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Neighbourhood and built systems

Where we live, connect, play, travel and work has a huge impact on our health and wellbeing.

View of Melbourne from the suburbs

What are neighbourhood and built systems?

Neighbourhoods and built environments are the places where people live, connect, play, travel, create, and work. They have a huge impact on our health and wellbeing.

Access to parks and open spaces, healthy and affordable food, sports and recreation opportunities, healthcare services, public transport, education, and employment, all affect our ability to access and achieve good health. 

Photo of kids playing soccer in the sun Woman cycling by the river with the Melbourne cityscape in the background
Women in sports gear stretching on the footpath in front of suburban house

Why this system?

50%

of Australians now live with chronic disease.

Most of which is preventable. Kids in Australia could be the first generation in history to have shorter life expectancy than their parents.

Moreover, health inequity in Victoria is widening. People from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, living in outer regional and remote areas, as well as those from culturally diverse backgrounds, continue to face significant barriers to health.

Working with community to improve neighbourhoods and built environments

We will work with our partners and priority communities right across the state to influence and reshape built and neighbourhood systems. 

Together, we will create more inclusive neighbourhoods and communities, more accessible infrastructure and enhance Victorians’ participation in creativity, arts, sport, and recreation. So everyone can enjoy better social, emotional, physical, and mental health. 

Two people are sitting at a table having a productive and collaborative conversation. There is another group of people in the table behind doing the same thing. Two young people about to play Lacrosse
Suburban homes and streets in Victoria Australia.

Find out more

Research and publications
11 min read
9 Mar 2023
Signpost image   <h2 id="other_systems_in_our_new_10_year_strategy"                                  >Other systems in our new 10 year strategy</h2>

Other systems in our new 10 year strategy

VicHealth is committing to addressing 3 underlying systems that have a major impact on our health and wellbeing, where we believe we can deliver the most value for Victorians.

Artwork by Dexx (Gunditjmara/Boon Wurrung) ‘Mobs Coming Together’ 2022
VicHealth acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land. We pay our respects to all Elders past, present and future.
This website may contain images, names and voices of deceased people.

VicHealth acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.

Artwork Credit: Dexx (Gunditjmara/Boon Wurrung) ‘Mobs Coming Together’ 2022, acrylic on canvas. Learn more about this artwork.