The Health, Place and Society research team generates scientific research to create healthier people and places to live and a fairer society. Our applied research is co-designed in partnership with stakeholders to effectively address critical urban and social issues facing our cities and towns within Australia and internationally. 

Our team works across research and translation with practical impact that informs change and advocacy to support health and wellbeing and reduce inequities. We are a multidisciplinary team that link geospatial methodologies, public health outcomes and urban planning and design. Through the development and application of liveability indicators we measure and monitor the social determinants of health using research evidence to support creation of a fairer society. The Group’s work draws on a rigorous platform of policy-relevant research and aims sharing knowledge with residents and decision makers to improve health and liveability within places across society. 

The Australian Urban Observatory (AUO) is located with the Health Place and Society research team. The AUO is a digital liveability planning platform that transforms complex urban data into easily understood liveability maps across the 21 largest cities of Australia. Liveability describes the intersection between public health and urban planning and indicators in the AUO map key liveability indicators to provide a clear understanding of the liveability of cities including identification of areas that support liveability and areas in need of future intervention. The Observatory provides information and understanding to support resource allocation, future policy and community action and support to create equitable, healthy and liveable places.  

Our current research areas include: 

• Development of customised spatial liveability indicators to measure and monitor the social determinants of health, urban planning and sustainability,  
• Neighbourhood features that support child development, 
• Social determinants the minimise inequities for people with disability, 
• Frameworks that support liveability in low-to-middle income cities and
• Tools, training and resources for local governments and education providers.

Our applied research aims to create real-world impact with engaged and collaborative partners. We welcome discussions about new research partnerships, training and applied research projects.