Vision
The HUE Collaboratory will look at how urban policy and governance in Sydney can lead to better health outcomes for local and global populations. We support local health districts to translate health and environment research into policy and action. We work with public health academics, clinicians, social scientists, public health leaders and executives, and built and natural environment specialists to bring Sydney to the forefront of healthy urban environments.
Our People
Dr Marianne Gale
Executive
SESLHD
Mandy Williams
Acting Executive
SWSLHD
Focus
Through its five work streams, HUE will impact policies and practices for urban health in Sydney and globally.
Our Streams
Country and health
Our research will blend Aboriginal storytelling with robust research that privileges the voices, lives and experiences of the Aboriginal community. We include these complex cultural perspectives into the healing pathways of urban planning frameworks, especially at a strategic level.
Spatial analytics and cities
We are accessing large datasets to understand how spatial structures determine health and people’s access to services. This will be shared with local health districts, public health networks and councils. The goal is to significantly improve health outcomes and access to services.
Place-based health interventions and smart cities
The Internet of Urban Things has great potential in supporting individual and community action for health and well-being. We work alongside clinicians and community agents to experiment with how these existing trials and programs can be optimised for even greater patient outcomes.
Targeting unhealthy urban environments
We are identifying issues that affect Sydney’s urban environment. We are focused on identifying ways we can support positive health outcomes through partnerships with state departments, local governments, and elected representatives.
Health precincts and health infrastructure users
We are focused on identifying ways we can support positive health outcomes through partnerships with state departments, local governments, and elected representatives.
HUE Projects
HUE is committed to working with its partners to improve the health of residents by shaping the health cityscape.
Place-based planning for health precincts in NSW: Discussion paper
With support from HUE, the Institute of Sustainable Futures has developed a paper for Health Infrastructure NSW to facilitate discussions on NSW health precincts.
Healthy precincts research
HUE has started research into health precincts in South West Sydney Local Health District, with the focus on: Does hospital/healthcare infrastructure, directly or indirectly, impact on the health of patients, staff, their social networks and the wider community?
Please cllck here to read the latest report from our Health Precincts Research - Appraising health precinct audit tools: Rapid systematic review of evidence - by Edgar Liu, Malgorzata Lagisz, Andrew Reid and Evelyne de Leeuw
Place-based Health Interventions in NSW - A rapid review of evidence
This report describes a rapid review exercise on the place-based intervention approaches to improving the health and wellbeing outcomes of residents in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW). The aim of this exercise is to inform the Cancer Institute NSW on their future policy and program developments in cancer prevention and screening. Specifically, it seeks to answer the following research questions:
1. What place-based interventions for health promotion and risk prevention and screening currently exist in NSW?
2. How effective have these interventions been in achieving their stated objectives?
Facilitating physical and non-physical connections to Country among older Aboriginal peoples living in urban Australia
This project (funded by the UNSW Ageing Futures Institute as part of its 2022 seed grant program) investigates how traditional walaays (ceremonial camps) and Augmented Reality technology may assist older, urban-living Aboriginal people to reconnect with Country, and contribute to cultural healing.
Assessing and addressing formal and informal care needs when diversities intersect
This project (funded by the UNSW Ageing Futures Institute as part of its 2023 seed grant program) will identify the care and support needs of older people at the intersection of age, ethnicity and sexuality, to uncover how their needs
are currently supported by formal services and informal networks. We will do
this through a mixed-method approach, by analysing and mapping data from the NSW
Gay Asian Men Survey Series and the GEN Aged Care Data, and gaining insights into the through in-depth
interviews with non-heterosexual men of Asian backgrounds living in Australia as well as stakeholders. The
outcomes will inform government and industries on how they may develop
strategies to better support diverse, ageing populations.
A copy of the Project Information Statement can be downloaded here.
Seed Projects
HUE has funded projects which align with its vision, builds capacity and/or provides a new knowledge base for future, large-scale interventions.
Conceptualising unhealthy urban places: The need for a systems approach
Climate change health and vulnerability assessment of South Eastern and South Western Sydney
NSW built environment practitioners’ perspectives on place-making opportunities that deliver health and wellbeing outcomes
Urban Planning and Design for the COVID-19 era: a rapid review for policy and practice
Carbon Accounting in Healthcare: The path to improving patient health, saving money and saving carbon
Effectiveness of community-based food hubs and peer support on food accessibility and dietary intake’
What causes significant changes in walking? Investigating macro and micro level drivers of walking in neighbourhoods
Urbanisation and health during the first 2000 days of life: Building a foundation for health in Sydney’s urban environment
Waterloo housing estate redevelopment: Assessment of residents’ health needs and circumstances
Hot Hospital Carparks – An Avoidable Risk for Patients and Visitors?
What stops and promotes cycling of children from lower socio-economic groups; A Blacktown (NSW) Case Study
Queering Cities in Australia - Making public spaces more inclusive through urban policy and practice
Professor Andrew Gorman-Murray, UWS
Publications & Outputs
Publications and outputs written and conceived by HUE members which align with iour vision, build capacity and/or provide a new knowledge base for future, large-scale interventions.
Edgar Liu, Malgorzata Lagisz, Andrew Reid, Evelyne de Leeuw
What's Happening?
News
Groundbreaking report on Sustainability and Health that should inspire us
Read the 'Drawing light from the pandemic' Report
“Drawing light from the pandemic: a new strategy for health and sustainable development - A review of the evidence” for the Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development.
In 2020 Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization Regional Director for Europe, asked Mario Monti to lead a Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development. Dr Kluge and Professor Monti invited a small number of former heads of state and government, distinguished life scientists and economists, heads of
health and social care institutions, and leaders of the business community and financial institutions from across the European Region to bring together their outstanding expertise and experience to “rethink policy priorities in the light of pandemics".
'Envisaging the Future of Cities'- World Cities Report 2022
Read the World Cities Report 2022
World Cities Report 2022: Envisaging the Future of Cities seeks to provide greater clarity and insights into the future of cities based on existing trends, challenges and opportunities, as well as disruptive conditions, including the valuable lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, and suggest ways that cities can be better prepared to address a wide range of shocks and transition to sustainable urban futures. The Report proposes a state of informed preparedness that provides us with the opportunity to anticipate change, correct the course of action and become more knowledgeable of the different scenarios or possibilities that the future of cities offers.
In 2016, the international community adopted the New Urban Agenda to harness the power of sustainable urbanization to achieve our global goals of peaceful, prosperous societies on a healthy planet.
Despite progress since then, the COVID-19 pandemic and other crises have posed huge challenges. Urban areas were particularly hard hit by the pandemic – underscoring the importance of stepping up efforts to build a more sustainable and equitable urban future.
Local is the space where we connect the dots. Cities and towns can spearhead innovations to bridge the inequalities gaps, deliver climate action and ensure a green and inclusive recovery from the pandemic – especially as the proportion of people living in urban areas is projected to grow to 68 per cent by 2050.
The World Cities Report 2022 stresses that building resilience must be at the heart of the cities of the future. The success of
cities, towns and urban areas will largely depend on policies that protect and sustain all, leaving no one behind. We need green investment for sustainable patterns of consumption and production; responsive and inclusive urban planning; the prioritization of public health; and innovation and technology for all.
These steps will help cities adapt and respond to shocks and stresses and lead our world to a resilient, just, and sustainable urban future.
António Guterres
Secretary-General of the United Nations
Two New Courses offered by WHO Bonn School of Environment and Health - November 2022
a successful online edition of the WHO Bonn Environment and HeAfter alth School in fall 2021, we would like to inform you that the WHO school will be continued with two separate capacity building courses this year, taking place virtually on seven days from 3 to 24 November 2022.
The themes for the 2022 courses are:
Since the courses will run in parallel, participants will be able to choose to attend only one of the two. The courses will take place twice a week, every Tuesday and Thursday, starting on Thursday 3 November and ending on Thursday, 24 November 2022. Learning activities will take place between 09:00 and 14:00 CET, divided into three sessions per day. The courses will apply a problem-based learning approach to support application and reflection of the acquired knowledge.
Each course has a maximum of 30 places and will be held in English with simultaneous interpretation in Russian. The courses will be offered for free to staff of national as well as subnational authorities working in a respective technical field – city official and staff from local authorities are welcome to apply.
Course applications need to be made by 9 September 2022. The application can be submitted by the respective participant directly, supported by a formal approval of her/his supervisor. However, due to the limited number of places available a selection of participants will be done by WHO (see course announcement attached).
A minimum of 80% attendance and active participation will be required to receive a certificate of attendance. If interested in a training certificate, an additional test will have to be passed at the end of the course.
Detailed information on the course content, the application process and the criteria for participation is in the linked documents above (please contact eurobonnschool@who.int in case of questions).
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An Tran