‘Be Active – Find Your WHY’ - Heart Foundation Innovation Challenge
City of Salisbury has been awarded a grant by the Heart Foundation towards the development of a project that encourages communities to improve their health through physical activity.
More than half of Australia’s adult population do not meet the recommended guidelines for daily physical activity, placing those Australians at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease including heart attack and stroke.
To encourage more movement and help improve the heart health of these Australians, the Heart Foundation with support from the Department of Health and Aged Care runs the annual ‘Active Australia Innovation Challenge’ in which schools, universities and community organisations are encouraged to submit innovative new ideas to get more people moving more often to receive grant funding.
We are delighted to announce the City of Salisbury is one of 10 successful applicants nationally with our 'Be Active - Find Your WHY' project for older adults.
Using fillable postcards, the City of Salisbury’s program for older adults looks at increasing motivation and participation in current physical activity programs offered within the community.
The postcards will highlight their reasons for being physically active and bring a plan to life. Community members with greater needs will have the opportunity to work one on one with an exercise physiologist to create their plan.
Click here to read the full Heart Foundation media release.
This initiative will have a trial phase initially and then be rolled out in Spring 2023.
We look forward to bringing this project to life in 2023. In the meantime, please contact our senior centres if you would like to be a bit more active. We have plenty on offer!
For more information about this project, contact Jim on 8406 8251 or email jbinder@salisbury.sa.gov.au
This project has been funded by the Heart Foundation’s Active Australia Innovation Challenge and the Australia Government.
- There's so much on offer for you to 'have a go'. Check out what’s on offer in the resources section below. Many are even free to come and try for the first time!
- The Be Active - Find your Why expo with special guest "Mr South Australia' Keith Conlon held on 5 October 2023 was fantastic! It was great to see so many people trying something new and learning some information. We hope the momentum to ‘move more’ continues.
- We have three new local story postcards to share. Check out Sue, Sian and Nazli’s story. You're encouraged to complete your own 'Be Active - Find your Why' postcards and take one to a friend. Printed copies of the postcards are available for you to pick up from Jack Young Centre or Para Hills Seniors Centre.
- Do you and a friend want to get some motivation to move more? We encourage you to fill out one of the postcard resources on this website. If you want assistance filling them out, contact Jim at the Jack Young Centre on 8406 8521
- The outcomes of this project showed benefit for the community with many becoming inspired to move more or try new things. It's the simple power of finding your WHY.
Follow these steps to help you find your why, move more and be more active.
Step 1: 'Find Your Why' by starting to think about these points.
- What movement do you enjoy? Eg walking outdoors or with others, dancing, cycling, swimming? Internal motivation often comes from a sense of enjoyment or pleasure in the activity itself. If you find yourself looking forward to an activity or feeling a sense of satisfaction after completing it, that may be a sign of internal motivation.
- Listen to your instincts: Internal motivation often comes from an inner desire to achieve a goal or improve oneself. Pay attention to your instincts and inner voice to help identify what drives you.
Step 2: Get inspired by our community champions.
See how local community members are finding their why. Select a postcard below or check out the community stories below for some inspiration.
- Indira & Ambika's walking postcard
- Evelyn's boxing postcard
- Jim's stretching postcard
- Bev's chair dancing postcard
- Bruce's walking postcard
- Sue & her dog's postcard - new
- Nazli's tai-chi postcard - new
- Sian's mopping postcard - new
You can also get hold of one of our ‘Be Active – Find Your Why’ postcards in hard copy at Jack Young Centre or Para Hills Seniors Centre.
See how other local community members are finding their WHY…and use it as inspiration for you.
Step 3: Find out your own motivation and make your own postcard.
Most of us are aware of the reasons for being more physically active, including living a healthier life and being able to maintain function (amongst so many other benefits). The tons of research and evidence is there. Sometimes however we need to dig a bit further to find a more powerful WHY of being more active that resonates and helps to motivate us.
Use the blank half of the postcard to make your own ‘Be Active – Find Your Why’ and then put it somewhere that we remind you regularly of why you should be moving and what activity (or activities) you will do. Remember it is beneficial to move in as many different ways as possible.
Feel like sharing it? Email Jim (jbinder@salisbury.sa.gov.au) with a copy.
Step 4: Take action.
Check out the free come & try activities below, or visit a venue listed below and discover a physical activity that matches your interests.
Check to see if the activity you are interested in is being offered at one of our Seniors Centres, Community Centres or Recreation Centre. If not give Jim a call on 8406 8251 or email him jbinder@salisbury.sa.gov.au for assistance. There are a number of FREE Come & Try activities being run during Spring as well as a Big EXPO in October. Invite a friend to come with you! Nothing helps motivation more than being active it with a friend.
Step 5: Invite a friend to complete their own postcard
One aim of this project is to harness the power of personal invitation. Not only do you have the opportunity to motivate yourself but also to help someone else do the same. You can do this by giving them their own postcard and encouraging them to think about why they would like to move a little more!
You can also support them by inviting them for a walk, getting them joining you at a movement class or letting them know you would be happy to come with them to an activity they would like to try at the level suitable for them.
FREE ‘Have a Go’ sessions for adults over 50
We have plenty on offer at our centres to inspire you to be more active.
Here are a sample of activities. The best news is that it is FREE to come and try for the first time
| Jack Young Centre | Para Hills Seniors Centre | Pine Lakes Centre |
Brain Gym Cycle Salisbury Social Rides Dance for Health Disco with DJ Des Indoor Bowls Prime Movers (chair-based exercise group) Singing and music groups Tai Chi Walking Group (Heart Foundation) | Crafts Easy Does It Indoor Bowls Line Dancing Move & Groove Relaxation Singing and music groups Tai Chi Yoga (chair based) | Social Cultural Groups Bosnian Bhutanese & Indians Italian & Friends Intercultural Southeast Asian (eg Filipinos) Vietnamese Each group includes opportunities for physical activities, social connections and meals |
If you're looking for something more or to find out more about a specific program, contact Jim on 8406 8251 or email Jim at jbinder@salisbury.sa.gov.au
'Be Active - Find Your Why' Wellness Expo
On Thursday 5 October 2023 we held the 'Be Active - Find Your Why' Wellness Expo at the Jack Young Centre. SA Media legend (and Bike SA patron) Keith Conlon joined us as our Special Guest speaker on the day. We hosted several 'Have a Go' sessions which were well attended! For those who want to see these ladies again at JYC - see details below:
Session 1: Jeannette showed us how to warm up - do the full session with Strength for Life on Fridays
Session 2: Contemporary Dance with Veronica on Thursdays
Session 3: Dance for Health with Sue on Thursdays
Session 4: Cheryl showcased a range of activities she teaches on Tuesdays from seated exercise (Prime Movers), Shadow Boxing and the new Drumming session!
Session 5: Bike ride with Keith Conlon and members of Cycle Salisbury.
Session 6: Heart Foundation walk
CLICK HERE to see JYC's full program of activities on offer.
Thanks to those who came along, if you couldn't make it or if you have any questions about the activities and events on offer to help older people move more, contact JYC Reception on 8406 8525.
From free cycling and walking activities, to tai-chi and seated exercises - there's so much to do in the City of Salisbury.
Find out more (including the different venues on offer) here.
Listen to Natalie’s inspirational story of how she transitioned from a wheelchair to riding a bike. Watch the video here.
Here are some extra resources to help you move more.
For more information or to stay connected about this project
Contact Jim Binder, Wellbeing Coordinator City of Salisbury on 8406 8251 or email jbinder@salisbury.sa.gov.au
This project has been funded by the Heart Foundation’s Active Australia Innovation Challenge and the Australian Government.