Nominated by a participant, City of Yarra’s program demonstrates a commitment to inclusiveness and a range of strategies that make programs affordable, engage culturally and linguistically diverse groups and facilitate ongoing up-skilling of their instructors.

City of Yarra has employed a Community Development Officer to undertake outreach to groups under-represented in its physical activity programs. As a result, opportunities have been created for Timorese, Vietnamese and Chinese groups, and programs have also been developed for an Italian group and residents of public housing estates off site. Some participants from these groups have now so increased in confidence that they participate in 'mainstream'sessions and social activities. The program is sustainable because of high levels of participation - in excess of 200 across more than 15 sessions each week - so even though concession rate holders can participate for $2.80, the programs is sustainable and covers its costs.

Ballarat Community Health Living Longer Living Stronger™: Rural or Regional Program

Ballarat Community Health’s (BCH’s) program offers six sessions per week to between 100 – 150 regular participants, who contribute a gold coin donation. Programming and supervision is undertaken by a team comprising an exercise physiologist, physiotherapist and fitness instructors in a highly supportive and encouraging environment.

Strong relationships with local health professionals and efforts to develop referral pathways and feedback processes have helped to achieve and maintain participation levels and assists with motivation and engagement of participants, as does the low cost. Because the program is considered ‘core business’ for BCH means it is sustainable in the long term.

A transition program has been established with the local YMCA to enable participants who are sufficiently confident and willing to move to a fitness centre. The transition is facilitated by YMCA staff establishing relationships with participants while they are still at BCH and providing additional support as necessary for those who make the transition.

BCH specifically targets low socioeconomic areas by offering programs at venues in neighbourhood renewal areas, cater for culturally and linguistically diverse groups and people with disabilities and are developing strategies specifically to engage and support aboriginal people and people with mental health, drug and alcohol problems to be physically active.

Walwa Bush Nursing Centre Power Bar: Encouragement Award

More than 10 percent of Walwa’s population regularly participate in at least some of in the three weekly sessions offered at Walwa Bush Nursing Centre, including local medical professionals - the GP and nursing staff, who therefore ‘practice what they preach’. The timing of the sessions at the end of the work-day and on Saturday mornings allows for the fact that many over 50’s in the area are professionals who could not attend during business hours, but is not so late that it excludes people who prefer not to be out late at night. While it is conducted in a group format participants have individual programs in the sense of their weights being tailored and reviewed regularly. Cost is a gold coin donation and the Centre subsidises the balance of the costs as part of its service plan. The opportunity to relax and socialise after sessions is taken up by most participants. This was considered to be a great example of adapting a program to meet the specific needs of the participants and of role modeling by the relevant health professionals.

Unfortunately Walwa Bush Nursing Centre was not able to attend on the day to accept their award.

Other finalists

Other finalists were Rushworth Community House, Peninsula Health Residential Outreach Support Service, Macleod YMCA Older Adults Support Training, Tatura Absolute Training Studio Living Longer Living Stronger™ program and Broadmeadows Leisure Centre. Congratulations to all finalists.