Whitehorse steps ahead

This success story emerged out of R-MAD (Residents Making a Difference), a project empowering public housing tenants in Melbourne’s east to identify and address problems affecting their health and wellbeing.

Residents and the Whitehorse Community Health Service, with support from the Heart Foundation and a range of other partners, conducted walking audits all over their local area. 

Then, armed with the evidence of some obstacles to safe, comfortable walking, they approached council.  Almost immediately, change started to happen.  Paths through a local park that led to a bus stop were improved so that they could be safely used by older residents, and a bench was installed to allow walkers to stop and rest.

And the residents group is continuing to collaborate with council – discussing and considering improvements to parks, footpaths, crossings and street furniture.  In fact, the residents even made a submission to council’s ‘Draft structure plan for the Nunawading mega-mile’, suggesting a range of ways to improve access to public transport at Mitcham Station.

As well as creating some great engagement opportunities for the residents directly involved in creating the change, R-MAD’s success proves that communities really can change their environments for the better – especially when they work closely with councils and other groups.