The number of families living in high density neighbourhoods is rapidly increasing in almost every capital city in Australia, particularly in Sydney were almost 30% of high rise buildings are now occupied by families with children. Australia is lagging behind international best practice, with a lack of guidelines and regulations to ensure that the well-being of children and their families living in these neighbourhoods are met and regulated. This project will investigate best practice in designing new vertical communities for families. Research will focus on the applicability of design guidelines and social policies from around the world and document these outcomes for application in Australian cities. Keywords: high-density, families, neighbourhood, built environment, design, child-friendly, policy, architect, council, play, standards, liveability