Employer of Choice by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency since 2016
• Climate Active Carbon Neutral Certification since 2022.

 

Below are the perks and benefits available to full-time employees are our organisation. For a list of benefits available to interns, please see the internship program page.

Wellness benefits

• Flexible work arrangements: To support work–life balance, we offer a balanced approach to work, with three days in the office, the option to work from home on other days, and flexible hours where needed.
• Employee Assistance Program: Offering confidential psychology sessions to you and your loved ones.
• Wellness resources: An app with a wide range of resources to support all aspects of wellbeing, including mental, physical, and relational.
• Fitness Passport: Access to a wide network of gyms and fitness facilities nationwide.
• Flu vaccination program: Operated yearly to help you stay healthy.

 

Additional forms of leave

• Purchased leave: All permanent employees are able to purchase 5 days additional annual leave a year.
• Community Service Leave: Urbis employees are able to take time off from work to participate in community service activates such as jury duty, voluntary emergency management and blood donations
• Cultural Leave Program: Our cultural leave program allows you to swap up to two existing public holidays in your state to celebrate significant cultural events that are relevant to your cultural background, heritage or religious beliefs.
• Paid Parental Leave: Urbis recognises that parental leave is a basic necessity to achieve gender equality in the workplace and society. Our parental leave policy is independent of gender and gives employees scope and choice when it comes to caring for their new family. Our employees are provided with competitive entitlements that rival or surpass some of the best practice’s in the market.

 

Social, Office, & Recognition

• Office amenities: Including breakfast, hot drinks, wellness rooms, and end-of-trip facilities.
• Weekly social events: Open to employees across the business, it's a great opportunity to expand and build your professional relationships.

 

Other

• Salary Continuance Insurance: With a benefit of 75% of your salary for a period of up to two years.
• Learning & Development: Including LinkedIn Learning, discipline-specific training and more.
• Employee Referral Incentive: We know that our people have fantastic networks. We encourage referrals and we offer a referral fee for all successful referrals.
• Novated Lease: Novated leases are possible through our provider, Smart Leasing.