Case Study: Live Life, Get Active program

Snapshot

Fraser Coast residents are fitter and happier thanks to the Live Life, Get Active program held in the region.

The Fraser Coast is one of 70 locations across Australia participating in the Live Life Get Active program, developed by Olympian Jane Flemming as co-founder of the Live Life Get Active.

Fraser Coast Regional Council is the delivery partner of the Live Life, Get Active program and hosts the free physical fitness and health program primarily designed to address obesity, while also bringing together participants to meet new people and enjoy the outdoors together.

The classes are led by local personal trainers and yoga instructors which ensures the program not only benefits people wanting to get active but also the local economy.

The program is a reminder of the benefits of physical activity to increase energy, elevate wellbeing and reduce the risk of conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes or heart disease.

Background

Live Life Get Active has been operating on the Fraser Coast since 2018. In 2021, Fraser Coast Regional Council in partnership with Live Life Get Active, gained an $80,000 grant (that added to a $20,000 in-kind contribution from Live Life Get Active) from the Queensland Government through Health and Wellbeing Queensland together with the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport to fund the program. Examples of previous regional Live Life, Get Active activities include Seafront Oval camps featuring Active Yoga, Active X Training and the following:

At the Torquay Camp (October 2019 to February 2020), 541 people participated, 59% of participants reached their goals and the total weight and waist loss (all terms) stands at 538kg and 592cm.
At the Maryborough Camp (May 2019 to October 2019), 332 people participated, 55% of the camp reached their achievements with and the total weight and waist loss (all terms) stands at 197kg and 343cm.

The program fosters social inclusion, increased opportunities for disadvantaged residents and encourages people outdoors.

Project implementation

The Fraser Coast is one of 70 locations across Australia participating in the Live Life, Get Active program, developed by Olympian Jane Flemming as co-founder of the Live Life Get Active.

This locally implemented program is a collaborative approach focused on healthy eating and physical activity and aims to contribute to achieving to reducing the region’s obesity rates.

Participants are encouraged to join the Live Life, Get Active program and receive weekly newsletters, recipes, blogs and a weekly planner for online activities. Regular interactive live workshops are held on topics such as improvement health for nutrition, sleep, anxiety, and mental, social and physical wellbeing. Sessions include yoga, tai chi, meditation, Pilates, shadow boxing and cross training.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

The Live Life, Get Active program was monitored and evaluated through participants being asked to update statistics of their weight and other health and wellbeing measurements such as, stress and mood. Testimonials were also sought from members to capture their feedback from participation in the program and the benefits they experienced to mental health and physical wellbeing. Their feedback was captured directly via email submissions and indirectly via comments on social media. Program organisers continuously monitor their approach and adapt it in response to feedback and new learning from engagement with participants. Data was also monitored on socio-economic status of participants.

Funding and resources

With the support of the Queensland Government under the ActiveKIT program, Fraser Coast Regional Council is delivering the Live Life, Get Active program.

Council, in partnership with Live Life Get Active, gained funding from the Queensland Government through Health and Wellbeing under ActiveKIT, together with the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport to fund the program.

Key insights

The Live Life, Get Active program implemented by the Fraser Coast Regional Council has to date attracted 202 members and 44 participants, identifying as seniors aged 65 years and over, and from the Bauple, Burrum Heads and Granville areas of the region.

Overall, testimonials and feedback from participants reported satisfaction and positive experiences, such as, connecting with new friends, their community and improvements to mental and physical health.

Of the feedback received from participants, there was:

10% improvement in the pre-diabetic risk
13% improvement in the obesity risk
3% improvement in the levels of anxiety and depression.

Data was evaluated through participants being asked to update statistics of their weight and other health and wellbeing measurements such as, stress and mood.

Next steps

The current target group of the locally implemented Fraser Coast Regional Council’s Live Life, Get Active is seniors, aged 65 and over. Program organisers of Live Life, Get Active will continue to work with Council to identify local community activities and direct enquiries from the public to the Council. The program also aims to target people living in the Bauple, Burrum Heads and Granville areas of the Fraser Coast region who are experiencing socio-economic disadvantage. Another ambition of the program is to achieve 30 participants per session and up to 1,000 members per camp. At the conclusion of each camp, participants were re-directed to the in the Live Life Get Active program online support which includes resource libraries, live sessions and new videos each week. Regular interactive live workshops are held on topics such as improved health for nutrition, sleep, anxiety, and mental, social and physical wellbeing. Sessions include yoga, tai chi, meditation, Pilates, shadow boxing and cross training.

Visit Live Life, Get Active