Tarnagulla Community Resilience Action Plan
- 30 January 2020
- Research complete
Climate Environment and Resilience
This project devloped a Resilience Action Plan with and for the Tarnagulla community.
In this project, the Tarnagulla community wanted to develop a Resilience Action Plan ‘by the community, for the community’. Their aim was to proactively (not reactively) and continually build their own resilience by deploying a strengths-based or an asset-based community development (ABCD) approach.
This project devloped a Resilience Action Plan with and for the Tarnagulla community.
In this project, the Tarnagulla community wanted to develop a Resilience Action Plan ‘by the community, for the community’. Their aim was to proactively (not reactively) and continually build their own resilience by deploying a strengths-based or an asset-based community development (ABCD) approach.
- Australia
Children's everyday mobilities and low carbon living
- 21 May 2018
- Research complete
Infrastructure and Transport
The environmental sustainability associated with children’s everyday mobilities is generally an under-researched area, with limited focus on the active contribution of children towards transport related emissions, both as part of the problem with their carbon intensive travel patterns and as part of the solution with their capacity to be catalysts for a positive change.
Sponsored by the CRC for Low Carbon Living, this project examines factors contributing to private car usage to transport children to their daily destinations and the carbon footprints associated with these travel patterns. It frames the complex and dynamic nature of these travel patterns by drawing on sociological perspectives and multidisciplinary literature.
Methods include policy review, GIS analysis and surveys with 296 children aged 9 to 18 years and with 84 parents living in Adelaide and Melbourne. The outputs include, an operational framework and a Child Friendliness Index that offer guidance for researchers and practitioners.
The environmental sustainability associated with children’s everyday mobilities is generally an under-researched area, with limited focus on the active contribution of children towards transport related emissions, both as part of the problem with their carbon intensive travel patterns and as part of the solution with their capacity to be catalysts for a positive change.
Sponsored by the CRC for Low Carbon Living, this project examines factors contributing to private car usage to transport children to their daily destinations and the carbon footprints associated with these travel patterns. It frames the complex and dynamic nature of these travel patterns by drawing on sociological perspectives and multidisciplinary literature.
Methods include policy review, GIS analysis and surveys with 296 children aged 9 to 18 years and with 84 parents living in Adelaide and Melbourne. The outputs include, an operational framework and a Child Friendliness Index that offer guidance for researchers and practitioners.
- Australia
Enhancing networks for resilience
Climate Environment and Resilience
Developing an understanding of how social networks influence social resilience to natural disasters and climate change.
Developing an understanding of how social networks influence social resilience to natural disasters and climate change.
- VIC
Upper Stony Creek transformation: Impact on health, liveability, and connection to nature
Climate Environment and Resilience
This project will collect qualitative data after the transformation of the Upper Stony Creek, to better understand how urban greening projects impact resident perceptions of wellbeing, especially in disadvantaged areas with a lack of greenspace.
This project will collect qualitative data after the transformation of the Upper Stony Creek, to better understand how urban greening projects impact resident perceptions of wellbeing, especially in disadvantaged areas with a lack of greenspace.
- Australia
Early delivery of equitable and healthy transport options in new suburbs
- 30 November 2021
- Research complete
Infrastructure and Transport
The project will produce evidence and tools to assist both the public and private sectors provide transport options to residents of Melbourne’s new suburbs as soon as they move in.
The project will produce evidence and tools to assist both the public and private sectors provide transport options to residents of Melbourne’s new suburbs as soon as they move in.
- VIC
Improved Urban Systems for Liveability
Climate Environment and Resilience
This project investigates how major cities function and the effects of their land-use, housing and infrastructure systems on the humans that live in them.
This project investigates how major cities function and the effects of their land-use, housing and infrastructure systems on the humans that live in them.
- Australia
Network of Integrated Study Sites
Climate Environment and Resilience
This project established a network of integrated urban greening study sites to understand, quantify and qualify the multiple benefits of urban greening, including for biodiversity outcomes and for human health and wellbeing.
This project established a network of integrated urban greening study sites to understand, quantify and qualify the multiple benefits of urban greening, including for biodiversity outcomes and for human health and wellbeing.
- Australia
Benchmarking, monitoring, modelling and valuing the healthy liveable city
Climate Environment and Resilience
This project builds on national liveability indicator work to improve understandings of the relationship between built environments, daily activities and travel choices.
This project builds on national liveability indicator work to improve understandings of the relationship between built environments, daily activities and travel choices.
- Australia
NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Healthy, Liveable Communities
Social Planning and Engagement
The Centre of Research Excellence in Healthy, Liveable and Equitable Communities investigates cost-effective built environment interventions to create healthy, liveable and equitable communities in Australia
The Centre of Research Excellence in Healthy, Liveable and Equitable Communities investigates cost-effective built environment interventions to create healthy, liveable and equitable communities in Australia
- Australia
Understanding how local and regional accessibility are associated with active travel, and related health and economic impacts
Infrastructure and Transport
This project models the physical activity and health economic impacts of the ease of walking and cycling to essential destinations within neighbourhoods and commuting in Melbourne.
This project models the physical activity and health economic impacts of the ease of walking and cycling to essential destinations within neighbourhoods and commuting in Melbourne.
- Australia
Innovative responses to urban transportation: current practice in Australian cities
Infrastructure and Transport
This project investigates drivers and processes of change within Australian metropolitan transport systems to identify future options and directions for policy development.
This project investigates drivers and processes of change within Australian metropolitan transport systems to identify future options and directions for policy development.
- Australia
Global Healthy and Sustainable City-Indicators Collaboration
Social Planning and Engagement
At meetings of the International Physical Environment Network (IPEN) and the Council of the Environment and Physical Activity (ISPAH CEPA), collaborators in 25 cities in 19 countries and six continents participated in this study, which is due for completion in 2022. With expertise in public health, urban and transport planning, urban design, architecture, computer and geospatial science, behavioural science, statistics, epidemiology, complex systems science, and public policy the aim of the Global Healthy and Sustainable City-Indicators Collaboration was:
To identify and measure health-related policy and spatial indicators in cities worldwide
At meetings of the International Physical Environment Network (IPEN) and the Council of the Environment and Physical Activity (ISPAH CEPA), collaborators in 25 cities in 19 countries and six continents participated in this study, which is due for completion in 2022. With expertise in public health, urban and transport planning, urban design, architecture, computer and geospatial science, behavioural science, statistics, epidemiology, complex systems science, and public policy the aim of the Global Healthy and Sustainable City-Indicators Collaboration was:
To identify and measure health-related policy and spatial indicators in cities worldwide
- International
Codesigning urban nature stewardship: Gardens for Wildlife Victoria
Climate Environment and Resilience
Gardens for Wildlife Victoria is a change initiative grounded in the everyday lives of urban Victorians. Its purpose is to embed biodiversity stewardship, the nurturing of human-nature relationships, in practice and policy for social and ecological wellbeing.
This project arose from a systemic co-inquiry of urban biodiversity governance in Victoria. The co-inquiry showed poor inclusion of social dynamics and actors in biodiversity policy making and planning amidst rapidly declining local biodiversity.
Gardens for Wildlife Victoria is a change initiative grounded in the everyday lives of urban Victorians. Its purpose is to embed biodiversity stewardship, the nurturing of human-nature relationships, in practice and policy for social and ecological wellbeing.
This project arose from a systemic co-inquiry of urban biodiversity governance in Victoria. The co-inquiry showed poor inclusion of social dynamics and actors in biodiversity policy making and planning amidst rapidly declining local biodiversity.
- Australia
People and Place at Minta Farm
- 1 January 2020
- Research underway
Place and Design
People and Place at Minta is a longitudinal study exploring the long-term impacts of place-making and innovation initiatives at Stockland’s Minta Farm estate on residents’ sense of wellbeing and active connections to place.
People and Place at Minta is a longitudinal study exploring the long-term impacts of place-making and innovation initiatives at Stockland’s Minta Farm estate on residents’ sense of wellbeing and active connections to place.
- Australia
Local Government Climate Change Adaptation Roles and Responsibilities under Victorian legislation: Guidance for local government decision-makers
- 31 December 2020
- Research complete
Climate Environment and Resilience
The purpose of the project was to inform local governments on their legal roles and responsibilities under Victorian legislation for climate change adaptation.
The purpose of the project was to inform local governments on their legal roles and responsibilities under Victorian legislation for climate change adaptation.
- VIC
Planning Inclusive Communities for People with Disabilities in Regional Areas
Place and Design
This ARC DECRA research project builds knowledge, understanding and practice in planning inclusive communities to improve liveability for people of all ages with disabilities including people with chronic illness and mental health needs. The overarching research question is How can we plan communities in regional areas to be more inclusive for all? This is a crucial but overlooked priority area for planning as nearly one in five Australians have a disability yet many experience exclusion in everyday spaces impacting quality of life and spatial justice. Inner regional areas are the focus as a higher portion of people with disabilities to population live in these areas (ABS, 2017). Clarence City Council Tasmania and Gympie Regional Council Queensland are the two council partners. This research includes phase 1 participatory research exploring inclusive communities in regional contexts (2020-2021 COVID-19 impacted). Phase 2 Transformative research aiming to co-develop inclusive community planning approach in regions (2022-2023).
This ARC DECRA research project builds knowledge, understanding and practice in planning inclusive communities to improve liveability for people of all ages with disabilities including people with chronic illness and mental health needs. The overarching research question is How can we plan communities in regional areas to be more inclusive for all? This is a crucial but overlooked priority area for planning as nearly one in five Australians have a disability yet many experience exclusion in everyday spaces impacting quality of life and spatial justice. Inner regional areas are the focus as a higher portion of people with disabilities to population live in these areas (ABS, 2017). Clarence City Council Tasmania and Gympie Regional Council Queensland are the two council partners. This research includes phase 1 participatory research exploring inclusive communities in regional contexts (2020-2021 COVID-19 impacted). Phase 2 Transformative research aiming to co-develop inclusive community planning approach in regions (2022-2023).
- Australia
The Healthy Liveable Communities Urban Liveability Checklist
Social Planning and Engagement
This checklist has been designed as a simple and short tool for planners to apply in established or proposed urban areas to assess its liveability and potential to improve health and wellbeing.
This checklist has been designed as a simple and short tool for planners to apply in established or proposed urban areas to assess its liveability and potential to improve health and wellbeing.
- Australia
Can cities be liveable and sustainable? a comparative study of Melbourne and Dhaka
Planning and Assessment Systems
The purpose of this research is to:
1. Understand how the concepts of liveability, sustainability and their interconnections are being translated into urban development policies and practices
2. Understand urban governance challenges and opportunities in liveable and sustainability city transitions in two contrasting socio-political contexts 
3. Draw important lessons for both developed and developing cities about their opportunities and challenges in terms of sustainability transition while maintaining liveability.
The purpose of this research is to:
1. Understand how the concepts of liveability, sustainability and their interconnections are being translated into urban development policies and practices
2. Understand urban governance challenges and opportunities in liveable and sustainability city transitions in two contrasting socio-political contexts 
3. Draw important lessons for both developed and developing cities about their opportunities and challenges in terms of sustainability transition while maintaining liveability.
- International
Communities for Walkability: A citizen science project to connect local spaces and place
Rural and Regional
Although much is known about walkability, physical activity and health in large cities, new research is needed to understand the unique context of walkability and health in small rural towns.
Although much is known about walkability, physical activity and health in large cities, new research is needed to understand the unique context of walkability and health in small rural towns.
- Australia
Transport, children and health
Climate Environment and Resilience
Jennifer Kent is a Senior Research Fellow in the Urbanism Program at the Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning. Jennifer’s research interests are at the intersections between urban planning, transport and human health. She specialises in combining quantitative and qualitative data with understandings from policy science to trace the practical, cultural and political barriers to healthy cities. Key issues examined to date include the links between health and higher- density living, the interpretation of health evidence into urban planning policy, the health impact of extended commute times and cultural and structural barriers to sustainable transport use. Her findings are policy relevant and have been incorporated into state and federal urban planning agendas. She publishes regularly in highly ranked scholarly journals across the fields of urban planning, public health and transport, and her work is widely cited within these disciplines.
Jennifer Kent is a Senior Research Fellow in the Urbanism Program at the Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning. Jennifer’s research interests are at the intersections between urban planning, transport and human health. She specialises in combining quantitative and qualitative data with understandings from policy science to trace the practical, cultural and political barriers to healthy cities. Key issues examined to date include the links between health and higher- density living, the interpretation of health evidence into urban planning policy, the health impact of extended commute times and cultural and structural barriers to sustainable transport use. Her findings are policy relevant and have been incorporated into state and federal urban planning agendas. She publishes regularly in highly ranked scholarly journals across the fields of urban planning, public health and transport, and her work is widely cited within these disciplines.
- International
Indigenous rights and planning
Indigenous
Ed's research on Indigenous rights and planning has been a part of his PhD research and is ongoing.
Ed's research on Indigenous rights and planning has been a part of his PhD research and is ongoing.
- Australia
Measuring, monitoring, and translating urban liveability in Bangkok
- 31 December 2020
- Research complete
Place and Design
RMIT urban health scholars partnered with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to develop and test a suite of open source liveability indicators aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals for the city of Bangkok.
RMIT urban health scholars partnered with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to develop and test a suite of open source liveability indicators aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals for the city of Bangkok.
- Australia
Climate Adaptation Australia
- 31 December 2019
- Research complete
Climate Environment and Resilience
The project investigates the framings and practices of local governments, community groups and NGOs as they seek to create local adaptation strategies.
The project investigates the framings and practices of local governments, community groups and NGOs as they seek to create local adaptation strategies.
- Australia
The Climate Change Exchange
Climate Environment and Resilience
The Climate Change Exchange is a project that is establishing a collaborative climate change research-practice network to meet the knowledge sharing, capacity building, and research needs of various government and policy stakeholders.
The Climate Change Exchange is a project that is establishing a collaborative climate change research-practice network to meet the knowledge sharing, capacity building, and research needs of various government and policy stakeholders.
- Australia
A climate change adaptation monitoring, evaluation and reporting tool, designed with and for Victorian local governments.
- 31 December 2017
- Research complete
Climate Environment and Resilience
A climate change adaptation monitoring, evaluation and reporting tool, designed with and for Victorian local governments.
A climate change adaptation monitoring, evaluation and reporting tool, designed with and for Victorian local governments.
- VIC
Data to Decisions: Using big data for designing neighbourhood built environment indicators for early childhood development
Place and Design
Does neighbourhood design make a difference to early childhood development (ECD)? This project connects urban design and planning disciplines with ECD to explore the impacts of where we live on young children and families.
Does neighbourhood design make a difference to early childhood development (ECD)? This project connects urban design and planning disciplines with ECD to explore the impacts of where we live on young children and families.
- Australia
The High Life: Could apartment design policy improve residents’ health and wellbeing?
Place and Design
The High Life project examines the interplay between apartment design policy, the design and location of apartment buildings, and residents’ health and wellbeing outcomes in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.
The High Life project examines the interplay between apartment design policy, the design and location of apartment buildings, and residents’ health and wellbeing outcomes in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.
- Australia
Onsets not offsets for real biodiversity gains
Climate Environment and Resilience
This project will make conceptual and methodological advancements required to develop a working approach for onsets. Case studies in urban development and agriculture will highlight how the approach work s in practice.
This project will make conceptual and methodological advancements required to develop a working approach for onsets. Case studies in urban development and agriculture will highlight how the approach work s in practice.
- Australia
Planning for the 21st Century Municipal Markets in Victoria
Planning and Assessment Systems
The aim of this project is to draw on local and international expertise to develop and disseminate new models and planning guidelines for 21st century municipal markets in Victoria.
The aim of this project is to draw on local and international expertise to develop and disseminate new models and planning guidelines for 21st century municipal markets in Victoria.
- VIC
Joining Impact models of transport with spatial measures of the Built Environment (JIBE)
Infrastructure and Transport
Bringing together Australian and UK urban experts to virtually model and test the benefits of transport planning in creating healthier and sustainable cities across both countries.
Bringing together Australian and UK urban experts to virtually model and test the benefits of transport planning in creating healthier and sustainable cities across both countries.
- International
Enhancing urban resilience to climate change impacts and natural disasters: Honiara
Climate Environment and Resilience
The overarching aim of this project is to enhance the resilience of the city and its inhabitants to current and future climate impacts and natural disasters.
The overarching aim of this project is to enhance the resilience of the city and its inhabitants to current and future climate impacts and natural disasters.
- Australia
HABITAT: A study of how areas in Brisbane influence health and activity
Social Planning and Engagement
Designing cities to promote health and well-being: the HABITAT multilevel longitudinal study of Brisbane (Australia) neighbourhoods and their ‘baby boomer’ residents.
Designing cities to promote health and well-being: the HABITAT multilevel longitudinal study of Brisbane (Australia) neighbourhoods and their ‘baby boomer’ residents.
- Australia
Optimising apartment design policy to equitably enhance mental health
- 1 January 2018
- Research complete
Place and Design
This study will generate evidence on the key health enhancing design requirements that should be entrenched in the new Design WA Apartment Design Guidelines.
This study will generate evidence on the key health enhancing design requirements that should be entrenched in the new Design WA Apartment Design Guidelines.
- WA
Regional Liveability
Rural and Regional
This project will continue to build upon previous research investigating the liveability of capital cities across Australia into rural and regional contexts through the development of a conceptual framework of liveability in rural and regional areas of Victoria and Australia.
This project will continue to build upon previous research investigating the liveability of capital cities across Australia into rural and regional contexts through the development of a conceptual framework of liveability in rural and regional areas of Victoria and Australia.
- Australia
Building Connections: Schools as Community Hubs
Social Planning and Engagement
Building Connections is investigating how best to plan, design, govern and manage schools to operate successfully as ‘more than a school’, encouraging the development of resilient and connected communities.
Building Connections is investigating how best to plan, design, govern and manage schools to operate successfully as ‘more than a school’, encouraging the development of resilient and connected communities.
- Australia
Infrastructure Governance Incubator: From Strategic Planning to Project Delivery
- 19 January 2021
- Research underway
Infrastructure and Transport
Infrastructure planning ought to deliver urban infrastructures that nurture places and support the betterment of cities. However, the misalignment of strategic plans and projects, as identified across numerous academic and independent assessments, suggests there is little clarity surrounding for whom and to what ends infrastructures are serving. During the COVID and post-COVID recovery phases, such questions find new urgency. The extraordinary social, environmental, economic and public health challenges facing Australian cities have raised the stakes for infrastructure planning, and the planning profession more broadly. In responding to the spotlight being cast onto infrastructure as a vehicle for economic recovery, this project takes a comprehensive approach to develop an infrastructure governance model for Australian cities (with specific focus on the two largest cities of Sydney and Melbourne). Informed by in-depth policy analysis, informant interviews, case study investigations and international best practices, the incubator aims to develop a novel infrastructure governance model for Australia to nurture more inclusive and deliberative processes enabling advocacy for fairer, more just and more sustainable cities and regions.
Infrastructure planning ought to deliver urban infrastructures that nurture places and support the betterment of cities. However, the misalignment of strategic plans and projects, as identified across numerous academic and independent assessments, suggests there is little clarity surrounding for whom and to what ends infrastructures are serving. During the COVID and post-COVID recovery phases, such questions find new urgency. The extraordinary social, environmental, economic and public health challenges facing Australian cities have raised the stakes for infrastructure planning, and the planning profession more broadly. In responding to the spotlight being cast onto infrastructure as a vehicle for economic recovery, this project takes a comprehensive approach to develop an infrastructure governance model for Australian cities (with specific focus on the two largest cities of Sydney and Melbourne). Informed by in-depth policy analysis, informant interviews, case study investigations and international best practices, the incubator aims to develop a novel infrastructure governance model for Australia to nurture more inclusive and deliberative processes enabling advocacy for fairer, more just and more sustainable cities and regions.
- Australia