Cairns Regional Council has expanded its free fitness program for residents aged 55 and over, adding seven new weekly sessions across the municipality starting this month. The initiative, delivered through the council's Active Ageing Program, covers everything from low-impact aqua aerobics at Tobruk Memorial Pool on Abbott Street to gentle bushwalking circuits on the Atherton Tablelands.
The timing is deliberate. Australia's cost-of-living pressures are bearing down on fixed-income households, and gym memberships — which averaged $62 a month in Queensland last year according to Fitness Australia data — are among the first things older residents cut from their budgets. The council's move to absorb that cost entirely removes what health planners call the "economic participation barrier" for older adults who need regular movement the most.
Falls-related hospitalisations are the driving concern behind the program's expansion. Cairns Base Hospital recorded a 14 per cent increase in fall-related admissions among patients over 65 between 2023 and 2025, according to figures provided to the council's community services committee in May. Structured group exercise — particularly balance and strength work — is one of the most evidence-backed interventions for reducing that risk. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that regular strength training reduces fall risk in older adults by up to 34 per cent.
What's on offer and where to find it
The program runs across six venues. Fogarty Park on the Esplanade hosts Tuesday and Thursday morning sessions at 7:30 am — a gentle mix of stretching, resistance band work and tai chi suitable for beginners. Edge Hill's Centenary Lakes precinct runs a Wednesday walking group that loops the lake and the adjacent rainforest boardwalk, clocking roughly 3.5 kilometres at a social pace. Gordonvale's Plantation Park has a Friday afternoon session targeting residents in the southern corridor who previously had no local option.
Tobruk Memorial Pool offers two aqua fitness classes per week, on Mondays and Thursdays, facilitated by instructors from Cairns YMCA under a partnership arrangement with the council. The water-based format is particularly valued by participants managing arthritis or recovering from joint surgery, conditions that make land-based exercise uncomfortable. Participation at Tobruk's senior sessions averaged 38 people per class in the June trial run, which the council described as well above projections.
The Cairns Seniors Centre on Greenslopes Street also runs an indoor chair-based exercise class on Wednesday mornings, air-conditioned and wheelchair-accessible — a practical consideration given that July temperatures in Cairns still regularly reach 26 degrees by mid-morning. Participants at that centre can also access free blood-pressure checks through a partnership with Tropical Primary Health Network on the first Wednesday of each month.
How to get a spot
Registration is free but required for most sessions, primarily so council can manage numbers and ensure qualified instructors are rostered. Residents can register online through the Cairns Regional Council website, call the Active Ageing Program line on 4044 3044, or walk into any council customer service centre. The Smithfield Customer Service Centre at the Smithfield Shopping Centre is the closest option for residents in the northern suburbs.
Participants are encouraged to speak with their GP before starting any new exercise program, particularly if managing cardiovascular conditions, diabetes or recent surgery. Cairns Base Hospital's physiotherapy outreach team also runs quarterly information sessions at the Seniors Centre for anyone wanting a more personalised assessment before joining a group class.
The next intake opens on Monday, July 6, with most sessions beginning the week of July 13. Council officers say sessions in Manunda and Woree are under consideration for the second half of 2026 if July enrolment numbers hold. For residents who have been waiting for an affordable, social reason to get moving, the window is open.
