Senior Fitness Programs Offered Free by Local Council

The Sunshine Coast Council rolled out free senior fitness programs on July 1 at four council venues, with morning sessions focused on balance, strength and walking groups for participants over 65.

These classes arrive as local health data shows one in three Sunshine Coast residents aged 65 or older reports limited mobility, a figure drawn from the council's 2025 community survey. Council budgets allocated $180,000 this financial year to keep the programs at no charge, avoiding the $12 weekly fees charged by some private providers in Maroochydore.

Venues and Weekly Schedule

Classes meet at Mooloolaba Esplanade foreshore park every Tuesday and Thursday at 9am, where groups complete chair-based exercises before a short walk along the boardwalk. Another set runs at the Eumundi Community Hall on Wednesday mornings, drawing residents from nearby hinterland streets who combine the session with produce purchases at the Thursday markets. A third location sits inside Noosa National Park's coastal track trailhead at Sunshine Beach, where instructors lead gentle bushwalking circuits limited to 2 kilometres.

University of the Sunshine Coast researchers supplied the exercise protocols after reviewing 2024 participation records that showed a 22 percent drop in falls among prior attendees. Sessions cap at 25 people and require only a phone call to council recreation services for registration.

How to Join

Residents can register by calling the Sunshine Coast Council contact centre on 1300 007 007 or visiting the customer service desk at 10 First Avenue, Maroochydore, before 4pm on weekdays. Spots fill quickly for the Mooloolaba groups, which reached capacity within four days last month. Participants are advised to bring water and wear supportive shoes, with all equipment supplied on site.