Exercise Physiology is a clinical service that uses exercise as treatment. Delivered by university-qualified practitioners, it sits alongside physiotherapy and other allied health fields, but is distinct in its focus: prescribing exercise as medicine. At the Y, it has become a proven pathway for people recovering from injury, managing chronic conditions, and building long-term wellbeing.
When the program launched at the South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Centre (SAALC) a decade ago, two exercise physiologists completed fewer than 5,000 appointments a year. Today a team of eight delivers more than 18,000 annually.
The growth reflects demand for exercise as treatment. It also reflects the model.
Partnerships with Flinders University and the Adelaide University provide student placements and mentoring, ensuring new graduates are supported by the existing team and creating a pipeline of future practitioners.
Just as important is where the team works. This is not a clinic behind a closed door in a medical precinct. It operates on the floor of a busy community aquatic and leisure centre, and that placement shapes everything about how people find the service.
Mark George, Health & Wellbeing Manager at the Y, says this visibility has been key. "We are an allied health team, but we are also part of the community. Members see us in the gym, staff use the service for their own rehab, and families know they can recommend us. That familiarity makes it easier for people to take the first step."
The service has been designed to be both clinical and welcoming. Dedicated consulting rooms and a purpose-built EP gym create supportive environments for people who need them, with progression into the larger fitness areas when clients are ready. Entry is accessible through Medicare, the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA), the NDIS or private health, and many services are bulk-billed.
The work with DVA clients shows the breadth of impact. Many veterans live with complex health challenges, from chronic pain and musculoskeletal injuries to PTSD. At SAALC, exercise physiology provides structured programs to improve mobility, balance and disease management, while aquatic programs allow low-impact rehabilitation.
For one veteran, the biggest achievement was simply walking into a busy centre for the first time. Guided by an exercise physiologist, he started small, built his confidence, and now enjoys both the exercise and the social connection that comes with it.
Mark has seen the range firsthand. "We might see an athlete rehabbing a shoulder in the morning, then a veteran who has not exercised in years in the afternoon. The approaches differ, but the principle is the same. We use exercise to help people feel confident and capable again."
The model is also operating at Adelaide Aquatic Centre and will expand beyond South Australia with Horsham Aquatic Centre in regional Victoria looking to introduce exercise physiology this year. Local GPs, RSLs and community groups are already engaged.