Healthy Cities Australia

Healthy Cities Australia Healthy Cities Australia (HCA) is a community-based non-profit, non-government organisation that receives core funding from the NSW Health Department.

Preventative Health and Community Development in the areas of: Environmental Health, Community Building, Healthy Urban Design, Community Safety, Healthy Ageing, Community Nutrition, Physical Activity, Mental Wellbeing and Social Connection. HCA is a recognised member of the International Healthy Cities movement, which was started in 1985 by the World Health Organisation in response to the need fo

r a more holistic, community-centred approach to public health. HCA was established in November 1987 and operates throughout the local government areas of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, and Shoalhaven. It is governed by a Board of Directors comprising representatives from local government, health, environment, education, and community sectors. HCA has a proven track record of working in partnership with the community, business, and government to deliver projects on a wide range of health, social, and environmental issues, including children's health, community safety, environmental health, physical activity, nutrition education, and food security. Other focus areas include community cultural development, healthy ageing, active transport, HIV/AIDS prevention, and to***co control. With an experienced workforce and strong governance, HCA has established itself as a well-managed, credible, and committed organisation. It is recognised for being at the forefront of innovative health promotion practice. The Healthy Cities philosophy is that our health is shaped by environmental, economic, social, mental, and physical factors. Addressing these complex issues requires collaboration across all sectors of the community to create a healthier society. We encourage individuals, groups, and businesses to join us in working towards healthier, more connected communities across Australia. To learn more about Healthy Cities Australia, visit our website at www.healthycities.org.au

12/06/2026

In the last 12 months Vinnies Wollongong have supported an additional 12,000 people in the Illawarra with food relief. And that's just ONE of 37 local organisations hustling to get perfectly good excess food to people that need it.

Our Food Fairness Illawarra's WhatsApp group connects food donors with food relief organisations. It's a solution for right now but we have bigger plans.

The Illawarra Food Hub is a practical, ready-to-go solution. The plan is built. Partners are on board - Vinnies is one of them. But we need help to get essential infrastructure in place.

Learn more and donate here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-illawarra-regional-food-hub

✨ United Nations International Day of Play ✨Yesterday, Illawarra came together, to learn, to play, and to stand up for s...
11/06/2026

✨ United Nations International Day of Play ✨

Yesterday, Illawarra came together, to learn, to play, and to stand up for something truly powerful: the right of every child to play 💛

Today, we continue that call to action:
Protect Play. Protect Childhood.

📱 Share a social media post advocating for Play!
🎉 Draw a hopscotch and give children (and adults) in your neighborhood invitation to Play!

More information and photos to come of this wonderful event but first... let’s advocate for spaces, time, and communities where children can experience the joy and freedom of play every single day 🌿



Kiama Municipal Council Shellharbour City Council City of Wollongong Emma in Early Childhood AT_Culture UOW Early Start Discovery Space Wollongong Botanic Garden

With winter school holidays just around the corner, we are remembering our wildly successful Let's Play Kiama event from...
09/06/2026

With winter school holidays just around the corner, we are remembering our wildly successful Let's Play Kiama event from earlier this year, proudly supported by Kiama Municipal Council and their Community Grant funding.

Just listed 👀: two epic school holiday programs, not to miss!

🍽 Learn to Cook & UOW Tour: Wed, 15 July from 10:00am - 2:00pm

🎣 Fishing, Beach Games & BBQ: Thurs, 16 July from 8:30am - 12:30pm

Both sessions are for youth aged 12-24.

Learn more: https://healthycities.org.au/events

✨✨ Breaking news!! ✨✨ Illawarra will be the first to hear CEO Play Australia's Robyn Monro Miller's "Weaving Play into t...
06/06/2026

✨✨ Breaking news!! ✨✨

Illawarra will be the first to hear CEO Play Australia's Robyn Monro Miller's "Weaving Play into the National Fabric". We will hear how international approaches to national play strategies support children's health and wellbeing! Robyn is a powerful speaker and this is not to be missed. Join us to celebrate and advocate for play on the eve of United Nations International Day of Play!

Last tickets here: https://bit.ly/2026Play Play Australia

THANK YOU, Donors!    Because of your incredible support so far, we’re already able to secure essential equipment for th...
05/06/2026

THANK YOU, Donors!

Because of your incredible support so far, we’re already able to secure essential equipment for the Illawarra Regional Food Hub, including:

✔️ Dry storage shelving units
✔️ Food-grade storage containers
✔️ Stainless steel prep benches

These are foundational pieces that will power our day-to-day operations. This is just the beginning.

The Food Hub is being built with long term plans to do more than store food. In the future, with a fully equipped commercial kitchen, we’ll transform surplus food from local businesses into ready-to-eat meals for our food relief partners, helping feed our community and reduce waste at the same time.

We still have a long list to get through, and every donation brings us one step closer to opening our doors.

Help us keep the momentum going. Donate today via our GoFundMe:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-illawarra-regional-food-hub

Less than a week away!The second annual Connecting Communities Through Play is taking place next Wednesday, 10 June on t...
05/06/2026

Less than a week away!

The second annual Connecting Communities Through Play is taking place next Wednesday, 10 June on the eve of International Day of Play in Warilla NSW.

From the bush to the city, play is essential to children. We're excited for Sam Crosby from Wollongong Botanic Garden and Natalia Krysiak from Cities for Play to take the stage and share their expertise.

Last remaining tickets must be secured now to hear from these inspiring speakers!

https://bit.ly/2026Play

03/06/2026

🚲 Happy World Bicycle Day 🚲

Three months ago, we launched the ‘More Than a Cyclist’ campaign. An opportunity for individuals, business organisations and community groups to access our FREE starter pack.

Thank you to IBUG (Illawarra Bicycle Users Group) for taking the opportunity to run the campaign which helps change how people see people who ride bikes and shows that they are valued members of our community.

This heartfelt campaign helps change driver perceptions, and for World Bicycle Day today - we’d love for you to consider running this FREE campaign for yourselves!

More Information: https://www.morethanacyclist.org.au

Thank you ABC Illawarra for sharing! 💚🍎
02/06/2026

Thank you ABC Illawarra for sharing! 💚🍎

The Illawarra Regional Food Hub is moving into its next phase, with organisers now focused on funding and establishing the infrastructure needed to get it operating.

Healthy Cities Illawarra says the project will bring together more than 30 organisations to better coordinate food rescue and distribution across the region.

A $137,000 public fundraising drive is underway to help deliver Stage 1 setup costs, including refrigeration, storage and transport equipment.

The hub aims to turn a fragmented food relief system into a more centralised, efficient network. Organisers say it could reduce waste while improving access to fresh food for households under pressure.

The model is also designed to take strain off community organisations already stretched in responding to food insecurity.

CEO Kelly Andrews said the longer-term goal is to build a system that also supports local jobs in logistics, operations and community services

Cook Chill Chat, our free 6-week cooking program is heating up in Crookwell from 24 June!Looking for a relaxed way to co...
01/06/2026

Cook Chill Chat, our free 6-week cooking program is heating up in Crookwell from 24 June!

Looking for a relaxed way to connect with others? Keen to learn simple, affordable recipes? Join us!

Cook Chill Chat brings people together to cook, share a meal, and enjoy good conversation in a welcoming space. Lunch included!

📍 Crookwell Memorial Hall
🗓 6 weeks starting Wed, 24 June
⌚️ 10.30am - 1.30pm
💬 Free to join - bookings essential: https://bit.ly/CCCCrookwell

Help Launch the Illawarra Regional Food Hub 🚨 $137,000 NeededToday at 12pm, we met with 100+ community members online to...
29/05/2026

Help Launch the Illawarra Regional Food Hub 🚨 $137,000 Needed

Today at 12pm, we met with 100+ community members online to share the plan for something big… the Illawarra Regional Food Hub.

One central Hub. Dozens of partners. Thousands fed.

Here’s why it matters:
• 38% of local households are struggling to access food
• Good, fresh food is going to waste
• 37+ organisations are working hard, but in a fragmented system

This isn’t a supply problem. It’s a system problem and we can fix it.

✅ One central hub
✅ Rescue surplus food
✅ Feed thousands across our region

We urgently need to raise $137,000 to launch Stage 1 of the project, to open by the end of October 2026.

💚 Be part of the solution: donate, share, support.

Let’s make sure no good food goes to waste and no one in our community goes hungry.

➡️ Donate now:

Help Us Deliver a Food Future for Everyone Right now, 38% of Illa… Healthy Cities Australia needs your support for Help Us Deliver a Food Future for Everyone

Address

6-10 Princess Highway
Berry, NSW

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