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.

Consultancy

With increasing population ageing, outdoor recreational spaces provide an opportunity to improve health and well-being outcomes for older people.

Our team can work with you to create inclusive, age-friendly outdoor spaces that promote physical activity and social connection for older adults, fostering healthier communities.

What we offer - our consultation and training services

Our consultation and training services are designed to enhance recreational outdoor spaces and ensure they are optimised for older adults.

We offer a range of expert consultancy and training services to support the creation, evaluation and activation of age-friendly outdoor environments:

Strategic Planning: We assist communities and organisations in developing long-term strategies for creating and maintaining age-friendly environments that support healthy, active lifestyles.
Designing Recreational Spaces: We provide expert guidance on how to design and improve outdoor recreational spaces to meet the needs of older adults, ensuring they are accessible, safe and engaging.
Access and Usage Evaluation: We assess how older adults interact with and use outdoor recreational spaces, providing detailed evaluations with recommendations to promote use, physical activity and socialisation.
Community Feedback Collection: Using a variety of methodologies — including intercept surveys and bespoke questionnaires — we collect and analyse community and stakeholder feedback to guide development and support usage of outdoor recreational spaces.
Community Engagement and Activation of Outdoor Spaces: We assist in activating outdoor spaces through the delivery of programs, initiatives and events that encourage older people’s participation and engagement.
Training: We offer training for community members and allied health professionals to support the safe, effective and sustained use of Seniors Exercise Parks.
Tailored Workshops: We offer targeted training for stakeholder organisations to upskill staff, increasing their knowledge and understanding of how outdoor spaces can be designed to best meet the particular physical and social needs of older people.

About Us

Our team specializes in community research and evaluation, with a focus on age-friendly design for outdoor recreational spaces. Our expertise lies in understanding the factors that influence older people’s access to and engagement in incidental and planned outdoor physical activity.

Our multidisciplinary team combines research expertise, practical clinical knowledge, strategic project management, and collaborative partnership experience to create environments that support active, healthy aging and enhance older people’s quality of life.
Details of our scientific research evidence and projects are available on the ENJOY website.

Contact ENJOY about your consultancy needs.

Latest

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