Almost 35,000 people get moving with Active and Healthy Program
Published on 02 April 2026
Ipswich City Council’s Active and Healthy Program goes from strength to strength with a new report revealing it attracted almost 35,000 participants.
Throughout 2025, the program featured 48 regular weekly activities, 10 nutrition workshops, 12 Learn-2-Ride cycling sessions, and 189 Active Kids school holiday sessions.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the program had a total participation of 33,781.
“What an amazing achievement, helping so many of our community stay fit and healthy,” Mayor Harding said.
“This was a direct outcome and delivery action of the Ipswich Community Development Strategy and the Active Ipswich Strategy 2031.
“The sessions offered everything from Active Ipswich, Active Low Impact (formerly seniors), Active Mums and Bubs, Active Women and Girls, Active Kids to Healthy Eating workshops.
“Feedback from participants showed the most liked aspects of the program were the instructors, the cost of the program, the social connection and community benefits, the convenience and accessibility of the program and the health and wellbeing benefits.”
The annual survey of participants showed:
- 81 per cent identified improvements in physical health (up from 79 per cent in 2024).
- 68 per cent identified improvements in mental health (up from 64 per cent in 2024).
- 90 per cent rated their satisfaction of the program as 4 (out of 5) or higher (up from 81 per cent in 2024), with an overall average of 4.52 out of 5 (up from 4.36 in 2024).
- 92 per cent have used the Active and Healthy app to book classes (up from 87 per cent in 2024), with general feedback describing the app as easy to use and navigate.
“We asked participants for feedback on areas of improvement and the people said they wanted increased number of activities, improved management of the aqua classes, and more classes in Ipswich Central, north and west,” Mayor Harding said.
“Additionally, many expressed gratitude to council for the program being available to the community.
“They can rest assured - or get active as the program suggests - that council will be bringing more to the table in 2026 for our participants to enjoy.”
The 2025 Active and Healthy Participant Survey received 448 completed surveys, an increase of 36 per cent from 2024.
Council’s Active and Healthy program offers free and low-cost physical activity, outdoor recreation, wellbeing and healthy eating sessions for people of all ages and abilities.
It has been made easier for residents to participate in the program through the Active and Healthy Ipswich app and booking system.
For more information about the program, visit Ipswich.qld.gov.au/Live/Healthy-Lifestyle/Active-and-Healthy-Ipswich