Older adults

While still being classified as active, the people in this life stage are starting to do less activities.

Most of them walk (82%) and do at least one other activity, more likely a sport. Social interaction starts to become important again in this life stage and men trend towards doing another activity as part of a sporting club or association, such as joining a swimming, cycling or running club or group. Households where children have left home, are likely to be more active.

Characteristics

• Motivated to improve their physical health or fitness, have fun and engage socially
• Participate in both sport and physical activity
• Regularly look after grandchildren
• Participate via sporting clubs or associations (mostly men).

This group are more likely to participate in sports as long as it meets their social connectedness needs.

At this life stage the insufficiently active cohort drops below two activities for the first time.

Looking after grandchildren and doing house/garden work starts to substitute for an activity.

Characteristics

• Strong resistance to committing to set times and a routine
• Want to be able to change plans without guilt
• Feel embarrassed by exercising in public (mostly women)
• Sometimes find gyms and clubs intimidating
• Regularly look after grandchildren
• Believe physical activity around the house and garden is exercise, even if you are not puffing and sweating.

A socially/community connected sport experience that isn’t intimidating, can be appealing for this group.

Inactive populations are not playing sport or staying physically active. Their interest in getting more active is low or they often identify significant barriers to getting active.

In this life stage, inactivity is significantly more common for people of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin and people with disability.

Characteristics

• Often have health related reasons to not participate
• Feel embarrassed by exercising in public (mostly women)
• Find gyms and clubs intimidating
• Say they are inactive due to lack of time and other commitments.

The over 65s continue the trend of less variety in their chosen activities, but they are doing these activities more often than their younger counterparts.

In fact, at an average of 9.6 sessions per week, the active over 65s are active more often than any other adult life stage. Taking up a sport as well as walking and other physical activity is critical to this group.

Characteristics

• Likely to participate in both sport and physical activity
• Motivated to improve physical health or fitness, have fun and engage socially
• More likely to participate via sporting clubs and associations (mostly men).

Sports can keep this life stage engaged by offering social connection as a key part of the offering.

While not active enough to meet the guidelines for their age, this group is active more often than insufficiently active groups at other life stages.

They engage in less activities and they are more likely to participate in non-sport related physical activities. This is particularly the case for women in this life stage.

Characteristics

• Influenced by their local neighbourhood and surroundings i.e. are less likely to be active if the paths are uneven
• Sometimes feel embarrassed by exercising in public (particularly women)
• Believe physical activity around the house and garden is strenuous enough, even if not puffing and sweating.

Sports can attract this group through addressing desires for social connection and offering activity that suits the individual's physical ability.

Inactive populations are not playing sport or staying physically active. Their interest in getting more active is low or they often identify significant barriers to getting active.

In this life stage, inactivity is significantly more common for Indigenous Australians and people with disability.

Characteristics

• Often inactive due to health-related reasons
• Lack confidence and willingness to participation due to health issues and illness
• Feel embarrassed exercising in public (mostly women)
• Find gyms and clubs intimidating.

Insights to help understand the barriers to participation for inactive people