Get Lifelong Ready

#GetLifelongReady focuses on building the capacity of the outdoor recreation sector to better engage adult participants (i.e. people in their 30s, 40s and 50s). This age group is nominated because the physical activity habits developed during this life stage are an important precursor for continued physical activity into later years.

#GetLifelongReady focuses on four main areas for development, including:

1. Enhancing/Developing participation opportunities for adults;
2. Encouraging lifelong participation pathways;
3. Upskilling staff and volunteer workforce to confidently deliver for a group that has a diverse range of subgroups, based on interests, needs and wants ; and
4. Designing relevant marketing strategies to engage non-participants.

Fact Sheet: Overview of #GetLifelongReady

We are now more aware than ever of the importance of leading active and healthy lifestyles. However, active recreation participation by people in their 30s, 40s and 50s has decreased over the last decade. The research tells us people in their 30s, 40s and 50s often face barriers to participation. Some of these barriers are structural, for instance, our organisations are not providing opportunities targeted at these age groups, or the various interests within these age groups.

Adults in their 30s, 40s and 50s are rarely identified as a priority area for participation development. This is problematic given research has found our attitudes towards physical activity and our associated behaviours are developed cumulatively throughout our lives. This means we have a responsibility to offer targeted opportunities for people to get involved during each phase of their lives. It also means if we want older people in our communities to be active into the future, we need to encourage 30, 40 and 50 year olds to be active now.

QORF has developed this toolkit to provide information, showcase practical solutions and encourage engagement with adults in their 30s, 40s and 50s who are not currently actively participating in outdoor recreation.

Fact Sheet: Snapshot of Adult Participation – Sector Opportunities

This toolkit is for all people working in the outdoor recreation sector in Queensland, particularly recreation programmers and activity leaders. It was developed to:

• Encourage the outdoor recreation sector to identify people in their 30s, 40, and 50s as an important target group with needs and wants distinct from other priority groups (e.g. youth); and
• Demonstrate the opportunities this target group presents to the sector, given the disposable income people in this group have access to, as well as opportunities to increase memberships and build a greater pool of potential volunteers, leaders, committee members, etc.

This toolkit provides information and resources to prompt an assessment of the design and development of our outdoor recreation activities and encourage innovative thinking to engage people in their 30s, 40s and 50s.

The toolkit provides a package of factsheets with snapshots of information and practical suggestions, as well as access to the technical documents that resulted from the developmental phase of #GetLifelongReady (i.e. literature review and stakeholder consultation).

Keep in mind the diversity of this group – there is no one-size fits-all solution to engaging with people in their 30s, 40s and 50s to increase their active recreation participation. As you work through the information you are encouraged to assess its applicability to your activities, and develop context-based approaches to engaging targeted sub-groups within this broad target population.

In addition, policymakers may refer to the technical research papers to inform approaches to policy and design of grant funding to encourage innovation by the outdoor sector to engage people in their 30s, 40s and 50s, and more broadly, how we encourage participation across the lifespan.

Scroll down to 4.0 The Foundations to access the #GetLifelongReady research papers.

Program offerings and the scheduling of activities may need to be modified to be welcoming and inclusive of adult participants. This market is diverse and has needs and wants distinct from other groups – we need to ensure the activities we are offering reflect and cater to this. The research emphasises the need to critically assess activities and the way we are delivering them. Do we need modified rules? Shorter distances? Family recreation options? Fitness options? Social options? Do we need to provide opportunities early in the morning, during work hours, at times when children are participating?

This fact sheet:

• Provides an overview of a range of preferences identified by adult participants;
• Suggests there is a role for adult-focused ‘come-and-try’ programs;
• Provides a spectrum of approaches we can consider in the design of inclusive programs and includes some practical examples.

Fact Sheet: Programming for Adults

Adults often face barriers to entry and go through a series of negotiations to participate in active recreation. They have various needs as they enter, re-enter or transition between activities. In addition, adults returning to activity require support to ensure positive experiences and continued participation.

This fact sheet:

• Provides an overview of structural and individual factors which influence an adult’s participation;
• Highlights the importance of re-thinking the traditional participation pathway to reflect the needs and wants of adult participants; and
• Suggests initiatives we can implement to connect with, and support, adults to take up active recreation.

Fact Sheet: Attracting and Retaining Adults

Supporting Links

Adult Pre-Exercise Screening Forms

• Exercise and Sports Science Australia Adult Pre-Exercise Screening System
• City of Wanneroo (WA) Get a Healthy Life Program

Physical Preparation Resources

• Physical Activity – How to Get Started (Victoria’s Better Health Channel)
• 10,000 Steps Challenge

Examples of articles/blogs about getting started in particular activities

• Give Trails a Try: 3 Trail Running Tips for Beginners (blog)

Nutritional Resources

• Nutrition Factsheet
• Nutrition Calculator

#GetLifelongReady identifies the importance of staff and volunteers to understand the rationales of targeting people in their 30s, 40s and 50s, and being equipped to deliver high quality and supportive experiences.

Entering, or re-entering, an activity as an adult is challenging. The ability for staff and volunteers to assess and support physical abilities, alter activities for inclusion and promote social connectedness is critical to providing positive experiences and ensuring continued participation.

Staff and volunteers are encouraged to work their way through resources provided in this toolkit to gain a full understanding of the #GetLifelongReady project and the potential to implement aspects of the project within the outdoor sector.

In addition, we have prepared a factsheet on leading adults in group activities in the outdoors. This fact sheet:

• Highlights key considerations when leading adults who are new, or returning, to an activity;
• Sets out learning styles and ways to respond to these; and
• Provides suggestions for preparing and facilitating positive group experiences.

Fact Sheet: Leading Adults  

#GetLifelongReady – Review of Literature

#GetLifelongReady – Stakeholder Consultation Report