Healthy Urban Environments Communities of Practice

“The way our cities are planned, designed and built influence how we move around our streets,  connect with others, access nutritious food and seek shelter from extreme weather. The Community of Practice is an important initiative that brings together a range of local subject matter experts who have experience in shaping cities to keep people healthy.”

Jennie Pry, Co-chair, Healthy Urban Environments Community of Practice

Our aim

The Healthy Urban Environments (HUE) Community of Practice (CoP) brings together subject matter experts on built

environment, public health practitioners, academics, and communications specialists to exchange best practices, and

advocate for scaling up the implementation of health-enhancing urban policies.

The Objectives

Build the capacity and capability of HCA to champion the principles and practices of healthy urban planning and design.
Increase engagement of local subject matter experts with the Community of Practice and have opportunity to exchange best practice and develop skills in healthy urban planning and design.
Provide expert urban health feedback to all levels of government that are involved in planning, designing and developing community infrastructure in the Illawarra Shoalhaven
Relieve pressure on the healthcare system by reducing the burden of preventable diseases through good urban planning and design.

What’s involved

Guided by the principles and practices of healthy urban planning and design, the HUE CoP works to:

Create connections and increase capability

Facilitate local connections between diverse SMEs to exchange best practice, develop new skills and provide expert feedback on local urban health issues.

Advocate and influence policy

Scale up the implementation of health-enhancing urban policies that will benefit the communities of Illawarra Shoalhaven.

Educate and empower communities

Drive the healthy urban environments conversation in the Illawarra to increase local awareness, grow understanding about the public health impact of urban planning & design, and enable participation in community consultations.

How it works

The HUE COP facilitates skill sharing and professional development through the exchange of ideas and resources to develop best practice. The CoP also engages in advocacy and lobbying to improve healthy urban planning and design. It provides subject matter expertise to urban planning and policy processes to advance the cause of healthy urban planning and design at the regional level.

These activities are carried out through internal communications and networking events, as well as through occasional public meetings and events intended to raise awareness among decision-makers and the broader community.

Get in touch to be involved or if you have any questions.

Membership of the Community of Practice is open to built environment professionals, public health practitioners, academics, communication specialists, and anyone with specific expertise in healthy urban planning and design in the Illawarra Shoalhaven. Non-specialists interested in the work are invited to join the Friends of the COP. Please contact alexander@healthycities.org.au to get involved or if you have any questions.