Health & Wellbeing Blog
Articles to help and inspire you on your fitness journey.
How to Start Exercising When You're Completely Out of Shape
May 2, 2026 · 5 min read
If "just start walking" advice has failed you twice, the problem usually isn't the exercise — it's the lack of structure. Australia has two large, free, beginner-built community programs most adults have never heard of: parkrun and Heart Foundation Walking. Both are scheduled, volunteer-run, and full of walkers. This piece covers where they meet, what they actually cost (nothing), the downsides nobody mentions, and how to pick a first session that fits your week.
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Best Indoor Sports to Try This Winter in Australia
Winter is when most Australians drop their exercise routine — but it is also the best time to discover an indoor sport you have never tried. From the fast-paced rallies of badminton to the social buzz of a dance class, there are plenty of ways to stay active without braving...
Social Prescribing: Why Your GP Might Prescribe a Walk
Australian GPs are turning to an unexpected treatment for loneliness, chronic pain, and low mood: community activities. Social prescribing connects patients with walking groups, Parkrun, sport clubs, and volunteering instead of — or alongside — medication. With one in three Australian adults experiencing loneliness, and the RACGP now calling social...
The awkward, necessary hurdle of making new friends at 60
Making new friends in your sixties isn't as simple as the brochures make it look. New Monash University research shows kinless older Australians face the highest loneliness rates, and the friction of joining a new group keeps a lot of people on the couch. Pickleball courts, walking netball matches and...
Push-Up Challenge and Mental Health — What Research Shows
Every June, tens of thousands of Australians take on the Push-Up Challenge — a 24-day event pairing daily push-up targets with mental health facts. A University of Melbourne study tracking over 42,000 participants found the challenge led to significant reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms, and made participants twice as...
Make Friends in Australia: The 2026 Guide That Works
Making friends in Australia as an adult is harder than it used to be, and the data backs it up. More than two in five young Australians say they feel lonely, and adult life no longer comes with the built-in social infrastructure of school, sport, and shared offices. This guide...
The Matildas Effect — Women’s Football Is Booming
Women’s and girls’ football participation has surged to over 231,000 players across Australia, and the momentum shows no sign of fading. Fuelled by the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and sustained by new beginner-friendly formats, community clubs are scrambling to keep up with demand. This article unpacks what the Matildas...
Active Winter School Holiday Ideas for Kids
Winter school holidays don’t have to mean two weeks of screen time. With the July break running from late June to mid-July across Australian states, parents need a plan to keep kids moving when it’s cold outside. This guide covers indoor and outdoor activities — from rock climbing and heated...
Grip Strength: The 10-Second Health Test You Can Do at Home
A simple squeeze of your hand could reveal more about your long-term health than most blood tests. A 2026 meta-analysis of over 900,000 people found that grip strength asymmetry — a significant difference between your left and right hands — increases all-cause mortality risk by 12 per cent. When combined...
Main Yarra Trail Melbourne: Distance, Sections and Stops
Follow the Main Yarra Trail from Southbank to Westerfolds Park. This guide breaks the 33 km route into four easier sections. Find the best parks, sights, toilets, connecting trails and transport options along the way. Use it to plan a short walk, an out-and-back run or the full ride.
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