Built environment and heart health
Resources available to help guide in the development and advocacy for healthy, active places and spaces
Our evidence-based resources support relevant built environment, government and health professionals to make our cities and towns healthier places to live.
This web resource provides a 21st Century approach to healthy urban design and includes practical checklists, case studies, high-quality examples of projects from around the world with links to the evidence.
The Heart Foundation asked 3,000 people living in Australia what matters most to them in making neighbourhoods desirable, liveable and healthy. The findings are presented in our report 'What Australia Wants: Neighbourhood Design'.
The Community Walkability Checklist is designed to help individuals and groups identify features of the local area that may make it easy or difficult to go for a walk.
The latest research supporting the need to embed public health into built environment outcomes.
Our policy recommendations
Our position statement calls for health to be embedded in housing, transport, planning and infrastructure decisions, with investment in compact, connected and greener neighbourhoods that support walking, wheeling, bike riding and public transport.
Blueprint for an Active Australia (3rd edition) 2019
Government and community actions to increase population levels of physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in Australia.
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Information on how air pollution, heatwaves and bushfires can impact heart health, and what you can do to look after yourself.
Last updated14 October 2026
Last reviewed16 August 2024