Information for exercise providers

If you provide an exercise program for older adults, listing it on Active and Healthy is free. It’s a great way to promote your program within your community and beyond.

By listing your programs, you’re letting GPs, health professionals and community members know there are suitable physical activity programs in their area. Our web-based directory is a quick, easy way for people to access program information. It also allows you to easily update information if you make any changes to your program. 

The programs on Active and Healthy are either general physical activity programs or fall prevention programs.

If your program is a fall prevention program, it is important that you register it as a fall prevention program.

To register your program as a fall prevention program, ensure that it meets the eligibility criteria detailed below. Select “Falls Prevention Program” for the question ‘What type of program are you registering?’ when completing the form.

Users can search the directory specifically for fall prevention programs through the filter function. All programs registered as a fall prevention program will have the “FP” symbol next to its listing.

Programs are also categorised by type of exercise. Programs categorised as progressive resistance training must meet additional eligibility criteria, detailed below.

To register your program under the general physical activity category, it must meet the following four criteria.

1. It must be a program within NSW.

2. It must offer the option of non-contact activities, or sports that are modified for older adults.

3. It must cater for people aged 50 years and older.

4. Programs must be run by one of the following leaders:

• Tai Chi Instructor (Accredited)
• Tai Chi Leader
• Qigong Leader
• Nurse
• Physiotherapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Exercise Physiologist
• Fitness Leader – registered cert III, registered cert IV or accredited
• Registered Local Health District Physical Activity Volunteer
• Accredited Yoga Instructor
• Dance Instructor
• Sports Coach
• Volunteer Leader/Trainer (providers may be asked for further information on relevant training or experience).

To register your program under the fall prevention category, it must meet the first three criteria listed above for general physical activity programs and be run by a qualified exercise leader or health professional. It must also meet the additional criteria below to be classified as a fall prevention program. Each listing will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Criteria 1: Provide a challenge to balance

To be listed as a falls prevention program, your program must include exercises that safely include:

• reducing the base of support (e.g., standing with two legs close together, standing with one foot directly in front of the other, standing on one leg);
• moving the centre of gravity and controlling body position while standing (e.g., reaching, transferring body weight from one leg to another, stepping up onto a higher surface); and 
• standing without using the arms for support, or if this is not possible, then aim to reduce reliance on the upper limbs (e.g., hold onto a surface with one hand rather than two, or one finger instead of the whole hand).

You should list the specific balance exercises on your registration form for NSW Ministry of Health review. Include as much detail about the exercises in your class to support your request to be listed as a falls prevention program. 

• Strength training can be included in addition to balance training. 
• Walking training can be included in addition to balance training, but high risk individuals should not be prescribed brisk walking programs.
• Tai Chi registrations are automatically accepted.

Criteria 2: Class time

At least 40% of class time should be spent on balance challenging exercises.

The inclusion criteria for falls prevention programs were established in consultation with NSW falls prevention experts. These were last updated September 2024.

All inclusion decisions will be at the discretion of NSW Ministry of Health. Please note that NSW Ministry of Health reserves the right to amend these inclusion criteria at any time without notice.

Workshops provide continuing professional development and learning opportunities for general practitioners, other medical doctors, practice nurses, occupational therapists and other interested allied health professionals.

Find a falls prevention workshop for health professionals designed to prevent falls in older people.

Progressive resistance training may also be referred to as strength training, resistance training, or weight-lifting.

To register your program under the progressive resistance training category, it must first meet the criteria listed under the general physical activity category. It must also meet additional criteria below. Each listing will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Program owners must outline the details of the exercises included in the program. These programs must be individualised and meet the following criteria:

1. Exercises must be specifically designed to improve muscle strength and include isometric, dynamic, or isokinetic muscle contractions.
2. Exercises must require muscle groups to overcome an uncustomary load/force, which results in positive adaptations in muscle structure and function.
3. Individual baseline and follow-up strength of each muscle group must be assessed.
4. The program must demonstrate means of progressing load and tracking individual changes in load/strength.
5. The program must include a minimum of 2 training sessions a week for each participant.
6. Each session must last a minimum of 30 minutes.

You should demonstrate how your program meets the above criteria on your registration form under the section ‘Categories’.

Please note: Body weight only programs or programs using “bands” do not meet the definition of Progressive resistance training unless they can demonstrate the use of resistances that are uncustomary, moderate-to-high relative intensity, and are progressive in terms of load prescribed.

Find out more about exercise prescription for frailty from the NSW Health Agency for Clinical Innovation. 

Follow these steps to add a program.

1. Log in to your account. If you’re not registered as an exercise program provider, you’ll need to register here first.
2. Click on “Add a New Program” which is under My Programs.
3. Fill out the program details. Please ensure you have met the exercise program inclusion criteria described above.
4. Click “save” at the bottom of the page. This will save your program in Draft Programs, where you can keep it until it’s ready for submission.
5. Once your program is in Draft Programs, you can click on the title to preview the layout of your listing.
6. When you’re ready to submit your program for review, click the “submit” button that appears next to the program name in Draft Programs.
7. Your program will be reviewed by NSW Ministry of Health and if it meets the eligibility criteria it will be listed on Active and Healthy. You may be contacted by email to provide any missing information or clarification.

If you run more than one program, you’ll need to register each one separately.  If your programs are similar (e.g., same program, different locations) you can duplicate the form once completed. You can then edit the new form to modify program details as required.

View an example of how to fill in a program listing form for a face-to-face listing or a virtual listing.

You can easily remove your program from Active and Healthy or update information such as class times, locations, or contact details.

To update a program:

• Log in to your account.
• Go to Online Programs.
• Click on “edit” which appears next to the program name.
• Update your program details.
• Click “save” at the bottom of the page.

 To remove a program:

• Log in to your program details.
• Go to Online Programs.
• Click on “offline” next to the program name if you plan to reactivate the program later.
• If you wish to completely remove the program from your account, click on “delete” next to the program name.

Exercise programs on Active and Healthy are either general physical activity programs or fall prevention programs. A general physical activity program is a program that can help you get active, which is run by a qualified leader and suitable for those 50 years and over. A fall prevention program is an evidence-based program that aims to reduce the risk of falls through strength, balance and flexibility exercises and can include an education component. All fall prevention programs have the “FP” symbol next to their listing.

To search for an exercise program, type in your location and desired search distance on the Find an Exercise Program page and select “Search Programs”. You can also search for online or phone based programs available across NSW by selecting “View Virtual Programs”. Use the filters at the top of the search to find a specific program that you’re interested in. Find further information on each of the program types.

To help ensure programs on Active and Healthy stay up to date, you will receive an email to remind you to review your program every 9 months. These emails will continue until your program has been reviewed. If it has not been reviewed for 12 months, your program will be taken offline.

If you get a reminder email, follow the steps below:

• Log in to your program details.
• Go to Online Programs.
• Click “edit” which appears next to the program name.
• Check the details are correct and make any necessary changes e.g., to the time, place or contact details of the program.
• Click the tick box above the save button to indicate you have reviewed the program.
• Click “save” at the bottom of the page when you’re finished.

Please make sure you click the tick box before clicking save. This tells our system that you have reviewed your program. 

Follow the steps below if you’ve forgotten your password.

• Go to the log in page.
• Click on “I’ve lost my password”, which is located under the log in button on the log in page.
• You’ll be asked to enter your email address to reset your password.
• Please ensure this is the email address used for your Active and Healthy log in, otherwise you won’t receive an email.

Follow the steps below if you know your old password.

• Log in to your program details.
• Go to My Details.
• Click on “Change My Password”.
• Enter your old password and a new password.
• Click “change password”.

Exercise program providers are not able to update their Active and Healthy account email.

Please email MOH-ActiveAgeing@health.nsw.gov.au if you’re having issues changing your password or issues with your new email address so we can update it for you as soon as possible.

Staying Active and On Your Feet, a NSW Health publication, is a detailed resource for older people. It’s a useful, practical guide for anyone over the age of 50, containing:

• safety checklists
• home exercises
• other helpful falls prevention information.

People who live in NSW can order the English version of the booklet for free. If you live outside NSW, you can download a PDF of the booklet and have it printed. The booklets are also available for download in Arabic, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Greek, Italian, and Vietnamese.

Order your free printed copy of Staying Active and on your Feet.

Download a printable PDF of this document.

If you would like to promote the Active and Healthy resources to older adults you can download our Healthy Ageing trifold brochure:

• Healthy Ageing trifold brochure PDF
• Healthy Ageing trifold brochure print-ready PDF