Physiotherapy, exercise physiology and dietetics can now be squeezed in around your workout as Belgravia Leisure centres roll out allied health services. Photo: Belgravia Leisure.
While Australia boasts one of the world’s highest life expectancies, its morbidity gap — the years spent in poor health before death — remains among the worst globally.
In response, national focus is shifting from lifespan alone to healthspan: living better, not just longer. In this new paradigm, allied health services are poised to play a transformative role in everyday preventative care.
But Australians also feel busier than ever, and fitting in a physio, exercise physiologist, or dietitian appointment into a week already packed with work and exercise routines often feels like a bridge too far.
It was precisely this pain point that prompted leisure management company Belgravia Leisure to introduce allied health services directly inside three of its public recreation facilities.
Visitors can now access a physiotherapist at Stromlo, and an exercise physiologist and dietitian at Gungahlin.
The offering isn’t reserved exclusively for members — anyone in the community can book a session with Belgravia’s allied health professionals.
However, Belgravia Leisure Gungahlin allied health manager Sammie Dineen notes that co-locating these services where people already train creates an undeniable advantage.
“Allied health covers a broad spectrum and takes a truly holistic view – it’s about improving long-term lifestyle habits as much as it is about injury management and rehabilitation,” she says.
“Over my years in the field, I’ve seen a huge surge in awareness and demand. Integrating these services into our centres means members can seamlessly blend clinical support into their regular workouts or family routine without missing a beat.”
The Belgravia allied health offering has been structured for straightforward access.
For those managing chronic conditions, access is both structured and affordable: clients can work with their GP on a care plan to access discounted rates. Eligible individuals can also leverage Medicare, DVA, NDIS, HICAPS, or workers’ compensation benefits.
Booking is easy, available either online or via walk-in, and appointments are designed to slot neatly around workout hours whenever a practitioner is on site.
All Belgravia allied health staff are fully accredited, and while sessions are predominantly one-on-one, group physiotherapy is currently available at Stromlo, with broader group offerings on the horizon.
Sammie says initial community reception has been strong, with word-of-mouth driving steady growth among members looking to proactively take charge of their longevity.
“I think we’re all becoming more aware of the importance of ‘lifestyle healthcare’,” she says.
“With advances in medicine and science, people are investing more time into researching their own well-being and seeking alternatives to traditional biomedical models.”
Crucially, bringing clinical support into the gym environment preserves momentum.
“It prevents that frustrating break in a hard-fought fitness routine,” she adds.
“Instead of stopping altogether when an issue arises, it becomes a matter of smart modification — maintaining your momentum while targeting specific health outcomes under expert guidance.”
For more information, visit Gungahlin Leisure Centre or Stromlo Leisure Centre.
