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The national Healthy Eating Active Lifestyle program, HEAL, is owned and administered by South Western Sydney PHN. The program was originally developed more than 25 years ago as a local preventative health initiative and has been reviewed and updated in the years since, going national in 2009 through the National Partnership Agreement on Preventative Health program, funded by the Australian Government under the Healthy Communities Initiative.
✅ 1. Admin Checklist & Telephone Script: Enquiry
✅ 1. Admin Checklist & Telephone Script: Enquiry
📞 Phone Script for Initial Enquiry
“Good morning/afternoon, thank you for calling Effect Exercise Physiology, this is [Name]. How can I help you today?”
If participant enquires about the HEAL Program:
Note: enquiry may say "my doctor (or other recommendation) said you do a free program?"
“Absolutely, I can help with that. The HEAL Program is a free, group-based 8-week program designed to support healthy eating and active living. It includes an initial assessment, weekly group workshops, and follow-up assessments at 8 weeks, 5 months, and 12 months.”
Participant confirms that they would like to join program and/or learn more.
“Can I ask you a few quick questions to check if you’re eligible and get you booked in for an initial assessment?”
Participant eligibility
Have Diabetes or Heart Disease
At risk of developing the above: (High blood pressure, high blood sugars, insulin resistance, high cholesterol, obesity or overweight)
If eligible follow the following checklist
Enquiry and booking checklist
Enquiry and booking checklist
Ask for participant’s name, DOB, phone, and email
Confirm referral source (GP name, clinic, or self-referred)
Explain the program outline: initial assessment, 8-week workshops, reviews
Offer available time slots for the Initial Assessment (30min)
Confirm location and what to bring (comfortable clothes, water bottle)
Explain they will need to complete some questionnaires before the appointment
(emailed or QR code)Send confirmation email with: time/date, location, what to expect, pre-appointment forms
Record booking in clinic calendar and notify Exercise Physiologist
Flag to send GP report post-assessment (if applicable)
✅ 2. Participant Onboarding Script: Initial Assessment
✅ 2. Participant Onboarding Script: Initial Assessment
Delivered by Admin or EP on arrival:
“Hi [Name], Thanks for coming in. Today we’ll complete your initial assessment which includes some health questions, body measurements, and a few short fitness tests to see how you’re going. This helps us tailor the program and track your progress.”
“We firstly need you to complete some short lifestyle and consent forms if you haven’t already done them. Can we please have you fill these out?”
Required forms for initial assessment (Click HERE for forms 1-4)
1. HEAL informed Consent Form*
2. Adult Pre- exercise Screening System (APSS)
3. HEAL Physical Activity, Fruit & Vegetable Questions*
4. HEAL Exercise Assessment Form (Baseline)
5. DoHDA Participant Data Collection (Participant Demographic and Pre-treatment EQ-5D-5L Questionnaire) Note: These are two seperate forms. Admin will be expected to help participant with the form if required.
(Click HERE for form 5)
✅ 3. Assessment Process Checklist (For Exercise Physiologist)
☐ Review referral (if provided)
☐ Prepare clipboard, pen, RPE scale, timer, tape measure, chair, cones (30m course)
☐ Check safety screening & condition-specific checklist
☐ Ensure consent form is signed
Step 1: Review forms
Step 1: Review forms
✅ Informed consent: Review purpose, rights, risks
✅ APSS Screening Tool: Stage 1 and Stage 2
✅ Lifestyle Questions: Physical activity, fruit & veg intake
✅ EQ-5D-5L Pre-treatment (QR or print)
Step 2: Anthropometric Measurements
Step 2: Anthropometric Measurements
✅ BP: Seated, rest for 5 minutes
✅ Resting HR: Palpate or measure automatically
✅ Height: Shoes off, stand tall
✅ Weight: Light clothing, shoes off, pockets empty
✅ BMI: Calculate manually or using scorecard (divide weight (kg) by the square of your height (m) (kg/m²)
✅ Waist: Midway between lowest rib and iliac crest (navel level)
✅ Hip: Widest point around buttocks
VIDEO HERE FOR HIP AND WAIST TESTS
✅ WHR Waist ÷ Hip
Step 3: Functional Fitness Tests
Step 3: Functional Fitness Tests
A. Six-Minute Walk Test VIDEO HERE
Mark out 30m course with chairs at each end (we'll use the space we have avaliable)
Give standardised instructions:
“Walk back and forth as far as you can in 6 minutes. You can stop if you need to and start again when you feel ready.”Encourage every 30 seconds: “You’re doing well, keep it up!”
Record:
Total laps & metres
RPE every minute
HR and BP post-test
B. 30-Second Sit-to-Stand VIDEO HERE
Place chair against wall
Instructions:
“Cross your arms over your chest. Sit and stand as many times as you can in 30 seconds.”Record total repetitions
C. Chair Sit-and-Reach (Optional) VIDEO HERE
One foot flat, one extended
Reach forward slowly, no bouncing
Measure:
Past toes = positive (+)
Toes = 0
Before toes = negative (-)
Do twice, record better score in cm
D. Back Scratch Test (Optional) VIDEO HERE
One hand over shoulder, one behind back
Reach to touch fingers
Measure:
Overlap = (+)
Touch = 0
Gap = (-)
Do twice, record better score in cm (note: test both sides and record the best result)
Step 4. Education
Step 4. Education
Ensure participant understands program length (2hr classes of education, group workshop and exercise)
"Do you have any other questions?"
Provide participant manual
Post Appointment Checklist
Post Appointment Checklist
Practitioner
Enter client results into digital scorecard HERE (Note: Must link with participant number and program)
Confirm workshop date/time with participant
Admin
Ensure participant completed EQ-5D-5L and other questionnaires (QR-Code PDF HERE) (Link to share here)
Upload required documents (APSS, assessment form) to patient file
Send GP engagement letter [MAKE A COPY for each participant]
Confirm workshop date/time with participant
Provide welcome pack (welcome bag, 2 x bands, group and individual flyers)
Send welcome email (script below) and attach to email PARTICIPANT MANUAL
"Dear <<NAME>>,
Thanks you for coming in for your initial visit today. I hope you are excited to start your 8-week HEAL program with us.
A reminder:
- Your HEAL program day and time is <<DAY and TIME>> starting on <<DATE of workshop 1>>
- It is expected that you are able to attend every workshop to get the most out of this program
- If you cannot make a workshop or appointment for whatever reason please notify us as soon as possible
- We have attached in this email the participant manual to use at your own discretion (Some people might like to print the learning slides). It is 141 pages so you can choose to print all, some or none (view digitally)
We look forward to seeing you soon. Any questions, feel free to respond back to this email.
Kind Regards,
The Effect Exercise Physiology Team"
Forms for client data collection and assessment purposes
Forms for client data collection and assessment purposes
HEAL Initial APSS and Assessment form and .pdfParticipant Data Collection_Effect Exercise Physiology.pdfRunning HEAL Sessions
Running HEAL Sessions
Session 1: Your health and your choices
Session 1: Your health and your choices
Participants Need
→ “Participant Manual”
→ A smartphone or other internet-enabled device to check the Australian CVD risk calculator and Diabetes Risk Calculator
Facilitator Needs
Facilitator Manual: Print pages 61-68 (Choice and lifestyle game cards)
Session Summary
Measures of physical health (weight, lipids, BP, BGLs, etc.)
Screening and identifying risk of health problems (What numbers are healthy vs increased risk)
Reducing risk (What to stop and start doing)
Measuring success (small sustainable changes)
Stages of behaviour change
Group Activities
Group activity 1
Introduce the online “AusCVDRisk tool” to assess the risk of cardiovascular disease. Discuss the meaning of each score:
→ High risk: estimated 5-year CVD risk ≥10%
→ Intermediate risk: estimated 5-year CVD risk 5% to <10%
→ Low risk: estimated 5-year CVD risk <5%
Introduce the AusDRisk tool to assess the risk of type 2 diabetes. Discuss the meaning of each score:
→ 5 or less = low risk. Approximately 1 in 100 will develop diabetes
→ 6-11 = intermediate risk. For scores 6-8, approximately 1 in 50 will develop diabetes. For scores 9-11, approximately 1 in 30 will develop diabetes
→ 12 or more = high risk. For scores 12-15, approximately 1 in 14 will develop diabetes. For scores 16-19, approximately 1 in 7 will develop diabetes. For scores 20 or more, approximately 1 in 3 will develop diabetes
Encourage those at high risk to speak with their doctor if they haven’t already. Congratulate participants for being involved in the HEAL program and trying to reduce their risk and improve their lifestyle.
Group activity 2
→ Hand out the “Choice and lifestyle game” cards: Without looking at what is written on the cards, each person is to take one card from each pile (five). Participants swap cards in an attempt to achieve the lifestyle they want. They can swap cards any way they like, but they must swap at least two
→ Discuss: “Did anybody end up with a lifestyle they are happy with?”
→ Discuss: “Did anybody end up with a lifestyle they are not happy with?”
→ Talk through slide 17: Link this slide with the game, showing participants that in the game they made the choice to try to remove lifestyle factors they didn’t want and to keep others that they did
Session 2: Physical Activity
Session 2: Physical Activity
Participants need
→ “Participant Manual”
→ Hand in a completed copy of your “Physical activity contract” handout
Facilitator needs
→ Additional copies of the “Physical activity contract” for home activity (page 69)
→ “Rating of Perceived Exertion scale” handout (located in the exercise resources section on page 105)
→ “Physical activity pyramid” handout (page 70)
→ “How to be active regularly” activity sheet (page 71)
Session Summary
Types of physical activity (incidental activity vs exercise)
Types of exercise (aerobic and resistance training, flexibility and balance exercise)
Sedentary activities (reducing sedentary activity)
Benefits of physical activity
Physical activity guidelines
Exercising safely
Group Activities
Group Activity 1
Hand out and talk about how to complete the top half of the “Physical activity contract” handout
Note: Bottom half to be completed as a home activity
Session 3: What is healthy eating?
Session 3: What is healthy eating?
Participants need
→ “Participant Manual”
Facilitator needs
→ “Free foods” handout (page 72)
→ “Recommended cuts of meat” handout (page 73)
→ “Easy ways to eat more fruit and vegetables” handout (page 74)
→ “How to recognise a scam” activity sheet (page 75)
→ “Plate model: serving size” activity sheet (page 76)
Session Summary
What is healthy eating?
The Australian guide to healthy eating
Plate model
Healthy snacks
Energy balance
Counting kilojoules
The problem with dieting
Group Activities
Group Activity 1
→ Discuss how dietary guidelines can be translated into food using the plate model and having healthy snacks
→ Plate model
Ask participants to think of a main meal they have eaten, then individually draw a plate and mark on it the:
• Proportion covered by meat
• Proportion covered by starchy food
• Proportion covered by vegetables
• When completed, show slide 21 and the ceramic plate model to demonstrate how it should look
→ Talk through snacks on slide 22
Session 4: Nutrients in your diet
Session 4: Nutrients in your diet
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