Media release: Friday 10 July 2026
Nine community-led projects reap reward for inspiring people to move and cut heart disease risk
Heart Foundation announces Active Australia Innovation Challenge winners
People of a variety of ages and backgrounds will be encouraged to reduce their heart disease risk through nine community-led projects funded through the Active Australia Innovation Challenge (AAIC).
The nine successful programs announced today will receive between $10,000 and $30,000 out of a total funding pool of $200,000 from the Federal Government and Heart Foundation to help their communities move more and protect their heart health.
The innovative winning projects include yoga sessions for children and caregivers in remote areas, a cultural cricket program for grandparents and grandchildren, aquatic exercise sessions for Indigenous women and Elders, and a gentle adapted fitness program for people with early to mid-stages of Motor Neurone Disease.
Heart disease is a leading cause of death in Australia. The Heart Foundation recommends 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity most days of the week to help reduce a person’s risk of heart disease by up to 20 per cent.
Sheree Hughes, Active Living Manager at the Heart Foundation, said the AAIC recognised that encouraging physical activity looked different for communities across the nation and the winning projects were worthy of support because they demonstrated local leadership in driving movement in supported environments.
“There is no one-size-fits-all solution to getting people active,” Ms Hughes said.
“These winning projects show that communities know what works best for them. These initiatives remove barriers, create safe and supportive environments, and make movement part of everyday life.”
“Around one in two adults in Australia are not getting enough physical activity for good heart health and the Active Australia Innovation Challenge aims to get more people active and moving in their communities, no matter their background or ability.”
The AAIC program is supported by the Federal Government and delivered by the Heart Foundation. Each year it aims to help communities overcome barriers to physical activity, with a focus on prevention and long-term health outcomes.
This year’s nine funded initiatives span metropolitan, regional and remote areas, and include programs tailored for priority groups such as culturally diverse communities, older people in Australia and people living in rural areas.
Ms Hughes said the diversity of projects reflects the need for flexible and inclusive approaches to physical activity.
“We want to see more people across the nation moving more often, because even small increases in activity can make a significant difference to heart health,” Ms Hughes said.
“We thank the Federal Government for their support in encouraging people across Australia to be more physically active for better heart health and importantly, recognising the many varied and innovative ways in which people move.”
The AAIC supports the Heart Foundation’s work to improve equity in heart health, with the aim that everyone in Australia can achieve good heart health by 2050 under the vision ‘Health for Every Heart’. Each AAIC project will receive a grant and support to deliver and evaluate their program, with outcomes expected to inform future national approaches to physical activity and prevention.
Source for physical activity recommendation: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, physical activity and exercise guidelines for adults aged 18 to 64 years.
The successful AAIC projects for 2026 are:
Target demographic: Caregivers and children in Babinda (QLD) and surrounds
Project summary: In outer-regional Babinda, where isolation, limited facilities and a lack of inclusive programs make it difficult for families to be active, the Cosmic Yoga for All! project will create a fun, family-friendly solution. Delivered at the local school, the program runs parallel yoga sessions for caregivers and children, designed specifically with neurodiverse participants in mind. By offering engaging, story-led children’s sessions alongside calming, restorative caregiver sessions, the program removes barriers such as childcare, transport and access, while fostering shared participation. Through creative, inclusive experiences that prioritise wellbeing and connection, this initiative will help families build sustainable physical activity habits in a supportive community setting.
Target demographic: People living with chronic sleep disorders (VIC)
Project summary: For people living with chronic sleep disorders, fatigue is a major barrier to physical activity. Wake & Move addresses this by providing a tailored 12-week program designed around low energy levels and disrupted routines. Combining gentle movement sessions with practical workshops on pacing and habit-building, the program will offer a supportive pathway back into regular activity. By acknowledging the unique challenges of fatigue and creating an achievable, confidence-building experience, the program aims to improve both physical activity levels and sleep outcomes, demonstrating the powerful two-way relationship between movement and wellbeing, with potential to scale the model nationally following the pilot.
Target demographic: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in an existing youth drop-in program (Sydney, NSW)
Project summary: Deadly Moves is a youth-led program supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to be more active in culturally safe and inclusive spaces. Embedded within an existing youth drop-in program, the initiative provides weekly opportunities to try a wide range of activities, from paddle sports to climbing and fitness, selected by young people themselves. By removing barriers such as cost, transport and fear of judgement, and prioritising fun, connection and choice, the program helps build confidence and positive attitudes toward physical activity, supporting long-term engagement and wellbeing.
Target demographic: People with physical disability (VIC)
Project summary: Hearts in Motion is redefining physical activity for people living with a disability by turning movement into music. Using innovative AirSticks technology, participants create music through their movements, making physical activity enjoyable, creative and accessible. Delivered through structured workshops, the program encourages sustained whole-body movement in a way that adapts to individual abilities. By reframing exercise as playful expression rather than therapy, the initiative helps increase participation, confidence and enjoyment, creating a new pathway for long-term engagement in physical activity.
Target demographic: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and Elders in Mount Isa (QLD)
Project summary: In Mount Isa, where extreme heat, chronic health conditions and limited culturally safe options can prevent people from being active, the Strong Hearts in Water Program offers a new approach through water-based exercise. The program delivers free, twice-weekly aquatic sessions tailored for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and Elders, combining low-impact fitness with culturally safe environments and heart-health education. By reducing physical strain while building confidence, social connection and knowledge, the program supports participants to increase activity levels and improve cardiovascular health in a way that is accessible, sustainable and community-driven.
Target demographic: Indian-origin seniors and grandchildren in Western Melbourne (VIC)
Project summary: For many Indian-origin seniors, language barriers, fear of injury and social isolation limit participation in physical activity. The Heart-healthy generations cricket cup reimagines a culturally loved sport to overcome these challenges, using a modified, low-impact version of cricket that is safe and inclusive. By involving grandchildren alongside older participants, the program strengthens family connections while motivating sustained participation. This intergenerational model transforms physical activity into a shared, enjoyable experience, helping reduce isolation and build lasting habits that support heart health.
Target demographic: African-Australian mothers in Flemington public housing (VIC)
Project summary: For African-Australian mothers living in Melbourne’s Flemington public housing estate, competing priorities and structural barriers often make physical activity difficult. Happy Hooyos addresses this by embedding women-only exercise sessions into an existing after-school homework program, allowing mothers to be active while their children are supported. By providing culturally safe, accessible classes in a familiar environment, the initiative removes barriers such as childcare, time and transport, helping women build confidence and establish regular, sustainable activity as part of their routine.
Target demographic: Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands residents at risk of chronic disease
Project summary: For residents of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, geographic isolation and limited access to structured exercise contribute to low activity levels and higher chronic disease risk. The Indian Ocean Territories Active Living Project delivers inclusive, bi-weekly walking groups supported by local pharmacies and community training. By combining accessible walking sessions with health engagement and locally trained facilitators, the program strengthens community ownership and builds long-term capacity for physical activity. This integrated model increases participation while improving awareness of cardiovascular health in remote communities.
Target demographic: People with early-mid stage MND (Melbourne, VIC)
Project summary: For people living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), opportunities to remain physically active are extremely limited. In Your Corner: Still Moving provides a safe, adapted fitness program that supports continued participation in movement as symptoms progress. Combining gentle strength exercises, balance work, breathing techniques and adapted boxing, the program focuses on dignity, autonomy and quality of life. By reframing physical activity as meaningful and achievable, the initiative enables participants to stay active for as long as possible, supporting both physical and emotional wellbeing.
