Heart-healthy neighbourhood action labs

Applications OPEN for heart-healthy neighbourhood action labs!!


We’re looking for people who:

  • Live in Somerset Tas, Bunbury WA (suburb), Ipswich Qld (suburb)
  • Want to improve the local area
  • Can identify project opportunities using the Heart Foundation’s Community Walkability Checklist
  • Want to receive up to $7,000 to bring the project to life
  • Can build a strong relationship with the local council for mutual benefit
  • Can attend a community workshop in Feb/March 2027 in your town
  • Can help inspire others to be involved in the project and/or workshop



APPLY NOW

Healthy neighbourhoods

Healthy neighbourhoods provide opportunities for physical activity, to connect with others, to access fresh healthy food, to help mitigate the effects of climate change, to reduce traffic noise and air pollution, to reimagine public space for community use and to ensure equity, accessibility and inclusion for all members of the community.


The Heart Foundation is particularly interested in projects that provide opportunities to reimagine public space as places for:

  • communities to connect (social fabric)
  • urban nature (nature interventions)


Social fabric and nature interventions can help improve mental wellbeing and other health outcomes that underpin heart-health.


You can find out more about these topics and their relationship with heart health:


Project ideas

Whether you’ve already got an idea in mind, are involved in an existing project, part of an organisation, or an individual who’s passionate about your local area, we want to hear from you!


Project ideas might include:

  • Seating, park benches
  • Community gardens
  • Microforests
  • Verge plantings
  • Pocket parks
  • Street art/mural
  • Street library
  • Feature lighting
  • Yarn bombing
  • Shade structures
  • Adopt a bus stop

 

The following resources can help inspire project ideas:


All applicants must agree to the Heart Foundation’s Funding Application Terms and Conditions including Privacy Collection Notice. All applicants must also review the Successful Offer and Agreement Template prior to applying.


Applications are open until 5:00pm on 30 September 2026.


Have a question?

Email us: HealthyActivebyDesign@heartfoundation.org.au


Local council collaboration

Your local council is a key supporter and collaborator for this initiative.


Council staff will help judge project applications.


A facilitated training workshop for local staff in Feb/March 2027 will support them to:

  • work collaboratively and influence decision-making for healthier built environments
  • help build stronger relationships with the local community for long-term, shared success


Community workshop Feb/March 2027

We’ll be visiting Waratah Wynyard, Bunbury and Ipswich in Feb/March 2027 and would love for you to join our community workshop – whether or not you apply for funding. The workshop will be held on a Saturday morning and we’ll chat about:

  • The fundamentals of heart-healthy neighbourhoods
  • Effective ways to advocate
  • Building mutual trust and working with your local council for shared success
  • Ways to reduce consultation fatigue
  • Inspiring and recruiting others


You’ll gain the tools, confidence and connections to create meaningful change in your community; and to have positive, open and honest conversations with your local council.


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We will also evaluate project outcomes and may ask funding applicants and workshop participants to share feedback.