HEAL – funded healthy lifestyle program for your patients in South Western Sydney
29 May 2025
HEAL is an evidence-based lifestyle program which helps patients with or at risk of chronic disease to improve their health through group education and exercise. This page outlines eligibility, program structure and how to connect with South Western Sydney-based HEAL facilitators.
Key points:
- eight-week group program for eligible adults
- supports patients at risk of type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease
- delivered by accredited physiotherapists and exercise physiologists
- includes education, supervised exercise, and individual goal-setting
- fully subsidised by select facilitators throughout South Western Sydney
- facilitators may reach out to your practice about referrals
About HEAL
The Healthy Eating Active Lifestyle (HEAL) program is an evidence-based lifestyle program which helps adults make long-term changes to their health. It supports participants to eat better, move more and feel more confident managing their wellbeing.
HEAL is especially helpful for patients at risk of cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes. Your patients will be empowered to improve their nutrition knowledge and reduce sedentary time.
A national program with a local twist
HEAL is owned by SWSPHN. The program was originally developed more than 25 years ago as a local preventative health initiative and has been reviewed and updated in the years since, going national in 2009 through the National Partnership Agreement on Preventative Health program, funded by the Australian Government under the Healthy Communities Initiative.
In 2025, successful recipients of SWSPHN’s Multi-disciplinary Team Care HEAL grant funding (MTC HEAL) began delivering the program throughout South Western Sydney at no cost to participants. SWSPHN funds this prevention service to support multidisciplinary care and strengthen collaboration with general practice and allied health to reduce avoidable hospitalisations. Grant recipients consist of local, accredited exercise physiologists and physiotherapists. When a GP provides a referral to an allied health that allied health / specialist will report to the GP on patient progress.
A South Western Sydney-based MTC-HEAL-funded facilitator may contact your practice about the program.
What HEAL participants can expect
HEAL runs for eight weeks and includes:
- weekly two-hour group sessions
- one hour of lifestyle education
- one hour of supervised exercise
- one-on-one consultations at the start and end of the program including
- fitness checks
- goal setting
- personalised exercise plans
- follow-up reviews at five and 12 months
MTC-HEAL-funded facilitators will encourage HEAL participants to check in regularly with their GP to support coordinated care and maintain motivation.
How participants benefit from HEAL
Through HEAL, your patients can:
- learn how healthy eating and regular movement supports long-term wellbeing
- become more active with guidance from trained facilitators
- gain confidence in managing their health
- access practical tools and tips to use every day
- connect with others and stay motivated in a supportive group setting
Who is eligible?
HEAL is suitable for adults who:
- have, or are at risk of, cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes
- want to improve their overall health through better nutrition and regular physical activity
Please note contraindications include patients with acute or unstable chronic conditions which may be aggravated by light to moderate exercise (Borg CR10 scale: Rate of Perceived Exertion ≤ 4).
Please contact alliedhealth@swsphn.com.au to find your closest facilitator if you have a patient in mind.