School of Public Health

HABITAT: A study of how areas in Brisbane influence health and activity

The HABITAT Study (How Areas in Brisbane Influence healTh and AcTivity) started in 2007 to better understand how the places we live in affect our health, wellbeing, and everyday behaviours - like being physically active or spending time sitting.

We invited 11,000 adults aged 40 to 65 from 200 neighbourhoods across Brisbane to take part. Participants completed surveys in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2016. These surveys helped us track changes in health and lifestyle over time, and explore how factors like neighbourhood design, social connections, and personal circumstances influence people’s health and wellbeing.

In 2014 and 2016, a smaller group of around 700 participants also took part in physical assessments. These included the use of wearable devices to gather more detailed and objective information about physical activity and physical function, helping us better understand how neighbourhood environments influence health.

The findings from HABITAT are helping policy makers, urban planners, and health professionals make better decisions to support healthy ageing and prevent chronic diseases. This work is especially important as our population gets older, and we look for ways to reduce health and social challenges.

HABITAT was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and supported by the Brisbane City Council. It’s one of the few studies in the world that combines long-term health data with detailed information about neighbourhoods and communities.

Next phase of HABITAT

We are now planning the next phase of HABITAT, and we want to do this in partnership with our local communities. We are also developing a public dashboard to share key findings in a clear and accessible way — so that everyone, from community members to decision-makers, can benefit from the research.

The HABITAT Study has been made possible thanks to the dedication and vision of its founding investigators, who launched the study in 2007. Their leadership laid the foundation for one of Australia’s most comprehensive and policy-relevant cohort studies on physical activity and urban environments.

Currently, HABITAT is led by Dr Gregore Mielke, NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow and Principal Investigator. Gregore joined the study in 2015, when he moved to Brisbane to begin working with the HABITAT team. Since then, he developed a strong personal connection to the city and its people. Based at The University of Queensland, Gregore has lived in Taringa, Spring Hill, Auchenflower, and Kenmore, and continues to explore Brisbane through both his work and hobbies. He enjoys cycling, playing football, visiting parks across the city, and capturing the beauty of Brisbane through photography.

Current Investigators

Dr Gregore Iven Mielke

The University of Queensland, School of Public Health

Dr Stephanie Duncombe

The University of Queensland, School of Public Health

 

Founding Investigators

Honorary Professor Gavin Turrell

RMIT University

Emerita Professor Billie Giles-Corti

RMIT University

Emerita Professor Wendy Brown

The University of Queensland

A/Prof Nicola Burton

Griffith University

Professor Nancy Pachana

The University of Queensland

 

PhD students (current)

Miss Ruyi Yu

The University of Queensland, School of Public Health

Mr Anh Tung Pham

The University of Queensland, School of Public Health

Thank you for being part of HABITAT!

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has taken part in the HABITAT Study since it began in 2007. Your continued involvement helps us understand how neighbourhoods influence health and wellbeing over time—and how we can build healthier communities for everyone.

 

A new phase is coming soon

We are excited to share that the next phase of HABITAT is currently being planned. This phase will focus on how physical activity can help people live longer and healthier lives, with support from local communities.

 

We would love to stay in touch with you!

Because HABITAT has been running for many years, it is easy to lose contact with participants. If you have moved or changed your contact details, please let us know so we can keep you updated and invite you to future phases of the study.

 

Update your details

 

Even if you’re unsure whether we have your latest details, it’s always helpful to check in.

 

Why your participation matters

HABITAT is one of the few studies in the world that looks at how neighbourhoods affect health over time. Every survey you complete and every update you provide helps us build a clearer picture of how to create healthier, more supportive communities.

 

 

Have any other ideas you want to share?

We would love to hear your views on health and wellbeing at Brisbane. Please complete this anonymous short survey and share your experiences and thoughts about what we should be working on.

Since the HABITAT Study began in 2007, it has generated a rich body of evidence on how neighbourhoods influence health and wellbeing. To date, the study has led to over 70 peer-reviewed publications in scientific outlets, as well as coverage in news articles and public reports. Below are some key findings from the study, followed by a complete list of all publications.

Publications (updated August 2025)

  1. Rachele JN, Loh V, Timperio A, et al. Socioeconomic inequalities in physical function decline: multilevel longitudinal results from the HABITAT study. BMC Public Health. 2025;25(1):2378. Published 2025 Jul 3. doi:10.1186/s12889-025-23309-8
  1. Jamalishahni, T., Turrell, G., Villanueva, K., Foster, S., & Davern, M. (2022). Contribution of the built environment to inequity in loneliness by neighbourhood disadvantage in Australia. Cities & Health, 6(6), 1067–1080. https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2022.2145733.
  1. Learnihan V, Kinfu Y, Turrell G. Social determinants of depression among mid-to-older aged Australians: A prospective study of the effects of neighbourhood disadvantage and crime. SSM Popul Health. 2022;19:101190. Published 2022 Jul 31. doi:10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101190
  1. Mann, E.M., Heesch, K.C., Rachele, J.N. Burton NW, Turrell G. Individual socioeconomic position, neighbourhood disadvantage and mental well-being: a cross-sectional multilevel analysis of mid-age adults. BMC Public Health 22, 494 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12905-7.
  1. N Mehwish, Kolbe-Alexander TL, Burton NW, Khan A. A Longitudinal Assessment of Risk Factors and Chronic Diseases among Immigrant and Non-Immigrant Adults in Australia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 8621. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168621.
  1. Abe, T., Carver, A., & Sugiyama, T. (2021). Associations of neighbourhood built and social environments with frailty among mid-to-older aged Australian adults. Geriatrics & Gerontology International, 21(10), 893-899.
  1. Sugiyama T, Sugiyama M, Mavoa S, Barnett A, Kamruzzaman M, Turrell, G. Neighborhood environmental attributes and walking mobility decline: A longitudinal ecological study of mid-to-older aged Australian adults. PLoS One, 2021 (In Press).
  1. Sersli S, Turrell G, Burton N, Brown N, Heesch K. Longitudinal associations between bicycling and having dependent children, in middle-aged men and women. Preventive Medicine Reports, 2021 (In Press).
  1. Rachele JN, Wang J, Wijnands JS, Zhao H, Bentley R, Stevenson M. Using machine learning to examine associations between the built environment and physical function. Health and Place, 2021;102601.
  1. Saghapour T, Giles-Corti B, Rachele J, Turrell G. A Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Study of Neighbourhood Disadvantage and Cardiovascular Disease and the mediating role of Physical Activity. Preventive Medicine 2021; 147:106506.
  1. Foster S, Hooper P, Burton N, Brown WJ, Rachele J, Giles-Corti B, Turrell G. Safe environments: Does the association between neighbourhood crime and walking differ by neighbourhood disadvantage? Environment and Behavior 2021;53(1):3 – 39.
  1. Mielke GI, Bailey TG, Burton NW, Brown WJ. Participation in sports/recreational activities and incidence of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity in adults. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine in Science and Sport 2020;1-9; https://doi.org/10.1111’/sms.13795.
  1. Turrell G, Nathan A, Burton N, Brown W, McElwee P, Barnett A, Pachana N, Oldenburg B, Rachele J, Giskes K, Giles-Corti B. Cohort Profile: HABITAT – a longitudinal multilevel study of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and health and functioning in mid-to-late adulthood. International Journal of Epidemiology 2020 https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyaa175
  1. Hooper P, Foster S, Edwards N, Turrell G, Burton N, Giles-Corti B, Brown W. POSitive HABITATS for physical activity: Examining use of public open spaces and its contribution to physical activity levels in mid- to older-aged adults. Health and Place 2020; 63:102308.
  1. Kamruzzaman Md, De Vos J, Grodach C, Currie G, Giles-Corti B, Turrell G. Spatial biases in residential mobility: implications for travel behaviour research. Travel Behaviour and Society 2020; 18:15-28.
  1. Boakye-Dankwa E, Barnett A, Pachana N, Turrell G, Cerin E. Associations between latent classes of perceived neighborhood destination accessibility and walking behaviors in older adults of a low-density and high-density city. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity 2019; 27(4):553-564.
  1. Cleary A, Roiko A, Burton NW, Fielding K, Murray Z, Turrell G. Changes in perceptions of urban green space are related to changes in psychological well-being: Cross-sectional and longitudinal study of mid-aged urban residents. Health and Place 2019, 59: 102201.
  1. Ghani F, Rachele JN, Loh VHY, Washington S, Turrell G. Do differences in social environments explain gender differences in recreational walking across neighbourhoods? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2019;16, 1980; doi:10.3390/ijerph16111980.
  1. Sugiyama T, Rachele JN, Gunn LD, Burton NW, Brown WJ, Turrell G. Land use proportion and walking: Application of isometric substitution analysis. Health & Place 2019; 57:352-357.
  1. Rachele JN, Schmid CJ, Brown WJ, Nathan A, Kamphuis CBM, Turrell G. A multilevel study of neighborhood disadvantage, individual-socioeconomic position, and body mass index: exploring cross-level interaction effects. Preventive Medicine Reports 2019 14 100844.
  1. Dean AJ, Barnett A, Wilson K, Turrell G. Beyond the ‘Extinction of Experience’ – novel pathways between nature experience and support for nature conservation. Global Environmental Change 2019; 55:48-57.
  1. Loh V, Rachele J, Brown W, Ghani F, Washington S, Turrell G. Can walkability and walking for transport reduce neighbourhood inequalities in physical function? A case study among middle-aged to older adults in Brisbane, Australia. Health and Place 2019; 56:99-105.
  1. Boakye-Dankwa E, Nathan A, Barnett A, Busija L, Lee RSY, Pachana N, Turrell G, Cerin E. Walking behaviour and patterns of perceived access to neighbourhood destinations in older adults from a low-density (Brisbane, Australia) and an ultra-dense city (Hong Kong, China). Cities 2019; 84:23-33.
  1. Heinen E, Kamruzzaman MD, Turrell G. The public bicycle-sharing scheme in Brisbane, Australia: Evaluating the influence of its introduction on changes in time spent cycling amongst a middle- and older-age population. Journal of Transport and Health 2018; 10:56-73.
  1. Mielke GI, Burton NW, Turrell G, Brown WJ. Temporal trends in sitting by domain in a cohort of mid-age Australian men and women. Maturitas 2018; 116:108-115.
  1. Ghani F, Rachele JN, Loh V, Washington S, Turrell G. Do differences in built environments explain age differences in transport walking across neighborhoods? Journal of Transport and Health 2018; 9:83-95.
  1. Loh V, Rachele JN, Brown WJ, Ghani F, Turrell G. Neighborhood disadvantage and physical function: The contributions of neighborhood-level perceptions of safety from crime and walking for recreation Journal of Physical Activity and Health 2018;15:553-563.
  1. Turrell G, Hewitt B, Rachele JN, Giles-Corti B, Brown WJ. Prospective trends in body mass index by main transport mode, 2007 – 2013. Journal of Transport and Health 2018; 8:183-192.
  1. Bentley R, Blakely T, Kavanagh A, Aitken Z, King T, McElwee P, Giles-Corti B, Turrell G. A longitudinal study examining changes in street connectivity, land use, and density of dwellings and walking for transport in Brisbane, Australia. Environmental Health Perspectives 2018: doi.org/10.1289/EHP2080.
  1. Turrell G, Hewitt B, Rachele JN, Giles-Corti B, Brown WJ. Do active modes of transport cause lower body mass index? Findings from the HABITAT longitudinal study. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2018; 72:294–301. doi:10.1136/jech-2017-209957.
  1. Rachele J, Learnihan V, Badland H, Mavoa S, Turrell G, Giles-Corti B. Are measures derived from land use and transport policies associated with walking for transport? Journal of Physical Activity and Health 2018; 15:13-21.
  1. Rachele JN, Kavanagh AM, Brown W, Healy A, Turrell G. Neighborhood disadvantage and body mass index: a study of residential relocation. American Journal of Epidemiology 2018;187(8):1696-1703.
  1. Rachele J, Kavanagh A, Brown W, Healy A, Schmid CJ, Turrell G. Neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and body mass index among residentially stable mid-older aged adults: Findings from the HABITAT multilevel longitudinal study. Preventive Medicine 2017; 105:271-274.
  1. Barnett A, McElwee P, Nathan A, Burton N, Giles-Corti B, Pachana N, Turrell G. Identifying patterns of item missing data in cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys using latent groups. BMJ Open 2017;7:e017284.
  1. Rayward A, Duncan MJ, Brown WJ, Plotnikoff RC, Burton NW.  A cross sectional cluster analysis of the combined association of physical activity and sleep with sociodemographic and health characteristics in mid aged and older adults. Maturitas 2017;102:56-61.
  1. Rachele JN, Ghani F, Yee Loh H, Brown WJ, Turrell G. Associations between physical activity and the neighbourhood social environment: baseline results from the HABITAT multilevel study. Preventive Medicine 2016 93:219-225.
  1. Kamruzzaman, M, Baker D, Washington S, Turrell G. Determinants of residential dissonance: implications for transit oriented development in Brisbane. International Journal of Sustainable Transportation 2016;10(10):960-974.
  1. Rachele JN, Wood L, Nathan A, Giskes K, Turrell G. Neighbourhood disadvantage and smoking: examining the role of neighbourhood-level psychosocial characteristics. Health and Place 2016;40:90-105.
  1. Ghani F, Rachele J, Washington S, Turrell G. Gender and age differences in walking for transport and recreation: are the relationships the same in all neighborhoods? Preventive Medicine Reports 2016;4:75-80.
  1. Loh HY, Rachele J, Brown W, Washington S, Turrell G. Neighbourhood disadvantage, individual-level socioeconomic position and physical function: a cross-sectional multilevel analysis. Preventive Medicine 2016;89:112-120.
  1. Rachele J, Giles-Corti B, Turrell G. Neighbourhood disadvantage and self-reported type 2 diabetes, heart disease and comorbidity: a cross-sectional multilevel study. Annals of Epidemiology 2016;26:146-150.
  1. Heesch K, Giles-Corti B, Turrell G. Cycling for transport and recreation: cross-sectional associations with the socio-economic, natural and built environment.  Health and Place 2015;36:152-161.
  1. Rachele J, Kavanagh A, Badland H, Giles-Corti B, Washington S, Turrell G. Associations between individual socioeconomic position, neighbourhood disadvantage, and transport mode: Baseline results from the HABITAT multilevel study. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2015;69:1217-1223.
  1. Peeters GMEE, Brown WJ, Burton NW.  Psychosocial factors associated with increased physical activity in insufficiently active adults with arthritis.  Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 2015;18:558-564.
  1. Kamruzzaman Md, Shatu FM, Hine J, Turrell G. Commuting mode choice in transit oriented development: disentangling the effects of competitive neighbourhoods, travel attitudes, and self-selection. Transport Policy 2015;42:187-196.
  1. Kamruzzaman, M, Baker D, Turrell G. Do dissonants in transit oriented development adjust commuting travel behaviour? European Journal of Transport and Infrastructure Research 2015;15(1):66-77.
  1. Turrell G, Hewitt B, Haynes M, Nathan A, Giles-Corti B. Change in walking for transport: a longitudinal study of the influence of neighbourhood disadvantage and individual-level socioeconomic position in mid-aged adults. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2014 11:151.
  1. Kamruzzaman M, Washington S, Baker D, Brown W, Giles-Corti B, Turrell G. Built environmental impacts on walking for transport in Brisbane, Australia. Transportation 2014;41: DOI 10.1007/s11116-014-9563-0.
  1. Page KM, Milner AJ, Martin A, Turrell G, Giles-Corti B, LaMontagne AD. Workplace stress: what is the role of positive mental health? Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2014;56(8):814-819.
  1. Kamruzzaman Md, Yigitcanlar T, Washington S, Currie G, Turrell G. Australian baby boomers switched to more environment friendly modes of transport during the global financial crisis. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 2014; DOI10.1007/s13762-014-0564-5.
  1. Heesch K, Turrell G. Key influences on cycling for transport. Journal of the Australian College of Road Safety 2014;25(4):43-46.
  1. Heesch K, Giles-Corti B, Turrell G. Cycling for transport and recreation: associations with socio-economic position, environmental perceptions, and psychological disposition. Preventive Medicine 2014; 63:29-35.
  1. Kamruzzaman M, Hine J, Currie J, Wood L, Giles-Corti B, Turrell G. Patterns of social capital associated with Transit Oriented Development. Journal of Transport Geography 2014; 35:144-155.
  1. Peeters G, Brown WJ, Burton NW. Physical activity context preferences in people with arthritis and osteoporosis. Journal of Physical Activity and Health 2014; 11:536-542.
  1. Khan A, Chien, C-W, Burton NW. A new look at the construct validity of the Kessler K6 using Rasch analysis.  International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research 2014;23(1):1-8.  
  1. Kamruzzaman, M, Baker D, Washington S, Turrell G. Advance transit oriented development typology: Case study in Brisbane, Australia.  Journal of Transport Geography 2014; 34:54-70.
  1. Kamruzzaman, M., Baker, D., Washington, S., Turrell, G. Residential Dissonance and Mode Choice. Journal of Transport Geography 2013; 33:12-28.
  1. Kamruzzaman M, Washington S, Baker, D, Turrell G. Does residential dissonance impact residential mobility? Transportation Research Record 2013; 2344:59-67.
  1. Badland H, Turrell G, Giles-Corti B. Who does well where: exploring how self-rated health differs across diverse people and neighbourhoods. Health and Place 2013; 22:82-89.
  1. Khan A, Brown WJ, Burton NW. What physical activity contexts do adults with psychological distress prefer? Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 2013; 16:417-421.
  1. Turrell G, Haynes M, Wilson LM, Giles-Corti B. Can the built environment reduce health inequalities? A study of neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage and walking for transport. Health and Place 2013; 19:89-98.
  1. Burton NW, Khan A, Brown WJ. How, where and with whom? Physical activity context preferences of three adult groups at risk of inactivity. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2012; 46:1125-31.
  1. Turrell G, Hewitt B, Miller S. The influence of neighbourhood disadvantage on smoking cessation and its contribution to inequalities in smoking status. Drug and Alcohol Review 2012; 31:645-652.
  1. Brennan S, Turrell G. Neighbourhood disadvantage, individual-level socioeconomic position, and self-reported chronic arthritis: a cross-sectional multilevel study. Arthritis Care and Research 2012;64(5):721 – 728.
  1. Wilson LA, Giles-Corti B, Turrell G. The Association Between Objectively Measured Neighbourhood Features and Walking for Transport in Mid-Aged Adults. Local Environment: the international journal of justice and sustainability 2012;17(2):131-146.
  1. Burton NW, Haynes M, van Uffelen JGZ, Brown WJ, Turrell G. Mid-aged adults' sitting time in three contexts. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2012;42(4):363-373.
  1. Burton NW, Khan A, Brown WJ, Turrell G.  The association between sedentary leisure and physical activity in middle-aged adults.  British Journal of Sports Medicine 2012; 46:747-752.
  1. Turrell G, Haynes M, O’Flaherty M, Burton NW, Giskes K, Wilson L, Giles-Corti B. Test-retest reliability of perceptions of the neighborhood environment for physical activity by socioeconomic status. Journal of Physical Activity and Health 2011; 8:829-840.
  1. Wilson L, Giles-Corti B, Burton N, Giskes K, Turrell G. The association between objectively measured neighborhood features and walking in mid-aged adults. American Journal of Health Promotion 2011;25(4):e12-e21.
  1. Turrell G, Haynes M, Burton N, Giles-Corti B, Oldenburg B, Wilson L, Giskes K, Brown W. Neighbourhood disadvantage and physical activity: baseline results from the HABITAT multilevel longitudinal study.  Annals of Epidemiology 2010;20(3):171-181.
  1. Burton NW, Haynes M, Wilson LW, Giles-Corti B, Oldenburg BF, Brown WJ, Giskes K, and Turrell G. HABITAT:  A longitudinal multilevel study of physical activity change in mid-aged adults.  BMC Public Health 2009 9:76. doi 10.1186/1471-2458-9-76.

The HABITAT team welcomes interest and offers of collaboration from colleagues. Generally, approval of a proposal depends upon the topic of interest and the degree of access being sought.

Applications to access data should, in the first instance, be made to Dr Gregore Iven Mielke, g.ivenmielke@uq.edu.au

Collaboration is subject to guidelines detailed in the Guidelines for collaboration. The Memorandum of Understanding which stipulates the conditions under which access is available is contained in Appendix B.

Guidelines for collaboration (under development).

Contact us

habitat@uq.edu.au

Phone: +61 7 3365 5179

Principal Investigator
Dr Gregore Iven Mielke
g.ivenmielke@uq.edu.au