International designers in health converge at world congress in Brisbane

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Australia will star on the world stage of design in health with more than 1000 delegates converging in Brisbane for the Ninth Design and Health World Congress in July.

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Keynote speaker Prof Ken Yeang, renowned worldwide for his authentic approach to ecological design, flanked by Dr Ray Pentecost, President, and Prof Alan Dilani, Founder and CEO of the International Academy for Design & Health, the congress organisers.
This is the first time Australia has hosted what is the most leading edge scientific program to underpin the future of professional practice in health promotion by design. It’s an opportunity to not only showcase the latest Australian research, projects and experts in health design, but to learn and be inspired by international contributors.
The congress, being held 10 to 14 July, is organised by the International Academy for Design and Health in partnership with state health departments and supported by renowned academic institutions and health industries worldwide. The International Academy for Design & Health is dedicated to the stimulation and application of research concerning the interaction between design, health, science & culture and this congress is an opportunity to exchange research findings in the field.
Chief Operations Officer of the International Academy for Design and Health, Marc Sansom, says the health status of people living in Australasia is one of the highest in the world, with rising life expectancies and falling mortality and morbidity rates. “But the region’s healthcare systems face similar challenges to the rest of the developed world, characterised by increasing cost pressures, an ageing population and a rise in the level of lifestyle diseases, most notable diabetes and obesity, “ he adds. “In recognition that a healthy population is the foundation for social development and economic growth, Australasia is undergoing a policy shift that is addressing the need to redesign its health systems and to embrace health promotion and embed a preventative approach based on better education and research. At the same time the region is enjoying period of major health capital investment, with many new benchmark facilities recently opening or due for completion.”
Patron of the congress, Professor Ian Frazer says the health challenge in the modern age is non-communicable diseases or lifestyle diseases representing 63 per cent of all annual fatalities and killing more than 36 million people each year.
Mr Frazer writes “the built environment and the way we design our cities and communities provides a context for civil society and has a huge influence on our lifestyles and our health. “We need more scientific endeavour into this fast developing field of work to support the adaptation of innovation in the physical environment that will both directly impact people’s health and wellbeing and facilitate them to lead healthier lifestyles. “As the world undergoes an economic and demographic shift to the east, Australasia is at the forefront of an opportunity to demonstrate its leadership in the creation and application of scientific research that will build a future society that is healthy, harmonious and economically and culturally progressive”.
Australians feature prominently on the four-day program which includes pre-congress workshops, study tours to both the new Queensland Children’s Hospital and the Gold Coast University Hospital, and addresses on the latest research findings by physicians, psychologists, designers, architects, artists, planners, nursing professionals and economists. International speakers include Professor Ken Yeang, renowned worldwide for his authentic approach to ecological design. Speakers from New Zealand, Belgium, USA, Finland, Israel, UK, Canada, South Arica and Malaysia will also be presenting.
Full details of the program are available at www.designandhealth.com.
“We need more scientific endeavour into this fast developing field of work to support the adaptation of innovation in the physical environment that will both directly impact people’s health and wellbeing and facilitate them to lead healthier lifestyles.” 

Professor Ian Frazer
Congress patron / AC, FRA, FAA

Australasian Healthcare Design 2000 – 2015 Publication Launched
Past, current and future projects and trends in healthcare design in Australia and New Zealand will feature in the Australasian Healthcare Design 2000-2015 publication being launched at the Design and World Health Congress in Brisbane.
Published by the International Academy of Design and Health and edited by Kate Copeland, immediate past president of the Australasian college of Health Service Management and senior director of clinical infrastructure at Queensland Health, the publication will feature more than 100 of the most important and innovative health-related facility developments in sectors including acute hospitals, mental health, children’s health, community health, regional health, research facilities, multi-purpose health facilities and cancer centre. Delegates at the Congress will receive a free copy. Editions will also be available for purchase following the event.
Internal Fit Out of the New Queensland Children’s Hospital Underway
The new $1.5billion Queensland Children’s Hospital (QCH) features as a study excursion on the program of the Ninth Design and Health World Congress.
Construction of the 12-level hospital began two years ago and activity is now focussed on the internal fit out, which includes 3500 rooms and 80,000m² of floor space – about the size of 12 football fields.
The architectural design of the QCH is based on the concept of a living tree with a network of vertical trunks and horizontal branches punctuating the building to allow natural light in and views out, connecting the inside with the outside. The branch and trunk design of the QCH consists of two vertical atria spaces or trunks in the centre of the structure. Each atrium will transport light to surrounding floors and branches that stretch towards the outside of the building, culminating in a total of 14 viewing platforms oriented towards key Brisbane landmarks.