Case Studies
COTA Fit for Life

Design Feature

Type of project
Placemaking
State
Northern Territory
Location
Urban
COTA NT advocates for seniors’ rights and wellbeing across all levels of government, within an Australia wide network. COTA NT began in the Northern Territory over fifty years ago and works to address the challenges associated with planning for activities tailored to the needs of older people, aiming to ensure active lifestyles within ageing communities.
Fit for Life – in the Territory
COTA NT believes that everyone should be able to age actively. This is why COTA NT promotes participation in fitness and wellbeing events, such as the Fit for Life program. This low-cost, inclusive program offers people ways to stay healthy, grow strong and to improve their balance, flexibility and coordination in a safe environment tailored to the needs of older people.

The Fit for Life program takes place across the Northern Territory, providing tailored health, wellbeing and fitness sessions that support muscular strength, endurance, general strength and cardiorespiratory health.
The Fit for Life Program offers pilates, seated aerobics, LIIT (Low-intensity interval training) circuit and walking netball programs. All activities are delivered by qualified fitness instructors.

Walking Netball caters to all fitness levels in the Fit for Life program, bringing together a variety of low-intensity cardio, strength, balance, stretching and netball skills over 60-minute sessions. The sessions are designed to improve seniors’ mobility and fitness levels. 
Project team
  • COTA NT
  • Netball NT


Project cost
Unavailable 
Health value
  • The program provides opportunities for people over 50 years of age, enabling active ageing through tailored fitness classes that support a healthy weight, increased mobility, stress alleviation and positive exercise habits.
  • It also facilitates social connection and engagement, which are protective factors for mental health.

Economic value
  • In line with the World Health Organisation Age-Friendly Guidelines, COTA NT’s Fit for Life program is priced at the lowest cost possible to participants: $5 for COTA NT members and $7 for non-members, per session.
  • Creating an older active society also has benefits to the broader community. If residents over the age of 50 are more active and engaged, they may feel more confident about walking to, and utilising, nearby entertainment, shopping and other activities. This contributes to the local economy of the area.

Environmental value
The COTA NT Fit for Life program encourages participants to be active in the natural environment by optimising the use of existing community centres and park spaces for events.
Social value
  • The COTA NT Fit for Life program enables participants to exercise in a group environment. There are many motivational and encouragement benefits to exercising in a group setting, especially for people over 50; these benefits can have a significant and positive impact on social health.
  • Exercising in a group setting builds social connections that may extend beyond COTA NT’s programmed activities.

Use value
  • The Northern Territory has a population of 228,833 people. Of the population, 7.2% are over the age of 65 years, meaning a large proportion of the Territory could benefit from active ageing initiatives and programs to enhance their activity levels and quality of life.
  • The Fit for Life Program offers safe, inclusive, affordable and enjoyable opportunities for older people to engage in physical activity.

References

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