7 March 2017: Making Canberra a lead city for healthy children is the goal of an international forum to be held at the University of Canberra TOMORROW.
Hosted by the University’s Health Research Institute and Urban Synergies Group, the forum will examine childhood health and development for ‘Gen Z’, the youngest generation.
Shaping Spaces for Gen Z will address the community’s shared responsibility for children’s health with the hope that Canberra can lead the way in addressing issues like childhood obesity, chronic disease, mental health and positive development.
University of Canberra Professor of Public Health Tom Cochrane said it was time the community stood up to these responsibilities.
“Children’s health is not up to parents or schools or governments individually. We all need to work together to provide the best opportunities for our kids – after all, the future Australia is in their hands,” Professor Cochrane said.
“Investigating and promoting best practice in areas like activity levels and healthy diet go some way to ensuring a healthy and productive future, but there are other aspects to growing happy and healthy children too.”
Other speakers at the forum will discuss issues including the importance of emotional intelligence, social skills and mental resilience in children.
Forum co-organiser and Urban Synergies Group founder and director Gregor Mews says urban design is a critical component to encourage better public health for all ages.
“Urban design for better health is an important societal issue and it can no longer be ignored," he said. “If we can shape the communities we live in to encourage better lifestyle choices then we can have a direct impact in making healthier communities.”
Participants at the forum will include experts from the United States and China.
The ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Paul Kelly will provide an overview of many of the local initiatives aimed at improving health in Canberra which are already underway.
The Shaping Spaces for Gen Z forum has been recognised by the United Nations Habitat as a Global Urban Thinkers Campus, a space where experts can discuss opportunities in urban development which can lead to positive changes.
Contact the University of Canberra media team:
Claudia Doman: 0408 826 362
Marcus Butler: 0438 447 810