Bringing Child Friendly by Design to the Heart of Liveable Cities – the Illawarra Experience

Abstract

The Child Friendly by Design (CFbD) Project, conducted by Healthy Cities Illawarra (HCI), in conjunction with Griffith University's Urban Research Program (URP) has involved children, young people and families in the design and redesign of public open spaces in Shellharbour, a fast developing city in the Illawarra region of NSW. Many conventional town planning processes do little to give children and young people a 'voice' on what is important about the places that surround them. The CFbD project has developed engagement tools, created participatory forums and linked closely with local government's planning processes. CFbD has placed children at the 'heart' of the planning and design process and has facilitated links between Council, developers, local business, families and the community sector.