The NSW Seniors Festival 2025 was a vibrant celebration of the senior community across New South Wales, showcasing the talents, vitality, and contributions of older Australians. As one of the largest events of its kind in the state, the festival provided a platform for seniors to engage in a wide range of activities aimed at enriching their lives. From fitness programs and social gatherings to educational seminars and cultural experiences, the festival embraced the theme Time to Shine, fostering an invaluable sense of connection, empowerment, and well-being across the generations.
During the 2025 festival, ActiveStrongerBetter was proud to participate by hosting six workshops designed to support the festival’s mission of promoting seniors’ health and vitality. The Exercise and Healthy Ageing Workshops featured exercise demonstrations, informative talks from a variety of health professionals, and an opportunity for participants to connect over refreshments and gather exercise and healthy ageing information and resources. Seniors were able to engage with ActiveStrongerBetter fitness leaders and health experts in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
The workshops aimed to inform seniors about the importance of regular exercise, highlight the many factors that contribute to healthy ageing—including emotional, physical, and mental health—and provide tangible resources on local organisations and services dedicated to supporting seniors’ well-being.
This article will highlight the key moments from the events ActiveStrongerBetter hosted and attended during the NSW Seniors Festival 2025, sharing stories and pictures that capture the essence of these inspiring and impactful sessions.
For anyone who was unable to attend the workshops in person, the resources provided at the events, and so much more are available on our Outdoors and At Home, where seniors can access the ASB At Home exercise booklets and learn more about other local exercise programs.
Big Thanks
A big thank you to everyone who made the ActiveStrongerBetter workshops at the NSW Seniors Festival 2025 such a success! We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to our incredible fitness leaders, health professionals, and all the local organisations that supported the workshops. Your expertise, dedication, and passion for improving the lives of seniors have had a lasting impact on our community.
We also want to thank the participants for your enthusiasm, energy, and commitment to staying active and healthy. Your engagement and feedback made these workshops truly special.
The Events and Programs
As part of ActiveStrongerBetter’s involvement in the NSW Seniors Festival 2025, a series of Exercise and Healthy Ageing workshops were hosted across multiple locations, in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, and Cessnock. One workshop planned for Dungog as part of NeighborCare Golden Gatherings was postponed due to weather and will be held on April 15th.
A total of around 70 seniors attended across the five events, demonstrating the strong interest in maintaining health and well-being in later life.
These workshops provided a perfect mix of practical exercise demonstrations, informative talks from health professionals, and opportunities for social connection. Each event was designed to encourage active participation, promote healthy ageing, and offer seniors the chance to engage with a range of experts who could help guide their journey towards better health.
The ASB team also attended a number of Seniors Festival events with our partners such as Seniors Day at the Hunter Multicultural Communities, The Seniors Expo with Newcastle Council and Seniors Festival Day in Gillieston Heights with NovaCare. It was such a pleasure to connect with partnering organisations, connect with new people and spread the ActiveStrongerBetter message and program with more people.
ASB’s Exercise and Healthy Ageing Workshops
Fitness Leaders and Demonstrations
At each workshop, two of our ActiveStrongerBetter Leaders delivered engaging, accessible demonstrations, showcasing the type of group exercise classes that are available through ActiveStrongerBetter.
The demonstrations focused on key exercises designed to improve strength, flexibility, balance, and mobility—important components of maintaining independence and functional ability as we age. For many participants, the exercise demonstration was the highlight of the session. Not only did it get their bodies moving, but it also brought smiles to everyone’s faces and encouraged them to think about how they can continue incorporating movement into their daily routines.
The ActiveStrongerBetter fitness leaders also provided valuable tips on how to stay active and independent, even outside of group classes, offering the audience examples of exercises they can do at home or in their local community.
Health Professional Talks
A central element of these workshops was the involvement of health and aged care professionals. At each event, we invited two experts to deliver talks and answer questions on a variety of topics relevant to seniors’ health. Over the five workshops, the professionals represented physiotherapy, exercise physiology, podiatry, aged care service providers, social work, members of the HMRI Healthy Minds team, and osteoporosis nurses.
The topics covered:
- fall prevention strategies
- pain management with movement
- foot health
- mental well-being and dealing with grief.
Experts also discussed important functional movements that seniors should strive to do each day, such as proper posture, safe lifting techniques, and stretching exercises. These talks were designed to give participants practical advice and knowledge they could incorporate into their daily lives to maintain and improve their health.
The sessions were interactive, allowing attendees to ask questions and receive personalised feedback from the professionals. Many participants took advantage of the opportunity to connect with these experts after the talks, seeking advice on specific concerns or health issues they were experiencing. This element of the workshop allowed for valuable one-on-one interactions and further tailored support for those in attendance.
Available Resources
In addition to the workshop content, the ActiveStrongerBetter Program team provided a number of useful resources for participants. At each event, a resource display featured information about local health activities and programs, as well as key health and exercise resources. This included details on local initiatives such as the Heart Foundation Walking Groups, Ecofit, Active and Healthy, and the ActiveStrongerBetter local timetables.
We also showcased our At Home Exercise Booklets , which feature exercises designed for seniors to do in the comfort of their own homes. These booklets, created with input from ActiveStrongerBetter participants, provide easy-to-follow routines that focus on strength, mobility, and balance—essentials for maintaining health and independence as we age.
For anyone unable to attend the workshops in person, the resources provided at the events, and so much more are available on our Outdoors and At Home, where seniors can access the exercise booklets and learn more about other local exercise programs.
Connections and Community Building
One of the key goals of our workshops was to foster connections between participants, health professionals, and the ActiveStrongerBetter team. To achieve this, we included time at the end of each session for participants to relax, enjoy refreshments, and chat informally with one another. This social time helped build a sense of community and encouraged seniors to connect with others who share similar interests and health goals.
The casual setting allowed participants to mingle, ask follow-up questions to the health and fitness professionals, and build relationships with fellow attendees.
Happy Snaps
The Importance of Continuing Initiatives for Seniors’ Health and Well-Being
It’s clear that the NSW Seniors Festival 2025 provided an essential platform for fostering both physical and emotional well-being among seniors. Initiatives like these are crucial in supporting healthy ageing, improving the quality of life for seniors, and providing opportunities for personal growth and community involvement.
As we look toward the future, it is vital to continue offering such opportunities for older Australians. The importance of staying active, both physically and socially, cannot be overstated, particularly as our population continues to age.
The NSW Seniors Festival 2025 was a busy and festive two weeks, with ActiveStrongerBetter Exercise and Health Ageing workshops aiming to enhance the lives of seniors across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, and Cessnock. Through a series of engaging workshops, we were able to provide seniors with valuable insights into staying active, maintaining physical health, and fostering social connections. By offering practical demonstrations, expert talks, and opportunities for community building, we aimed to contribute to creating a supportive, informed, and empowered environment for seniors.
Get Involved!
We encourage all seniors who participated in the NSW Seniors Festival 2025 and those who may have missed the event to continue their journey towards healthy ageing by getting involved with ActiveStrongerBetter. Our workshops, classes, and resources are designed to support seniors in maintaining an active lifestyle and improving their overall health.
If you are interested in joining future events, staying updated on our latest workshops, or becoming part of the ActiveStrongerBetter community, please visit our website, send us an email (asb@novacare.org.au), give us a call on 49402497 or find us on Facebook here.