EXHIBITOR

Heart Foundation - Healthy Active by Design

Healthy built environments put the needs of people and communities at the centre of urban and transport planning. 

Research shows that people who live in walkable neighbourhoods are 1.5 times more likely to get enough physical activity and are 58% more likely to have a healthy cardiovascular risk profile than people who live in areas where walking is unsafe, inconvenient or difficult. 

Healthy Active by Design is the Heart Foundation’s flagship program for the built environment. 

It’s a unique digital toolkit that translates public health research into practical outcomes for urban and transport planning. 

The Healthy Active by Design resources support industry professionals and decision makers across Australia to improve the walkability of local neighbourhoods for heart health. It does this by embedding physical movement and heart health considerations into planning and design outcomes. 

Healthy Active by Design was established in 2008, initially as a collaboration between the Heart Foundation with the Planning Institute of Australia and the Australian Local Government Association. It has won national and international awards and is continually enhanced with new and updated resources. 

The digital toolkit is intended for use by a wide range of industry professionals and other decision makers. It provides an integrated, holistic approach towards built environment and neighbourhood design. Eight design features and two supporting modules help shift awareness and attitudes to support a change in practice towards healthier, more active spaces and places. The toolkit also contains an introductory training resource, case studies, practical checklists, international examples, publications and policies and more! 

As well as providing practical guidance, the resources also support advocacy, funding bids, community engagement and more. 

It’s free to access at any time. 

Healthy Active by Design is funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Aged Care as part of our National Walking Initiative program. 

Find out more: https://www.healthyactivebydesign.com.au/
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthy-active-by-design
Subscribe to our bi-monthly e-newsletter: https://hrt.how/habd-subscribe 

Chat with us in person during the 2025 PIA Congress at our exhibition booth!