Supporting local Councils in South Australia

Public health planning

Local and regional public health plans demonstrate how local councils will work to improve the health and wellness of the community. This is also a legislative requirement of the South Australian Public Health Act 2011.

The key areas below support the Government of South Australia State Public Health Plan, under the areas of Promote and Prevent.

Promote:

• built environments to support physical activity
• built environments to improve access to healthy food

Prevent:

• walking program that empowers individuals to be more physically active
• know the risk of chronic disease in your council  
• empower individuals through education and improved health literacy
• policies that reduce tobacco use

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Promote

Built environments to support physical activity

Healthy Active by Design

The Healthy Active by Design website is a practical guide for planning, designing and developing healthy urban environments through: quality open space, public infrastructure and urban planning.

The website includes case studies that can be replicated across councils, and if you have a project that you would like included on the website as a case study you can let the Healthy Active by Design team know.  

 

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Blueprint for an Active Australia 

The Blueprint for an Active Australia (PDF) summarises the compelling evidence for action to increase physical activity levels and reduce sedentary behaviour.

It covers government and community actions to increase population levels of physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour. The Blueprint calls for the South Australian Government to lead development of a Walking Strategy and Action Plan.

The Blueprint is organised around 13 Action Areas: built environments, workplaces, health care, active travel, prolonged sitting, sport and active recreation, disadvantaged populations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, children and adolescents, older people, financial measures, mass-media strategy, research and program evaluation.

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Active Streets – the new normal for public space 

• allocating extra street and footpath space for people walking and cycling to support social distancing. 
• reducing vehicle speeds on local neighbourhood streets. 
• automating street crossings to eliminate the need to touch the push buttons. 

More information and to download the position snapshot 

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Good for Business

The Good for Business discussion paper asserts that a well-designed street that promotes walking and cycling is also good for the local economy.

It shows that streetscape enhancements add value to an area and are associated with higher rents and increased vitality with the attraction of new businesses.

Download: Good for Business — the benefits of making streets more walking and cycling friendly. (PDF)

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Streets for People

Developed by the South Australian Active Living Coalition, Streets for People presents key principles to shape pedestrian and cycling friendly street designs in South Australia.

Streets for People can aid policy makers, urban designers, planners, public health professionals and developers. It will also be useful to interested members of the general public.

Download: Streets for People — A Compendium for South Australian Practice. (PDF)

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Making the case for investment in street trees and landscaping in urban environments

This resource provides evidence of the many values of street trees and landscaping, including improving the value of neighbourhoods, making environmental contributions, and providing a source of food. Trees also create attractive and legible routes and spaces that encourage active use.

Download: Trees and Landscaping (PDF)

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Slow Motion: Why reducing speed will promote walking and cycling

This resource provides evidence for the positive benefits to health and wellbeing from reducing vehicle speeds.

Download: Slow Motion (PDF)

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Signing the International Charter for Walking

Walking has the potential to contribute to the local government agenda for community wellbeing and with the new Public Health Act, contribute to reducing chronic disease.

Download: Signing the International Charter for Walking (PDF)

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Built environments to improve access to healthy food

Poor diets are a leading cause of ill health. The relationship between food, health and modern life can be improved through planning and design. The focus needs to encompass the individual through to the society as a whole.

The Healthy Active by Design website includes a healthy food element with evidence-based guidelines and case studies. A checklist has been prepared as a tool to assist with the development of neighbourhoods that support healthy eating. 

Find heart healthy recipe ideas to use in your community cooking classes.

For more information, contact the Heart Foundation Helpline on 13 11 12 or sa@heartfoundation.org.au

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Prevent

Walking program that empowers individuals to be more physically active

Heart Foundation Walking Program

The Heart Foundation Walking program is social, fun, free and an easy way for people to be active. This program is sustainable and has high retention rates, people come for the walking and stay for the talking. 

 

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Know the risk of chronic disease in your council

The Australian Heart Maps includes the key heart disease statistics in each council region. This can assist you with your public health planning and to better understand your community profile. It provides data on heart disease, obesity and levels of physical activity and smoking.

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Policies that reduce tobacco use

All South Australian local councils can apply to have a particular outdoor area, or a specific event, declared smoke-free under new legislation. “Declared” smoke-free areas are public outdoor spaces where smoking has been banned. These areas can be created to address a passive smoking risk or to support the management of smoking at an event.

For more information and a ‘smoke-free areas and events application kit’, visit the SA Health website

For further information on smoke free environments, contact Drug and Alcohol Services SA

Phone: (08) 7425 5000
HealthDASSATobaccoControlUnit@sa.gov.au

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Empower individuals through education and improved health literacy

The Heart Foundation Helpline is a national telehealth service that you could promote to your community members. Our qualified health professionals provide free, personalised heart health information and support to patients, their families and the health professionals who care for them. 

The Helpline can be contacted on 13 11 12 Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm AEST. The Heart Foundation encourages councils to promote this free service to community members.