Creating built environments to support active living

28 May 2019

More than 75% of the population of Australia’s largest cities continue to live in suburbs. The implications include reduced opportunities for physical activity, social interaction, access to public transport & high motor vehicle dependency.

Liveable urban environments: An opportunity or threat to reducing health inequities?

10 May 2019

Creating ‘liveable’ urban environments is seen as an important way of improving the health and wellbeing of the residents in our towns and cities.

Seven ways climate change affects key Federal Election issues

06 May 2019

Climate action is rated as a top priority among voters in the lead up to this year’s Federal Election. How does it affect other key campaign issues?

Meet the women helping plan the cities of tomorrow

05 March 2019

As Melbourne grows, we need to better plan how we build healthy, equitable and liveable cities. Here four RMIT researchers talk about how their work is helping deliver better cities.

Living ‘liveable’: this is what residents have to say about life on the urban fringe

20 February 2019

Recent studies show Melbourne’s and Sydney’s fast-growing outer suburbs lag behind other parts of the city in access to urban design, employment and amenities and services that foster liveability.

Livin’ on the edge: How to plan a new suburb on Melbourne’s fringe

18 February 2019

With the Victorian Government releasing 50,000 housing lots for 12 new suburbs on Melbourne’s urban fringe, how can we ensure new areas like these are liveable and thrive?

Brisbane’s public transport access worst in the country: report

28 November 2018

A new report measuring Brisbane’s liveability progress has found its residents have the worst access to public transport in Australia.

RMIT urban research wins at Victorian planning awards

27 November 2018

RMIT urban academics and students have been recognised at the Awards for Planning Excellence – Victoria for their leadership in planning.

How can we make Victoria more liveable?

08 November 2018

Melbourne’s growing population is as topical as ever. Here, our experts provide their insights on the critical challenges that affect the liveability of Victorians.

Working out what makes a good community where young children can thrive

23 October 2018

Stimulating and positive environments early in life provide optimal foundations for children’s ongoing development into adulthood. This in turn makes a difference to the productivity of society at large.

Melbourne or Sydney? This is how our two biggest cities compare for liveability

09 September 2018

The question of which city is the most liveable is an annual hot topic. Competition is fierce, especially between Melbourne and Sydney.

How liveable is Melbourne really? New report settles the score

A new report measuring Melbourne’s liveability progress calls for a redistribution of employment across the city to reduce commute times, ease traffic congestion and encourage more physical activity.

Creating healthy cities for all needs collaborACTION

10 August 2018

There is over 30 years of research on how aspects of the built environment can be shaped to support health and wellbeing. Despite knowing better, we are still building neighbourhoods without public transport, good parks and footpaths.

Sydney liveability scorecard reveals urban wins and fails

24 July 2018

A new report measuring Sydney’s liveability progress has found that the city is struggling to meet its public transport targets, but other Australian capitals should aim to replicate its ambitious policies.

New study probes links between apartment design and mental health

02 July 2018

Researchers are investigating how to improve apartment design policy to enhance the mental health of residents.

One in three Australian kids exposed to disadvantage

31 May 2018

Almost a third of Australian children experience some form of disadvantage that can have a lasting impact on their development, a new study of more than 5,000 children released today has found.

New report settles the score on Perth’s liveability

10 May 2018

A new report measuring Perth’s liveability progress has found that despite the city’s improvements, it is struggling to meet its targets for policy implementation.

Some suburbs are being short-changed on services and liveability – which ones and what’s the solution?

20 October 2017

Australia’s population has grown by 3.8 million over the last decade. Of the capital cities, Melbourne has grown the fastest – close to 1 million newcomers in the ten years to June 2016.

City-by-city analysis shows our capitals aren’t liveable for many resident

18 October 2017

We know what makes for healthy and liveable communities, which in turn produces massive payoffs. But we often lack comprehensive policies and frameworks to deliver on the promise.

Ground-breaking urban design study earns international award

22 August 2017

Research collaborators from the University of Western Australia and RMIT studying the impact of the design of 73 housing developments on residents’ wellbeing have won a prestigious award.

Testing public transport policies with travel and health outcomes

18 August 2017

Public transport is a marker of a city’s liveability and an important social determinant of health.

Introducing Billie Giles-Corti: Urban Futures Enabling Capability Platform Director

23 May 2017

This year, RMIT University had the pleasure of welcoming Distinguished Professor Billie Giles-Corti to RMIT’s Enabling Capability Platform (ECP) as the Urban Futures Director.

Higher-density cities need greening to stay healthy and liveable

05 May 2017

Cities are home to more than just people. We also need to accommodate the critters and plants who live in them.

The long and winding road to safe and healthy cities

14 November 2016

I believe in the strong correlation between physical space and social behaviours and I believe that buildings and artefacts are not only environmental modifiers but social modifiers. As Winston Churchill said: “We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us."