For many older people in rural Australia, staying connected, physically active, and mentally sharp can be challenging. Long distances, fewer services, and workforce shortages mean that ageing in the bush can feel isolating, and the risk of preventable decline often goes unnoticed until it is too late.
In response, the Wellness 2 Age program was developed as a community-based initiative that takes a proactive approach to healthy ageing. Designed and piloted in regional New South Wales, the program integrates physical activity, brain health, and social connection into a single, engaging 10-week experience for older adults.
What sets the program apart is its local delivery, evidence-informed approach, and design tailored specifically to rural communities.
A Local Start, with Big Impact
The program began in Albury at Charles Sturt University, where older adults were directly engaged to identify what mattered most to them. “I just want to stay independent,” shared Brian. Elizabeth explained, “I don’t want to be a burden on anyone.”
These early insights shaped the program’s goal: to support older people in staying strong, thinking clearly, and feeling socially connected while living at home for as long as possible.
Pilot results were encouraging. Participants reported increased confidence physically, mentally, and socially. For many, the program prompted reflection on daily routines and sparked renewed interest in connecting with others. Tom remarked, “It’s boosted my confidence about being more social,” while Jan added, the program “Made me think about how I do things at home.”
Taking It Rural
With support from the HCF Foundation, the program expanded to test its effectiveness in real-world rural settings. Partnerships were established with three rural health services: a public outpatient team, a private allied health practice, and a community-based aged care provider.
Each service delivered the program with some variation; some were led by experienced allied health professionals, while others were facilitated by aged care staff, supported remotely by allied health professionals, but the outcomes were consistently positive. Participants across all sites reported improvements in mobility, memory, and mood. Just as importantly, many did not want the program to end.
“Especially when they said they didn’t want it to stop,” said Jackie, an aged care worker who facilitated the sessions, “it made us feel good that we’d made a difference in their life.”
Training Rural Workforces
To address rural workforce shortages, the program was designed as an allied health professional-led initiative with an alternative delivery model allowing aged care workers to implement the program with remote support from allied health professionals. This flexible, online training approach enables organisations without onsite allied health staff to deliver the program, offering a sustainable solution to rural workforce challenges.
“The training was really clear and easy to follow,” noted Sam, a health professional. “The videos and handouts helped us feel confident to run the sessions, even if we hadn’t done something like this before,” added Ash, an aged care worker.
Supporting Ageing in Place
At its core, Wellness 2 Age supports older people in doing what matters most: getting out of the house, spending time with friends, engaging in community life, and staying safe and independent at home.
Alice reflected, “My self-esteem was enhanced because I [previously] spent a lot of time alone. I’d stop and think about everything that I do to be safe. I haven’t had to think about myself so much since doing the program, and [now] I’ve enjoyed going out and visiting people and that, which is something I hadn’t done for a long time.”
Programs like Wellness 2 Age demonstrate the value of place-based, evidence-informed approaches that address the realities of ageing in rural communities. With the right policy settings, such programs can be scaled and sustained, ensuring that older people, regardless of where they live, have access to meaningful opportunities to stay active, connected, and independent.
Find out more at: https://wellness2age.csu.edu.au
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