The design of neighbourhoods, towns and cities has a significant impact on the heart health of local communities.
Research shows that people who live in walkable communities are 1.5 times more likely to be sufficiently active and 58% more likely to have a healthy cardiovascular risk profile, compared to those who live in areas where walking is unsafe, inconvenient or difficult.
Walkable communities are designed and maintained to support physical movement as part of everyday life, providing opportunities for walking as a mode of transport and for recreation.
Asset managers and those in related fields have immense opportunity and responsibility to directly impact the quality of life and heart health of all people living in Australia through best practice management of essential public infrastructure.
Increasingly, local councils across Australia are prioritising liveability, health and wellbeing in strategic visions and policy commitments. The array of council assets that allow people to walk, wheel, play, socialise and catch public transport in their local neighbourhoods is vast.
The Heart Foundation’s Healthy Active by Design digital toolkit provides best-practice, evidence-based resources and practical guidance to embed walkability and active living into built environment outcomes. Its point of difference from traditional planning and works guidance is the incorporation of physical movement and health considerations to create healthy spaces and places that promote liveability, health and wellbeing. The eight design features include:
A dedicated module is available with these design principles to support Healthy Active Ageing.
This presentation will provide unique insights into practical and pragmatic ways that Healthy Active by Design resources can be embedded into asset management policy, strategy, planning and practice for heart health outcomes.