Barwon Health - Healthy Communities

Healthy Communities - Active Living

What is active living?

Active living is a way of life that integrates physical activity into daily routines. This can be achieved in many different ways. It’s easy to be active! The Healthy Communities team works to improve Active Living in our region in these areas:

AL 3

Active travel

Active travel is a mode of transport which involves physical activity such as walking or riding a bike to get from one destination to another. Active Travel is all about leaving the car at home when travelling to and from the places we live, work, learn, visit and play.

Incidental activity

Incidental activity is any form of movement that you do throughout the day, resulting in an increased level of daily activity. This form of activity doesn’t happen at the gym but instead relies on your daily choices. For example, walking up the stairs instead of taking the lift.

Why is it important?

Moving more doesn’t only benefit our physical fitness and reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer; moving more also protects and improves our mental wellbeing. Active people are healthier people. That’s why the Healthy Communities team want to see more people moving!

AL facts and figures

What are we doing?

The Healthy Communities team work to support active lifestyles with projects aimed at all stages of life. These actions align with the G21 Healthier Eating and Active Living Regional Plan.

Active travel

The Achievement Program supports workplaces in our region by promoting more active transport options for employees travelling to and from work. Read more about the Workplace Achievement Program here.

Incidental activity

The Healthy Communities team are currently working with other organisations across our region to increase the availability and usage of open spaces such as parks.

Incidental activity is the exercise we get during daily activities which can be done in bite-sized chunks that may improve physical fitness. It is one of the easiest things we can do to begin to increase our activity levels.

Why do Physical Activity?

Why do PA 2

Barwon Health is working to increase incidental activity with older adults

Why older adults

The recommended minimum amount of physical activity for adults in Australia is 30 minutes per day. Increasing incidental activity is an easy way to meet this requirement.