Chair of Australian Chapter
Sandra McCarthy, OAM
Emeritus Mayor, Kiama Municipal Council
Life Member, Healthy Cities Australia
Secretary of the Australian Network
Mrs Kelly Andrews
Chief Executive Officer
Healthy Cities Australia
Email: manager@healthycities.org.au
URL: http://www.healthycities.org.au
Phone: +61242838111
Australian Network Postal Address:
Healthy Cities Australia
PO Box 607
Fairy Meadow, NSW 2519
Australia
About the Australian Network
The Australian Network of Healthy Cities (Chapter) began in 2004 at the inaugural Alliance for Healthy Cities Conference in Kuching City, Sarawak, Malaysia. The secretariat has been the Not-for-Profit organization Healthy Cities Illawarra, which in 2025, became Healthy Cities Australia.
Despite the network having around 90 members in the early 1990’s, there has been a steady decline in membership. But the work has continued – whilst many Australian communities do not use the title ’Healthy City’ – they still embrace the work – maybe as ‘Sustainable Cities’, ‘Liveable Cities’, ‘Smart Cities’ etc
As urban populations grow, climate pressures intensify, and social connection corrodes, cities must evolve into engines of health, equity, and resilience. In 2026 there is a renewed enthusiasm for reviving a network of Healthy Cities in Australia – a vehicle for a national community of practice, learning and peer support at the local level.
Put simply, cities can act faster and embed structural change in the places where people live, work and play. Join us!
Our AFHC Members
Full City Members
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Kiama Municipal Council
http://www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/ -
Logan City Council
http://www.logan.qld.gov.au/
Not for Profit Members
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Healthy Cities Australia
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Western Sydney Health Alliance
https://wshealthalliance.nsw.gov.au/
Academic Members
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UNSW Cities Institute
https://www.unsw.edu.au/research/cities-institute
Affiliate Members via Healthy Cities Australia
Cities
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Wollongong City Council
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Shellharbour City Council
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Shoalhaven City Council
Not for Profits
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Healthy Cities Onkaparinga
Academic Institutions
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University of Wollongong
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Griffith University
Future Events
11th Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities
1-3 September 2026, Sydney, Australia.
https://healthycities2026.com/Past Events
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Australian National Healthy Cities: Making Cities Liveable Conferences
2007
Inaugural Healthy Cities Conference hosted by Gold Coast City Council 26-29 September 2007
2008
2nd Australian Chapter Conference in Kiama hosted by Kiama Municipal Council
2009
3rd “Making Cities Liveable’ 25-27 March 2009
http://www.healthycities.com.au/The Conference keynote presentations along with four concurrent streams addressed the below themes:
- Managing population and economic growth - what is sustainable?
- Climate Change Adaptation
- Managing Communicable Disease Outbreaks - Health Security
- Population Health Management - immunisation, bio security, food safety and epidemic control
- Waste Reuse Technologies, what the future looks like
- Managing Natural Resources
- City Design - designing changes to urban life to encourage Physical Activity, Healthy Cities
- Disaster Management - public welfare - recovery and rebuild
- Managing Legislation and Policy
2012
Previous Business Meetings and Events of the Australian Healthy Cities Chapter:
Gold Coast 2007, Kiama 2008, City of Onkaparinga and the City of Marion 2009, Logan City 2010, Noosa 2011
AC AFHC Business Meeting 24 October 2012 in Logan City
Seehttp://www.australianhealthycities.org/
The 5th Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
24-27 October 2012