UQ Healthy Living

05/09/2025

We're here to support the physical, mental, & social health of people over 50.

Receive care & guidance from allied health clinicians, intergenerational connection & support from allied health students, and the opportunity to connect with the community of people who attend.

Among our diverse range of services, some speciality programs starting soon include:

⋯ My Health for Life - FREE Chronic Disease Prevention Program ⋯
Guidance & support sessions with our clinicians to help you build healthier habits, one step at a time, in ways that work for you.

⋯ GLA:D - Osteoarthritis Program ⋯
This program combines education & tailored exercise sessions to help participants develop skills to self-manage their osteoarthritis by reducing pain, improving mobility, & preventing symptom progression.

To discover & learn more, click the button below.

My Health for Life Program A free program to help people reduce their risk of chronic disease and build a happier and healthier future. Learn more GLA:D® Osteoarthritis Program An education and exercise program developed by researchers in Denmark for people with hip or knee osteoarthritis symptoms....

19/08/2025

Are you planning to stop driving or adjusting to life afterwards?

CarFreeMe is a FREE 4-week group program designed to help you stay independent and connected, and continue doing the things that are important to you when you're not driving.

CarFreeMe starts this week:
📅 Fridays, 22 Aug – 12 Sept
🕤 9:30–11:30 AM
📍 UQ Healthy Living, Level 3, 37 Archer Street, Toowong
☕ Morning tea included!

Run by UQ Occupational Therapy students trained in CarFreeMe coaching, under supervision of two registered Occupational Therapists.

Contact us to book or learn more:
📞 (07) 3443 2586
📧 uqhealthyliving@uqhealthcare.org.au
http://uqhealthyliving.org.au/contact-us/

UQ Health

04/04/2025

Shari Devin, our Clinic Manager and Exercise Physiologist, recently had the pleasure of visiting McIlwraith Croquet Club to lead an engaging warm-up session for their players.

Tailored specifically for the club members, Shari designed the routine to help the players get game ready and protect themselves from injuries.

We love being a part of McIlwraith Croquet Club’s commitment to fostering a vibrant and inclusive community, where members can have fun staying active, enhance their skills, and enjoy the game safely.

We’re excited to continue our partnership with them, united by our shared passion for bringing the community together to support both physical and social well-being.

If you’d like to learn more about McIlwraith Croquet Club, you can visit their website here: https://www.mcilwraithcroquetclub.com/

22/11/2024

World Movement Disorder Day is coming up in November.

This day aims to raise awareness for movement disorders so that people can seek essential specialized care earlier.

Movement disorders are neurological (nervous system and brain) conditions that primarily affect bodily motor control, disrupting an individual's life. This could include impacts on balance, involuntary movements, stiffness, changes to a person’s speech, problems with coordination, and difficulty with walking, talking or swallowing.

But movement disorders affect much more than movement, they can also impact behaviour, thinking, and mood, or have symptoms ranging from constipation to hallucinations and memory loss.

A wide variety of factors can cause movement disorders, including genetics, certain medicines (most commonly dopamine receptor blocking drugs such as antipsychotics and antiemetics), illegal drugs or large amounts of alcohol, low levels of certain vitamins, certain medical conditions, or head injuries.

Scroll through this post to learn about some of the most common movement disorders.

Learn more https://www.movedisorder.org/WMDD/Get-Involved

04/11/2024

Shari, our Clinical and Operations Manager at UQ Healthy Living, recently had the privilege of attending and engaging with many wonderful community members at the West Toowong Bowls Club Community Day.

It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with familiar faces from the clinic, as well as to meet new friends and discuss UQ Healthy Living's initiatives and offerings.

A special thanks goes out to Ros Walker (West Toowong Bowls Club Vice President) and her team for their hard work and dedication in bringing the community together!

We appreciate the effort that went into creating such a vibrant atmosphere, allowing us to share valuable information about our services and promote health and wellness in our community.

We look forward to participating in more events like this in the future.

08/10/2024

The relationship between sleep and pain is not what we think.

A University of Queensland study investigating the links between sleep and pain could fundamentally change the way doctors and clinicians treat people with chronic pain.

“Up until recently it’s been thought pain causes poor sleep, but our research suggests it’s the other way around - that poor sleep worsens and potentially maintains pain.”

“Worse sleep primes the nervous and immune systems to enhance pain and potentially drive the development of chronic pain.”

“If we can establish that poor sleep contributes to the development of chronic pain, then we’ll be able to focus on developing and refining sleep treatments for the purpose of preventing chronic pain.”

Click the link to read the full article https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2024/10/relationship-between-sleep-and-pain-not-what-we-think

23/08/2024

Do you have a goal of looking after your mental wellbeing, but find that the idea of adding more to your to-do list creates stress rather than lessens it?

What if we told you that you might already be doing things that could support your mental wellbeing?

Sometimes all it takes is a change in your perspective to feel more fulfilled in your day-to-day activities.

Learn more here https://www.health.qld.gov.au/newsroom/features/six-ways-to-support-your-mental-wellbeing-that-are-probably-already-part-of-your-routine

19/08/2024

Meet UQ Healthy Living’s new Clinical and Operations Manager, Shari Devin!

Shari has been a dedicated clinician at UQ Healthy Living since our clinic first opened and is excited to now step into her new position, bringing her passion for client care, innovation, and community to the forefront.

Her commitment to providing a high-quality service for UQ Healthy Living’s clients remains stronger than ever. As your manager, she is truly dedicated to listening to your feedback and continuously improving UQ Healthy Living’s services for you and our greater community.

Shari and the team are here to support you every step of the way, whether you’re a long-time client or new to our clinic. Thank you for your continued trust and support, and should you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out! https://www.uqhealthyliving.org.au/contact-us/

05/08/2024

Do you know the signs of stroke?

National Stroke Week encourages you to know the B.E F.A.S.T. (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech and Time) signs of stroke so that you can help save lives.

Common signs of stroke include sudden trouble speaking or understanding speech, vision problems, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, a sudden headache, a drooping face or mouth, and weakness, numbness, or paralysis in the face, arm, or leg on one or both sides of the body.

If you notice any of these signs you should act fast and call triple zero (000) immediately. A stroke is always a medical emergency and time is critical.

22/07/2024

Chronic Pain Australia is hosting free webinar live streams throughout National Pain Week (July 22 – July 28). Experts will give clear guidance on holistically managing chronic pain, discuss experiences of those living with chronic pain and much more.

There's insufficient awareness, education, support, and training for chronic pain sufferers and healthcare providers.

Chronic pain affects over 3.6 million Australians and is the leading cause of disability, yet it is widely misunderstood and only 1 in 100 people effected can access multidisciplinary pain management.
Treatment and management are severely underfunded, with most Australians unable to afford out of pocket expenses.

Chronic pain is often referred to as an 'invisible illness' because, externally, people might not realize you're unwell even though you could be experiencing pain 24/7. Despite its invisible nature, chronic pain profoundly affects numerous aspects of life.

Follow the link if you'd like to register for the webinars
https://chronicpainaustralia.org.au/painchanger/

08/07/2024

NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. All Australians are invited to listen, learn, and engage in meaningful dialogue, fostering a society where the wisdom and contributions of Indigenous Australians are fully valued and respected.

First Nations people experience grossly disproportionate rates of disadvantage against all measures of socio-economic status. The social and economic impact of invasion, dispossession, marginalisation and control of First Nations People has accumulated across generations and has been amplified by policies and practices that systematically disadvantage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

There are many Indigenous Australians living today who are members of the Stolen Generations, had children stolen from them, were denied an education, had their wages stolen, were not permitted in public places, could not receive healthcare, and/or did not have the right to vote.

Despite these historical and ongoing challenges, Indigenous Australians continue to uphold their resilience, spirit and cultural richness.

You can support and get to know your local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities through activities and events held across the country this week.

Click the link to find an event near you https://www.naidoc.org.au/local-events/local-naidoc-week-events

14/06/2024

June is Men's Health Month and this year's focus is men's health checks.

The overall purpose of Men’s Health Month is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.

Compared to women, men are less likely to engage with healthcare services, including seeing a regular GP.

With this in mind, it's a great time to click the link to learn about some of the essential health checks and when to get them. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/essential-screening-tests-for-men