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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-12-04 Daily Xml
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Strength for Life Program

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (14:52): My question is directed to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the minister update the council on what the government is doing to strengthen the wellbeing of older South Australians, like the Treasurer and myself?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:52): I thank the honourable member for his question, and hasten to add that there are probably more than just those two honourable members who might fall into that category. I can't exactly remember the data, but I seem to have been made aware that, in terms of workers, you might be regarded as an older worker as early as 50, or even earlier. So let's all celebrate our ageing, whichever side of arbitrary milestones we might sit.

I thank the honourable member for his question and his interest in this area. The Marshall Liberal government is committed to improving the physical and mental health and wellbeing of all South Australians, including older South Australians. This includes expanding the opportunities older South Australians have to stay well and, through regular physical activity, improve the likelihood of them staying fit, avoiding preventable falls and hospital admissions and, importantly, staying connected with their community.

One of the ways the government is doing this is through a substantial increase in the annual funding SA Health provides to COTA SA for its Strength for Life program. Strength for Life is an evidenced-based, accredited fitness program providing an increasing number of older South Australians with the opportunity to exercise regularly, that is safe, personalised, affordable and, importantly, that helps them stay engaged in their local community, thereby reducing social isolation and loneliness.

Strength for Life has been operating in South Australia for 15 years. Each week, it supports 250 instructors to hold more than 400 sessions for some 5,000 older South Australians. While Strength for Life started mostly in mainstream gyms, it has now moved into council community centres and gyms, health services and organisations such as the YMCA.

In the run-up to the 2018 state election, the Marshall Liberal team, recognising the success and importance of the Strength for Life program, promised, if elected, to substantially increase the Strength for Life funding. The Marshall Liberal government honoured that commitment in its first budget by providing $100,000 a year for four years for the Strength for Life program. Our investment more than doubled SA Health's annual funding for the program.

COTA is using the additional money to grow the program, with a specific emphasis on some of our most disadvantaged communities. Funds have been earmarked to improve access for our older Aboriginal population, for older people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, for older people living in regional South Australia and for older people living in economically disadvantaged areas.

Importantly, Strength for Life helps older adults to improve their muscle strength and balance, with the primary aim of helping them to remain physically active and strong, and to help minimise the risk of falls, which of course provides a great benefit to our health system. Last year, more than 22,500 people were admitted to one of our public hospitals following a fall. This is 13 times the number admitted following motor vehicle accidents. More than two-thirds of the people admitted to hospital following a fall (that is, 68 per cent) were over 65 years of age.

For some older people, a serious fall injury robs them of their independence and many never return to independent living following such an event. So anything Strength for Life can do—and, for that matter, anything that each of us can do—to reduce falls has the potential to reduce health service costs, as well as improve the quality of life for older citizens.

Strength for Life, as I mentioned earlier, is much more than just a fitness program. The improved quality of life includes the social opportunities that attending a regular fitness class bring. For many participants, it's the place that new social opportunities start, where a weekly class exercise with strangers quickly becomes a regular catch-up with friends and an important springboard to wider community connectedness outside of the classes themselves.

COTA SA has recently refreshed the look and branding of the Strength for Life program. At a recent launch, which I was delighted to attend, some long-term Strength for Life participants spoke passionately about the way the program has helped them stay well, helped them regain their strength and wellness after major health episodes, and has provided them with new and enduring friendships. I congratulate Jane Mussared, the CEO of COTA SA, and everyone involved with the Strength for Life program, and look forward to it going from strength to strength in the years ahead.

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