What is Healthy Choices?
Healthy Choices is a free, evidence-based program for people living with or at risk of developing a chronic health condition. The program aims to support individuals make health and lifestyle choices that helps them manage their condition and live a healthier life.

The program runs as 12 weekly sessions with your partnered health coaches, as well as 1 to 3 monthly follow up sessions to help you stay on track with your healthy choices.

Am I eligible for Healthy Choices?
Healthy Choices is available to adults (18+ years) living anywhere within metropolitan or regional Australia who have been diagnosed with a chronic health condition or are at risk of developing a chronic health condition.

Chronic conditions include diabetes I or II; respiratory conditions such as asthma or COPD; cardiovascular conditions such as coronary heart disease or peripheral arterial disease; kidney disease; chronic mental health conditions; chronic joint or muscle conditions; chronic pain; and cancer survivors.

Risk factors for chronic health conditions include being overweight (body mass index (BMI) of 25 or above); high blood pressure or high cholesterol requiring medical treatment; pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome.

Where is the Healthy Choices program held?
In-person sessions are available in metropolitan Adelaide at Adelaide University’s City East campus, and in Elizabeth at the Adelaide University Health Clinic.

Telehealth sessions are available online via video link or over the phone for people in metropolitan or regional areas around Australia.

What changes can I make with Healthy Choices?
Examples of changes in lifestyle that people have already achieved with Healthy Choices include starting a new exercise class, reducing snacking after dinner, drinking more water, improving sleep habits, increasing walking distance, and making new social connections.

Your health coaches will work with you to decide and achieve your goals during the program.

What will I pay to attend Healthy Choices?
All Healthy Choices sessions are free to attend.

How will my client benefit from attending Healthy Choices?
Healthy Choices is tailored to health and lifestyle choices that your clients want to change, but may lack motivation or strategies to be successful. This can be a change based on your recommendations, or a change they are interested in pursuing.

Examples of changes people have already achieved with Healthy Choices include starting a new exercise class, reducing snacking after dinner, drinking more water, improving sleep habits, increasing walking distance, and making new social connections.

Healthy Choices will help your clients kickstart their health goals. The health coaches are supervised students who have the time and skills to keep your clients motivated and on track to their goals over a 12-week program. The Healthy Choices program uses specialised skills in motivational interviewing, education, care navigation and social prescription to support your clients to make changes that can benefit their health.

At the end of the program, they will have the strategies, knowledge, and confidence to keep working towards their health goal independently. We also offer 1 to 3 monthly follow up sessions to support clients staying on track.

Who can I refer to Healthy Choices?
Healthy Choices is available to adults (18+ years) who have been diagnosed with a chronic health condition or is at risk of developing a chronic health condition.

Chronic conditions include diabetes I or II; respiratory conditions such as asthma or COPD; cardiovascular conditions such as coronary heart disease or peripheral arterial disease; kidney disease; chronic mental health conditions; chronic joint or muscle conditions; chronic pain; and cancer survivors.

Risk factors for chronic health conditions include being overweight (body mass index (BMI) of 25 or above); high blood pressure or high cholesterol requiring medical treatment; pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome.

How can I refer a client to Healthy Choices?
Send the name of your client and preferred contact details to HealthyChoices@adelaide.edu.au. We will contact them to answer any questions they have and book them in to get started.

Why is Adelaide University supporting the Healthy Choices program?
Adelaide University, through AU Health Clinics, aims to be a visible cornerstone in the communities that we serve by partnering, sharing and supporting groups, organisations and initiatives that align with our ambition to create a better Australia. By connecting new approaches in tertiary education, global research and health innovation, we seek to actively contribute to community needs to empower, shape and grow a vibrant society. The Healthy Choices program is an example of education, research and industry coming together to serve everyday people.

Healthy Choices started as part of a 5-year University of South Australia research study funded by the Medical Research Futures Fund to understand if a health coaching service provided in partnership with undergraduate health students is a feasible and effective way to improve the health of people with chronic conditions.

The original study has now closed and successfully coached more than 160 participants to make successful changes to their lifestyle.