ENJOY

Active ageing in the outdoors for older people: working together for a healthier world

Creating inclusive and accessible outdoor environments that encourage and provide opportunities for older adults to engage in physical activity and social interaction is important for healthy ageing.

The National Ageing Research Institute in partnership with several local governments, government bodies and stakeholders have been working together to create age-friendly outdoor spaces for older people to engage in physical and social activities for healthier and liveable cities and communities in Victoria.

The design of outdoor public spaces, including parks, leisure spaces and outdoor exercise equipment should be inclusive of all ages and abilities. We have provided some practical recommendations and suggestions for the design of age friendly outdoor spaces.

Further insights and strategies for creating inclusive, age-friendly multigenerational recreational spaces, including key design features, safety, and usability considerations, are also available here. Additionally, you can read more about Australia’s first dedicated outdoor rehabilitation space in a hospital setting.

For further details please contact the project leader Professor Pazit Levinger.

ENJOY champion training – Train the trainer

Train the trainer is a five-week training program, held twice a week, run by qualified staff from NARI and aimed at volunteers and community members.

ENJOY Champions are trained to lead community members to participate in physical activity programs using the outdoor Seniors Exercise Park at their local area.

Specifically, ENJOY Champions are trained to:

Instruct and guide others in how to use the exercise equipment safely
Provide general guidance about how to perform the exercise
Support and encourage others to be physically active.

The Train the trainer program enhances individual capabilities and also strengthens community bonds by creating knowledgeable advocates who drive participation and engagement in healthy activities. Training local champions builds a network of informed leaders who can sustain and grow community-based physical activity initiatives, as shown in our recent publication.

Watch the video to hear more from our trained Champions.

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Pinyi Zou

Pinyi is a Research Assistant with a Bachelor of Biomedicine from the University of Melbourne, majoring in Human Structure and Function. She is interested in healthy ageing, dementia research, and culturally inclusive healthcare, with experience in healthcare administration, volunteering, and participant support.
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