A Possible Way Forward? The Australian 'Healthy' Approach

Not surprisingly (in my opinion anyway) Australia lead us in the field of health planning and evidence of this is the appointment of the 'Preventative Health Taskforce' by the Australian Government in April 2008 (Moroney, 2009: 12). This body has been created to help Australians with their health issues and one of their main targets to fix these issues is urban planning.

Urban planning and design does have a significant influence, and also an obligation, to create "healthy urban environments, which increase levels of physical activity and decrease sedentary behaviour" (Moroney, 2009: 12). This aspect has been adopted in Australia to encourage healthy living through the betterment of urban planning, "identified as a key driver of obesity" (Moroney, 2009: 12). In my opinion, this is definitely a step towards the right direction because for years the issue of health has been filed down to individual will-power.

To some extent this might be true, but why has this 'mindset' to not live healthy occurred? Why is it that people don't see exercise as part of their daily routine? In my opinion, there has been a lack of emphasis on health within the urban planning framework.

Australia has realised this and the 'Healthy Spaces and Places' project has indicated to planners and other design professionals that they are critical contributors to the health of Australians (Moroney, 2009: 13). One of the most crucial benefits of such programs is that it reduces financial costs associated with preventable diseases/illnesses.

Is this enough reasoning to adopt such approaches?

The real question would be why wouldn't you adopt such approaches, as has been done in Australia? Lets face it, the current approaches don't work and there is growing evidence, within multiple westernised societies, that creating attractive and well-designed public spaces has health benefits and does encourage people to do active things, like walking and cycling (Healthy Places and Spaces AU, 2011).




Source: Google Images, 2011


 Good idea? I think so. These types of spaces are ideal for our world. Just think, if these appraoches were adopted a few decades ago, would the world be in the environmental strife it is now? Governments around the world are encouraging clean/green systems, more use of public transport and even hybrid cars but just imagine the benefits on the environment if design approaches, like the one used in Australia, were utilised? The car-dependent environments that have been created need to be changed and a focus on health of citizens, in this regard, is possibly the best way to better the lives of people and also possibly contributing to environmental issues.

All in all, good one Ozzy's we going to have to give this point to you guys (Not come World Cup time though)

Heres a link to the 'Healthy Places and Spaces' organisation.

http://www.healthyplaces.org.au/site/index.php

References:

• Healthy Spaces AU (2011): "Healthy Places and Places" http://www.healthyplaces.org.au/site/index.php (Accessed 10/05/11).
• Moroney, A. (2009): "Healthy Spaces and Places" Australian Planner, 46(2)