

Supporting local Councils in South Australia
Resources to help support your council region to be healthy, connected and safe.
Key takeaways
- The Heart Foundation’s resources can support your council region to be healthy, connected and safe.
- The Heart Foundation wants Australians to live in healthy neighbourhoods that provide equal access to healthy choices that promote heart health.
- In South Australia the Heart Foundation provides a range of free resources for local councils that can help inform strategies and actions which councils can take to promote health, particularly heart health and risk factors for chronic disease.
Public health planning
Local and regional public health plans demonstrate how local councils will work to improve the health and wellness of the community. This is also a legislative requirement of the South Australian Public Health Act 2011.The key areas below support the Government of South Australia State Public Health Plan, under the areas of Promote and Prevent.
Promote:
- built environments to support physical activity
- built environments to improve access to healthy food
Prevent:
- walking program that empowers individuals to be more physically active
- know the risk of chronic disease in your council
- empower individuals through education and improved health literacy
- policies that reduce tobacco use
Promote
Built environments to support physical activity
Healthy Active by Design
The Healthy Active by Design website is a practical guide for planning, designing and developing healthy urban environments through: quality open space, public infrastructure and urban planning.The website includes case studies that can be replicated across councils, and if you have a project that you would like included on the website as a case study you can let the Healthy Active by Design team know.
Blueprint for an Active Australia
The Blueprint for an Active Australia (PDF) summarises the compelling evidence for action to increase physical activity levels and reduce sedentary behaviour.It covers government and community actions to increase population levels of physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour. The Blueprint calls for the South Australian Government to lead development of a Walking Strategy and Action Plan.
The Blueprint is organised around 13 Action Areas: built environments, workplaces, health care, active travel, prolonged sitting, sport and active recreation, disadvantaged populations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, children and adolescents, older people, financial measures, mass-media strategy, research and program evaluation.
Active Streets – the new normal for public space
- allocating extra street and footpath space for people walking and cycling to support social distancing.
- reducing vehicle speeds on local neighbourhood streets.
- automating street crossings to eliminate the need to touch the push buttons.
More information and to download the position snapshot
Good for Business
The Good for Business discussion paper asserts that a well-designed street that promotes walking and cycling is also good for the local economy.It shows that streetscape enhancements add value to an area and are associated with higher rents and increased vitality with the attraction of new businesses.
Download: Good for Business — the benefits of making streets more walking and cycling friendly. (PDF)
Streets for People
Developed by the South Australian Active Living Coalition, Streets for People presents key principles to shape pedestrian and cycling friendly street designs in South Australia.Streets for People can aid policy makers, urban designers, planners, public health professionals and developers. It will also be useful to interested members of the general public.
Download: Streets for People — A Compendium for South Australian Practice. (PDF)
Making the case for investment in street trees and landscaping in urban environments
This resource provides evidence of the many values of street trees and landscaping, including improving the value of neighbourhoods, making environmental contributions, and providing a source of food. Trees also create attractive and legible routes and spaces that encourage active use.Download: Trees and Landscaping (PDF)
Slow Motion: Why reducing speed will promote walking and cycling
This resource provides evidence for the positive benefits to health and wellbeing from reducing vehicle speeds.Download: Slow Motion (PDF)
Signing the International Charter for Walking
Walking has the potential to contribute to the local government agenda for community wellbeing and with the new Public Health Act, contribute to reducing chronic disease.Download: Signing the International Charter for Walking (PDF)
Built environments to improve access to healthy food
Poor diets are a leading cause of ill health. The relationship between food, health and modern life can be improved through planning and design. The focus needs to encompass the individual through to the society as a whole.The Healthy Active by Design website includes a healthy food element with evidence-based guidelines and case studies. A checklist has been prepared as a tool to assist with the development of neighbourhoods that support healthy eating.
Find heart healthy recipe ideas to use in your community cooking classes.
For more information, contact the Heart Foundation Helpline on 13 11 12 or sa@heartfoundation.org.au
Prevent
Walking program that empowers individuals to be more physically active
Heart Foundation Walking Program
The Heart Foundation Walking program is social, fun, free and an easy way for people to be active. This program is sustainable and has high retention rates, people come for the walking and stay for the talking.
Know the risk of chronic disease in your council
The Australian Heart Maps includes the key heart disease statistics in each council region. This can assist you with your public health planning and to better understand your community profile. It provides data on heart disease, obesity and levels of physical activity and smoking.Policies that reduce tobacco use
All South Australian local councils can apply to have a particular outdoor area, or a specific event, declared smoke-free under new legislation. “Declared” smoke-free areas are public outdoor spaces where smoking has been banned. These areas can be created to address a passive smoking risk or to support the management of smoking at an event.
For more information and a ‘smoke-free areas and events application kit’, visit the SA Health website
For further information on smoke free environments, contact Drug and Alcohol Services SA
Phone: (08) 7425 5000
HealthDASSATobaccoControlUnit@sa.gov.au
Empower individuals through education and improved health literacy
The Heart Foundation Helpline is a national telehealth service that you could promote to your community members. Our qualified health professionals provide free, personalised heart health information and support to patients, their families and the health professionals who care for them.
The Helpline can be contacted on 13 11 12 Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm AEST. The Heart Foundation encourages councils to promote this free service to community members.
Heart Foundation Recovery Support and Resources
Heart Foundation Recovery Support and Resources
Heart Foundation Recovery Support and Resources
Heart Foundation programs and resources to support your recovery....
Help Keep families together this Christmas
Help Keep families together this Christmas
Help Keep families together this Christmas
Together, we can make heart disease history. Donate today to help fund ground-breaking heart research and keep families together this Christmas. ...
Support and resources for health care professionals
Support and resources for health care professionals
Support and resources for health care professionals
Our range of clinical and patient support resources are available for you to use in your daily practice....
Clinical Guidelines
Clinical Guidelines
Clinical Guidelines
Full list of clinical guidlines and references for CVD, heart failure, ACS, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, SCAD and RHD...
Heart Healthy Dinner Plan
Heart Healthy Dinner Plan
Heart Healthy Dinner Plan
Sign up now and discover delicious, easy to follow dinner recipes. Plus shopping lists, tips and other helpful information to make healthy eating easy. ...
Aboriginal heart health
Aboriginal heart health
Aboriginal heart health
Visit the St Vincents Hospital NSW and Heart Foundation Aboriginal heart health website for more information...
Support us and help save Australian hearts
Support us and help save Australian hearts
Support us and help save Australian hearts
Join the fight against Australia’s biggest killer by supporting the Heart Foundation. ...
Are you at risk of heart disease?
Are you at risk of heart disease?
Are you at risk of heart disease?
There is no single cause for any one heart condition, but there are risk factors that increase your chance of developing one. ...
Fundraise to save Australian hearts
Fundraise to save Australian hearts
Fundraise to save Australian hearts
Join the Heart Foundation community. Together, we can make a real difference for Australian hearts. ...
Key healthy eating messages for heart attack recovery
Key healthy eating messages for heart attack recovery
Key healthy eating messages for heart attack recovery
Eating healthy foods can help you recover and reduce your risk of more heart problems. ...
Peter is breathing easy again after heart valve surgery
Peter is breathing easy again after heart valve surgery
Peter is breathing easy again after heart valve surgery
Peter has lived with a rare heart condition since he was 14, but hadn’t given it too much thought until his 30s....
What waist measurements mean for your heart
What waist measurements mean for your heart
What waist measurements mean for your heart
How your waist measurement contributes to your heart health...
Key Statistics: Coronary Heart Disease
Key Statistics: Coronary Heart Disease
Statistics and information on coronary heart disease in Australia ...
Cardiac arrest at 33: the challenges of restarting your life
Cardiac arrest at 33: the challenges of restarting your life
Cardiac arrest at 33: the challenges of restarting your life
Emma shares her story and opens up about her emotional struggles....
Is salt bad for your heart?
Is salt bad for your heart?
Is salt bad for your heart?
Most Australians are eating more than the recommended amounts and this can cause health problems....
Fruit, vegetables and heart health
Fruit, vegetables and heart health
Fruit, vegetables and heart health
How to boost your fruit and vegetable intake to help protect your heart. ...
Fit, active and healthy – Sharon wasn’t expecting a heart attack
Fit, active and healthy – Sharon wasn’t expecting a heart attack
Fit, active and healthy – Sharon wasn’t expecting a heart attack
Fit, active and healthy, Sharon wasn’t expecting a heart attack. However, after experiencing a ‘widow maker’, she counts herself lucky....
Long-term recovery after a heart attack
Long-term recovery after a heart attack
Long-term recovery after a heart attack
Information to help you adjust to what could be the 'new normal'...
Smart Heart Guidelines App
Smart Heart Guidelines App
Smart Heart Guidelines App
Access to Australian heart disease guidelines is now free at your fingertips...
Breakfast recipes
Breakfast recipes
Breakfast recipes
Heart healthy breakfasts to start your day right...
Returning to work after a heart attack
Returning to work after a heart attack
Returning to work after a heart attack
Discover how to plan for your return to work....
What is heart valve disease?
What is heart valve disease?
What is heart valve disease?
Heart valve disease means that your heart valve or valves don't open or close properly....
Western Australian Cardiovascular Research Alliance
Western Australian Cardiovascular Research Alliance
Western Australian Cardiovascular Research Alliance
WACRA are the peak leadership body in Western Australian advancing research into heart, stroke and vascular disease to accelerate translation and improve health outcomes....
Our programs and initiatives
Our programs and initiatives
Our programs and initiatives
The Heart Foundation delivers innovative, evidence-based programs and initiatives to support and prevent heart disease in Australia...
Absolute CVD risk charts
Absolute CVD risk charts
Absolute CVD risk charts provide a visual tool to calculate CVD risk for use in practice in Australia....
Supporting Young Hearts
Supporting Young Hearts
Supporting Young Hearts
Advice from young people living with a heart condition....
Health professional online learning
Health professional online learning
We offer a number of modules focused on improving cardiovascular care....
A nurse shares her top recovery tips for young cardiac patients
A nurse shares her top recovery tips for young cardiac patients
A nurse shares her top recovery tips for young cardiac patients
Pauline is a nurse and shares advice for young people who have had a heart event or are recovering from surgery....
Women and heart disease
Women and heart disease
Women and heart disease
Every day, 22 women lose their lives to this condition....
MyMarathon
MyMarathon
MyMarathon
The fundraising race where you set the pace. Run, jog or walk MyMarathon at your own pace during October....