HEAL – eight-week health and wellbeing program for people at risk of a chronic health condition
29 May 2025
The Healthy Eating Active Lifestyle (HEAL) program helps adults make small changes to feel better and stay healthy. If you’re at risk of heart disease or type 2 diabetes, this eight-week program can help you eat well, move more and gain confidence in managing your health. This page explains what the program includes and how to get started.
Key points
- free for a limited time for eligible adults in South Western Sydney
- runs for eight weeks with weekly group sessions
- learn about healthy eating and do gentle exercise
- talk to your doctor to join
HEAL helps adults make long-term improvements to their health. It supports people to eat better, move more and feel more confident managing their health.
It’s designed for people at risk of getting long-term health problems like diabetes and heart disease.
HEAL is a national program, owned by SWSPHN, which has been running for more than 25 years. SWSPHN is currently funding a limited number of local, accredited physiotherapists and exercise physiologists to deliver HEAL at no cost to the South Western Sydney community with support from their GP.
What is included in HEAL
The program runs for eight weeks. Each week, you will attend a two-hour group session which includes:
- one hour of health and lifestyle education
- one hour of supervised exercise
You’ll also have one-on-one sessions at the start and end of the program to:
- check your fitness
- help you set goals
- create a plan which works for you
The HEAL facilitator will work closely with your GP and encourage you to review your progress with them during the program.
What happens after the eight weeks?
You’ll be contacted after five and 12 months to check your fitness and help you stay on track. Your GP can also check on your progress, give you advice and refer you to other services if needed.
Why you should join HEAL
- free for eligible adults
- friendly group setting with expert advice
- practical tips to eat well and stay active
- goal-setting and ongoing support
- feel stronger, healthier and more confident
- established program with over 25 years of success
Is HEAL right for you?
HEAL is for adults who:
- have or are at risk of developing heart disease and diabetes
- want to feel better by eating well and being more active
How to join
To get started, talk to your GP about joining the HEAL program. They can check if you’re likely to be eligible and help you take the next step.