Planning for People: Linked up Lives

The Hon Julia Gillard MP, Deputy Prime Minister will launch “Linked Up Lives: Putting Together Work, Home and Community in Ten Australian Suburbs”

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How are Australians putting together their jobs, homes and communities? With Australia experiencing its fastest levels of population growth since the 1950's, linkages between urban planning, work patterns and household life are affecting the well-being of men, women and children - and challenging urban planners and developers, all levels of government, employers and communities. How we 'put together' work, home and community affects social inclusion as well as our economic, social and environmental sustainability. What are the keys to making a good, sustainable community?

EVENT OVERVIEW

To answer these questions, CEDA is delighted to once again partner with the University of South Australia's Centre for Work + Life to host the launch of Linked Up Lives: Putting Together Work, Home and Community in Ten Australian Suburbs and lead a discussion on the development of socially, economically and environmentally sustainable communities.

Undertaken over four years, the research funded as research project in partnership with Delfin Lend Lease draws on interviews with almost 1000 adults, teenagers, workers and business and community leaders across 4 states from 10 traditional and master-planned communities.

The research shows that the needs of any community are complex, dynamic, and vary over the life-cycle. Communities that facilitate easy access to work, education, care, recreation and social interaction are more robust and inclusive. However, if jobs or housing are isolated from other activities, communities struggle to be socially or environmentally sustainable. Long distances between work and home, force some to choose between a good job and family - leading to new divisions of labour between the CBD and the suburbs. Dual-income families with high mortgages and few local supportive relationships, have far less time and energy to contribute to community activities or get to know their neighbours. In older suburbs some residents have established networks through schools and clubs, increasing social stability and support for many residents.

The report will be launched by the Hon Julia Gillard MP, Deputy Prime Minister, with a panel discussion and question and answer session following, including an overview of the Work, Home and Community Project and its ground breaking findings.