For Health Practitioners
We’re partnering with healthcare providers to help older Australians aged 50+ experience the life-changing benefits of strength training through Strength for Life programs.
This page provides medical and allied health practitioners with key information about Strength for Life and direct access to referral forms.
Supervised strength training has been shown to improve balance, walking endurance, and overall fitness in older people. It is also effective in managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, osteoarthritis, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and depression, helping participants stay active, independent, and engaged in their communities.
On This Page:
Types of programs
Strength for Life Stay Strong is offered in a two-tiered approach: Tier 1 and Tier 2.
This enables participants to be referred to the program and receive alternative levels of specialised support when their health needs change, if they become injured or return from an extended break from regular strength training.
Also available are Easy Moves and Better Balance, gentle and introductory tailored programs to get particpants moving and keep them moving.
Download Strength for Life program flyers:
Tier 1
Delivered by exercise physiologists or physiotherapists with potential to involve these programs as part of enhanced primary care packages.
Tier 2
Delivered by fitness instructors with referrals to these programs for ongoing management of chronic conditions such as diabetes or arthritis, or to promote general health and wellbeing.
Easy Moves
Delivered by fitness instructors, a gentle exercise program where particpants are guided through suitable seated or standing exercises that match what their body can do.
Better Balance
Delivered by fitness instructors, an entry level, exercise program aimed at helping particpants to feel steadier on their feet and reduce their risk of falls.
Safety first
The safety of people enjoying Strength for Life sessions is our main priority and underpins our entire process and program delivery.
Starting with an extensive pre-exercise screening process and facilitating referrals directly from health and medical professionals.
This process has been developed in conjunction with the Centre for Physical Activity in Ageing (CPAA), Hampstead Centre and ensures both efficient entry into the program and effective screening of ‘at risk’ clients.
Download referral form
Accredited instructors
Trained and prepared for older clientele.
The majority of Strength for Life instructors have completed training in the Better Balance Falls Prevention module, so it is appropriate to refer clients who are at risk of falls or have had one or more falls, to either category.
The Strength for Life partners are included in the Statewide Falls Prevention Directory as an ongoing option to encourage continuation of exercise following therapy or rehabilitation.
