What is the Wellness 2 Age program?
Wellness 2 Age is an innovative, pre-packaged program that enhances:
- Physical activity to improve strength and balance
- Cognitive challenges to support brain health
- Social interaction to enhance connection and wellbeing
This is achieved through meaningful, person-centred activities. It equips older adults with strategies to maintain confidence in daily life, supporting independence and engagement in their communities. With its focus on real-world translation, Wellness 2 Age delivers sustainable outcomes for older people.
Why this program matters?
Australia’s ageing population presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Within 50 years, nearly one in four Australians will be over 65, with the greatest impact felt in rural and regional areas.
Supporting people to live well and independently not only reflects the preferences of older Australians but also reduces demand for acute care and delays entry into high support residential aged care.
Research is clear that physical activity, cognitive stimulation, social connection, and a sense of purpose are all essential to maintaining health and wellbeing in later life.
Without scalable, evidence-based solutions that empower staff and engage older people meaningfully, the system risks becoming reactive rather than proactive, struggling to keep pace with demographic change.
Designed for delivery in community and aged care settings, the program supports healthy ageing while responding to growing demand for sustainable, preventative services, particularly in rural and regional communities.
Who is this for?
Older adults
Supporting people aged 60+ to maintain independence, confidence, and quality of life within the community.
Participants do not need a specific diagnosis to participate in Wellness 2 Age. The program is designed to support older people with a broad range of goals related to mobility, cognition, confidence, social connection, and everyday functioning.
Health professionals and workforce staff
Providing a structured, evidence-based program that can be delivered across a range of community and aged care settings.
Wellness 2 Age has successfully trained:
- Allied health professionals
- Allied health assistants
- Aged care support workers
- Health promotion and community wellbeing staff
All programs are delivered with allied health oversight to support program quality and participant safety.
Organisations and services
Enabling community health, aged care, and regional providers to implement a scalable healthy ageing program that supports preventative care, healthy ageing, and independence at home.
What makes Wellness 2 Age different?
Support older people in your community to stay independent, active, and connected.
Who developed the Wellness 2 Age program?
The Wellness 2 Age program was developed in Australia by Associate Professor Kristy Robson, a podiatrist, and Associate Professor Melissa Nott, an occupational therapist. Both are registered allied health professionals from Charles Sturt, with a shared passion for supporting older people to live well, remain connected, and enjoy the best possible quality of life.
The Wellness 2 Age program has been found to be effective in increasing social confidence, memory, and physical function. Here’s some of the feedback received from program participants.
“I would go to bed crying, and I’d wake up crying. Now, I go to bed with peace, and I wake up with a smile. Now [the program], it’s just giving me hope.” Dawn (Older person)
“I was too scared going shopping, going out. I’m going to fall. Where now [after the program], I know how to walk, what to do, don’t be distracted. I breeze through, and I’m so much happier in myself.”
Jane (Older person)
“With the program, mentally, it’s been fantastic for me. That’s the part that’s helped me the most, and the socialising and that’s all helped me greatly.”
Bill (Older person)