The way we plan, design and deliver our built environment has a profound impact on community health, wellbeing and quality of life. From walkable neighbourhoods and active transport networks to access to green space, healthy food and social connection, good design can help create places that support healthier lives for everyone.
To support this important work, the Heart Foundation has launched Healthy Active by Design for SA – a new evidence-informed resource tailored specifically to the South Australian context.
Developed with support from Preventive Health SA and written by Intermethod, the resource builds on the nationally recognised Healthy Active by Design framework, while incorporating South Australian policies, planning frameworks and local practice examples.
The resource has been developed to assist architects, planners, developers, local government, policy-makers and other built environment professionals to embed health considerations into decision-making from the earliest stages of a project through to delivery and ongoing place management.
Why it matters
Architects have long understood that the built environment shapes how people live, move and interact. Healthy Active by Design for SA reinforces the critical role design professionals play in creating places that support:
- Everyday walking, wheeling and bike riding
- Active recreation and movement
- Access to healthy food environments
- Stronger social connection and community wellbeing
- More liveable, equitable and resilient neighbourhoods
- Better long-term health outcomes for South Australians
Importantly, the resource encourages a proactive approach to health-focused design, helping practitioners integrate these considerations consistently and at scale rather than as an afterthought.
A practical resource for practitioners
Healthy Active by Design for SA provides practical guidance, evidence summaries, case studies and implementation tools that can be applied across a wide range of projects and scales, from individual developments and streetscapes through to neighbourhoods, precincts and strategic planning initiatives.
The resource aligns with many of the design principles already championed by the architectural profession, including sustainability, accessibility, community wellbeing, place quality and integrated design outcomes.
As governments, industry and communities continue to seek solutions to challenges such as population growth, chronic disease, climate resilience and housing affordability, resources such as Healthy Active by Design for SA provide a valuable framework for creating places that support both environmental and human wellbeing.
Learn more
Members are encouraged to explore the Healthy Active by Design resources and consider how the principles can be applied within their own projects and practice.
For further information, visit:
The website includes the national toolkit, South Australian resources, evidence summaries, case studies and practical guidance for creating healthier, more active and connected communities.