Council SHZ Model

Council SHZ Model

Safe Healing Zones (SHZs) offer a forward-looking public health solution to support individuals affected by circadian disruption. Local councils are uniquely positioned to lead the way. With minimal cost and clear frameworks, any council can enable SHZs within public parks, coastal reserves, or wellness-focused green spaces while respecting community expectations and legal clarity.

Purpose of the Council SHZ Model

This model empowers councils to:

  • Respond to the health impacts of shift work, fatigue and overstimulation through designated recovery zones

  • Support local night workers and essential staff with tangible, restorative space

  • Avoid legal and social ambiguity using established templates and guidelines

  • Pilot an initiative aligned with environmental and mental health priorities

SHZs are not leisure spaces. They are preventative recovery zones focused on public wellbeing, worker safety and equity.

Key Features of the Model

Under the SHZ Council Model, participating councils can:

  • Allocate specific areas in natural or public green spaces where minimal or no clothing is permitted during set hours for recovery and rest

  • Select between temporary, rotating or permanent SHZ allocations depending on demographics, known fatigue zones or local readiness

  • Integrate SHZ sites into broader council wellness or sustainability plans

  • Adopt the NRE SHZ Code of Conduct and access management system to ensure lawful, safe and respectful use

  • Conduct optional public consultation if desired, with communication kits provided by NRE

  • Enable simple governance through basic signage, routine staff awareness and local feedback tools

  • Apply safety infrastructure including motion-triggered infrared CCTV (non-intrusive), subtle lighting and perimeter markers to ensure peace of mind without undermining privacy

Why Councils Should Act Now

Local governments already oversee many locations ideally suited to SHZ use. They are the most practical and responsive tier of administration to:

  • Provide low-cost but high-impact interventions for a known occupational risk

  • Address rising community fatigue, particularly around transport hubs, hospital precincts and night economy zones

  • Demonstrate leadership in inclusive health innovation

  • Reduce future costs associated with burnout, fatigue-related incidents and service demands

Legal Considerations

NRE provides:

  • Legally compliant access policies based on public decency clarification models

  • Support documents for local land use approvals

  • Sample council motions and policy wording

  • Conflict resolution and exemption pathways

  • Alignment with the NICP Act and related national reform efforts

Councils may choose to define SHZs under discretionary open space use, temporary health zoning, or restorative public infrastructure.

SHZ Implementation Options

Support for Participating Councils

All councils opting into the SHZ Model will receive:

  • A startup kit including signage templates, public explanation materials and legal framing

  • A localised Code of Conduct based on the broader NRE SHZ framework

  • Feedback and de-escalation protocols

  • Community messaging support

  • Optional walkthrough consultation for site identification and setup