Community Strength and Balance

ACC, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, the Health Quality and Safety Commission and local health partners, have committed to work to reduce injuries from falls for older people.  A key part of this work is the provision of Community Strength and Balance programmes for those older adults who are at risk of falling.

Harbour Sport has been contracted by ACC as the Lead Agency of the Community Strength and Balance initiative in the Auckland District Health Board area (Auckland Central), Waitemata District Health Board area (North Shore and West Auckland) and Counties Manukau. Our role is to ensure more people over the age of 65 years have access to variety of exercise classes that help with fall prevention.

What we do:

Establish, maintain and grow a network of approved Community Strength and Balance class providers;

• Support existing providers,
• Help set up new classes in areas of identified need
• Approve a wide variety of suitable classes,
• Grow our network of classes,
• Connect the provider network.

Establish and maintain a falls referral service;

• Establish and maintain a network of referrers,
• Receive referrals from public and community health organisations,
• Support those referred into the network of community strength and balance classes.

Grow and promote the Community Strength and Balance class programme;

• Increase awareness of the programme through various channels.