Publications and Policies
New releases:
National Heart Foundation resources on the built environment:
These resources have been created by the Heart Foundation and our key collaborators for active living initiatives around Australia.
- Blueprint for an active Australia: Government and community actions to increase population levels of physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviours in Australia (2019)
- Active School Travel (2025)
- The built environment and walking position statement (2009) (PDF)
- Does density matter? The role of density in creating walkable neighbourhoods (2014) (PDF)
- Increasing density in Australia: Maximising the health benefits and minimising harm (2012) (PDF)
- Low density development: Impacts on physical activity and associated health outcomes (2014) (PDF)
- Good for Business: The benefits of making streets more walking and cycling friendly (2011) (PDF)
- Quality Green Space Supporting Health, Wellbeing and Biodiversity: A Literature Review (2017) (PDF)
- Creating active communities. How can open and public spaces in urban and suburban environments support active living? A literature review (2010) (PDF)
Industry survey reports:
Consumer preference survey reports:
- What Australia Wants: Neighbourhood Design (2025)
- Creating Healthy Neighbourhoods - Consumer preferences for healthy development (2011)
Australian Capital Territory
- Changes to support active living
- Active living principles
- Benefits of infrastructure to support active living
- Gender Sensitive Urban Design Framework and Implementation Toolkit (2023)
New South Wales
- NSW Healthy Built Environment resources - Former Active Living NSW
- Active Travel to School - Urban Design Study (2019) (PDF)
- NSW Healthy Planning Action Resource No. 1 - Urban Cooling with Green Infrastructure (2018)
- NSW Healthy Planning Action Resource No. 2 - Creating Walkable Neighbourhoods (2018)
- NSW Healthy Planning Action Resource No. 3 - Healthy Food and the Built Environment (2018)
- A baseline study of Healthy Eating and Active Living within NSW Local Government Community Strategic Plans and selected Delivery Programs
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
- Active Streets – the new normal for public space (2020) (PDF)
- Why Walking? The Heart Foundation call for a Walking Strategy (2019) (PDF)
- Healthy by Design SA: A guide to planning, designing and developing healthy urban environments in South Australia (2012)
- Streets for people: Compendium for South Australian Practice (2012) (PDF)
- The SA Active Living Coalition’s submission to the draft 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide (2016)
- The Heart Foundation submission to City of Adelaide Shaping Streets and Green Spaces (2019) (PDF)
- Quality Green Space Supporting Health, Wellbeing and Biodiversity: A Literature Review (2017) (PDF)
- Making the case for investment in street trees (2013) (PDF)
Tasmania
- Healthy by Design®: A guide to planning and designing environments for active living in Tasmania (National Heart Foundation of Australia, 2009) (PDF)
- Design for safe and healthy communities: The Matrix of like design considerations for Tasmania (National Heart Foundation of Australia, 2011) (PDF)
- Tasmania Statement: Working Together for the Health and Wellbeing of Tasmanians (Tasmanian Government 2019)
- Support for a State Policy for Healthy Spaces and Places (2019)
Victoria
- Space for Active Play: Developing child-inspired play space for older children (2013)
- Food-sensitive planning and urban design - A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system (2011)
- Safe Speed for all Road Users: Promoting safe walking and cycling by addressing traffic speed (2008)
- Planning for Food: Towards a Prosperous, Resilient and Healthy Food System through Victoria's Metropolitan Planning Strategy (2012)
Western Australia
External resources on the built environment:
These resources have been created by leading external stakeholders for active living initiatives nationally and internationally.
International
- United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals
- World Health Organisation’s Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030
- World Heart Federation, More People, More Active, More Often for Heart Health – Taking Action on Physical Activity
- International Society for Physical Activity and Health ‘Eight Investments that work for physical activity’ 2020
- Global Designing Cities Initiative Guides and Publications
- National Association of City Transportation Officials (US), Programs, Guides and Publications
- Introducing the 15-minute city: Sustainability, Resilience and Place identity in Future Post-Pandemic Cities
- Healthy Streets, UK
- Centre for the Living City, USA
- Improving the Health of Londoners – Transport Action Plan
- Urban Design, Transport and Health, 2016
- Urban Mind: How can the design of urban spaces contribute to the mental well-being of teenage girls? Design Guide and Process Guide
- Make Space for Girls, the research background 2023
- Social Life Project: Men in public spaces
- Designing for Active Living, American Society of Landscape Architects
National
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, ‘The Relationship between health risk factors and the neighbourhood environment’ 2022
- Insufficient Physical Activity (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2020)
- Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Physical Activity and Exercise Guidelines for all Australians
- Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2030
- Australian Government – Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards 2010
- Australian Human Rights Commission – Access for all: Improving accessibility for consumers with disability (2016)
- National Guide to a preventative health assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, 2018
- Cycling and Walking Australia New Zealand National Participation Survey 2023
- National Institute of Crime Prevention – Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
- Green Building Council of Australia Green Star Strategy
- Climate Council ‘Send the Right Signal: How to Effectively talk about sustainable transport’ 2022
- Climate Council ‘Shifting Gear: The path to Cleaner Transport’ 2023
- National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030
- Austroads Guides (Road Design, Road Safety, Traffic management, Temporary Traffic Management)
ACT
- ACT Planning and Development home page
- ACT Strategic Planning
- Incorporating Active Living Principles into the Territory Plan
- Transport Canberra
New South Wales
- Healthy Higher Density Living for Families and Children (2024)
- NSW Planning and Development home page
- NSW Strategic Planning
- Transport for NSW
- Better Placed: An integrated design policy for the built environment in NSW
- Movement and Place Framework
Northern Territory
- NT Planning and Development home page
- NT Strategic Planning
- NT Transport and Road Safety
- Nutrition and physical activity
- School nutrition and healthy eating
Queensland
- Bicycle riding encouragement guide - Queensland Government (2019) (PDF)
- Qld Planning and Development home page
- Qld Strategic Planning
- Department of Transport and Main Roads, Qld
- Healthy and Active Communities
- Planning for Walkable Neighbourhoods
- Healthy Places, Healthy People
- Shade Tree Guidance and Canopy Cast Tool
South Australia
- SA Planning and Development home page
- SA Strategic Planning
- Department for Infrastructure and Transport, SA
- SA Active Travel Design Guide
- Creating active communities. How can open and public spaces in urban and suburban environments support active living? A literature review (2010) (PDF)
- Office of Design and Architecture SA, Principles of Good Design
- Creating greener Places for Healthy and Sustainable Communities, Healthy Parks, Healthy People, 2019
- Health in All Policies
Tasmania
Victoria
- Vic Planning and Development home page
- Victoria Strategic Planning
- Department of Transport and Planning, Vic
- Office of the Victorian Government Architect
- Urban Design for Walking, Victoria Walks
- Framing walking and bike riding – message guide, VicHealth
Western Australia
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