Senior fitness programs offered free by local council

The City of Gold Coast opened its latest round of free senior fitness programs on July 1 at parks and community halls across the region.

Older adults on the Gold Coast face higher risks of isolation during the cooler months, when beach and trail use drops. Council staff say the free classes give participants regular movement without added costs that might otherwise limit attendance.

Twice-weekly sessions run at Kurrawa Park in Broadbeach, where instructors lead chair-based strength work and light walking circuits along the foreshore path. A second set of classes meets at the Hinterland Community Hub near Canungra, focusing on balance drills that draw on nearby Lamington hiking trails for occasional supervised outings.

Local partnerships support the schedule

Gold Coast City Council coordinates the timetable with Surf Life Saving Queensland clubs to use their clubhouses for wet-weather indoor options. The arrangement lets seniors shift between sand-based mobility work at Main Beach and indoor resistance bands when rain hits.

Attendance lists show steady growth since the first pilot round in 2024, with many participants returning each term. Council records list the programs under the Active Ageing initiative, which draws on federal healthy ageing guidelines rather than new local spending.

Registration and next steps

Anyone 60 or older can sign up through the City of Gold Coast website or by calling the community services desk at Southport. Sessions require no equipment beyond comfortable shoes, and instructors adjust every movement for different mobility levels.

Residents should check with their own doctor before starting any new exercise, as individual health needs vary.