Shaping policy. Driving change.

Priority health area: Promote active living and mental wellbeing
Healthway has provided a submission to the Education and Health Standing Committee inquiry into Community Use of WA Public Schools Facilities.

We strongly support opening school facilities for community use because it boosts physical activity and social connection through three key factors:

1. Proximity – schools are close to homes, making green spaces and facilities easy to access.
2. Affordability – Reduced transport costs and free access to school spaces make it cost-effective.
3. Flexibility – Allowing public use before and after school hours removes time restrictions.

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Priority health area: Promote healthy eating
We welcome the Australian Government’s work on the first National Food Security Strategy. This important plan will help make sure healthy, affordable food is available for everyone—while building a stronger, more resilient food system for the future.

We recommend that the National Food Strategy should involve key departments at both state and federal levels—such as planning, transport, health, social services and defence—to set clear frameworks for industry and community participation.

Key points:

• We need to understand how business practices—like marketing, lobbying and supermarket dominance—affect food security.
• Long-term change needs ongoing investment and leadership from the Australian government. We’re calling on decision-makers to bring together departments like health, transport, planning and social services to work as a team.
• We need stronger regulations to improve food access – voluntary industry promises don’t go far enough.
• We need to tackle the power of big supermarkets, which impacts prices, suppliers and food waste.
• We need to promote alternatives likes food co-ops to make healthy food more affordable and accessible.

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Priority health area: Promote active living 
Healthway strongly supports the Perth Inner City Group’s proposal to introduce a 40km/h speed limit in inner-city areas. This change is a proven, low-cost and rapid way to make Perth safer, healthier and more liveable. 

Why it matters: 

• Safer streets reduce crashes and deaths, protecting WA communities and easing pressure on hospitals.
• Safer speeds mean less noise and air pollution and fewer harsh accelerations.
• Safer streets mean more access to healthy options – making short walks and active travel easier.
• Australian evidence shows strong community support for safer speeds.
• International evidence shows community support grows after changes are in place.

Hundreds of cities have achieved zero road deaths. Global leaders like Paris, London and Wales show what’s possible: safer speeds transform streets into places of safety, liveability and community wellbeing. 

Together, we can make Perth’s inner city a place where people and their health—not cars—come first.

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Priority health areas: Promote active living, healthy eating and prevent and reduce use of tobacco and e-cigarettes
The Perth Entertainment and Sporting Precinct (PESP) is an opportunity to take a bold step for health through thoughtful planning. The PESP can become a vibrant destination where people connect, stay active and enjoy healthy options. 

Our recommendations focus on: 

• Building spaces that move people—with active transport options and green areas that make physical activity part of everyday life.
• Make healthy choices easy by ensuring affordable, nutritious food and drinks are always available.
• Keep the air clean for everyone by creating smoke and vape-free environments that protect families and children.

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Priority health area: Promote active living, mental wellbeing and healthy eating.
Healthway welcomes the Minister for Planning and Lands’ call to modernise WA’s R-Codes. This is a powerful opportunity to create healthier, more liveable communities through smarter housing density, land use and design standards.

Our funded research shows that the built environment is key to creating spaces where people can move more, eat well and feel connected. 

Together, we can design neighbourhoods that make WA the healthiest state in the nation. 

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