Whiddon Pilots Innovative Reablement Programs to Transform Ageing Well Across Regional NSW
One program pilot boosted resident happiness by 70 per cent and comes as Whiddon receives national recognition for their reablement research.
1 December 2025
[Sydney, NSW] December 1, 2025 — Whiddon is proudly leading the way in relationship-based aged care with a suite of innovative reablement programs that are changing how older Australians experience ageing.
Across 2025, the leading regional and rural care provider piloted several key initiatives across their Residential Care and Home Care settings, with each designed to meet the unique needs, abilities, and interests of Whiddon residents and clients.
Each program was underpinned by evidence-based practice, while being tailored to the local context and individual preferences. Led by Dr Jennie Hewitt, Whiddon’s General Manager Clinical Research and Reablement, these initiatives focused on more than physical outcomes, restoring confidence, purpose, and independence.
At Whiddon’s Laurieton Residential Care Home, the Exercise4Life Gym Pilot offered physiotherapy-led resistance training twice weekly. Within three months, 73 per cent of residents improved their physical performance, and falls were reduced by 50 per cent.
Residents reported feeling stronger, more confident, and able to engage in daily activities with greater independence. Staff noted the sessions fostered a supportive and social environment that encouraged sustained participation.
In Temora, the Keep Dancing Program is keeping residents moving, combining choreographed movement with balance and resistance exercises. Across the pilots, residents reported improvements in mobility, mood, and energy while enjoying a stronger sense of community. Importantly, residents expressed a desire to continue the program on an ongoing basis.
Behind the success were outcomes including 70 per cent of Keep Dancing participants achieving clinically meaningful gains, with residents attending most sessions seeing improvements to mobility scores. Mood improved by an average of 20 per cent after each session, with resting mood rising from 5 out of 10 in Week 1 to 8 out of 10 in Week 10. Happiness scores also improved for 70 per cent of participants.
The Dossy and Allied Health Pilot across Home Care clients in Grafton tested a hybrid model combining in-person assessments with virtual physiotherapy and occupational therapy delivered via Dossy, a virtual platform designed specifically for older adults.
Over six weeks, all participants achieved their personal goals and improved physical function. One client had been identified as lonely at the beginning of the pilot (UCLA Loneliness Scale) and preferred not to use any digital, internet-connected devices; however, weekly contact for exercise over Dossy significantly reduced her loneliness scores, and she reported feeling proud to have been able to use the Dossy technology effectively. Clients highlighted the convenience of virtual sessions, which removed travel barriers and made regular participation possible.
Speaking to the impact of these initiatives for residents and clients, Dr Jennie Hewitt said, “These programs are about more than exercise or technology, they’re about people. Every initiative is co-designed with residents or clients, ensuring it reflects their goals, abilities, and interests. We’re not rolling out a single program. We’re creating choices that meet people where they are.”
Whiddon has also introduced targeted physiotherapy-led initiatives to boost resident safety and independence. At Whiddon Redhead, eight extra therapy assistant hours weekly delivered personalised exercise programs to high-risk fallers, showing early reductions in falls. At Whiddon Easton Park, four additional physiotherapy hours strengthened group exercise safety, with outcomes due in late November. In Home Care, the ReFRAME Multidisciplinary Reablement program combined physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nutrition, and coaching, improving strength and function, with falls data still pending.
The success of these reablement pilots comes at a moment of national recognition for Whiddon. On 27th November 2025, Whiddon was honoured at the 2025 Future of Ageing Awards, securing a prestigious Research Award for its pioneering telehealth physiotherapy program, formerly known as the TOP UP Study and now rebranded as StrengthUp.
The StrengthUp program demonstrated a 40 per cent reduction in falls, significant mobility gains and improved confidence for older people across Whiddon’s Residential and Home Care services, results that are now being embedded across its broader reablement and wellbeing model.
“Reablement is more than improving physical health. It’s about restoring confidence, independence, and quality of life,” said Dr Hewitt. “Our teams are showing what’s possible when care is designed with empathy, evidence, and experience at the centre.”
Whiddon’s successful reablement pilots demonstrate the power of relationship-based care combined with evidence-backed innovation. The success is a testament to Whiddon’s investment in research, partnerships, and tailored programs that enhance the quality of life for residents and clients in their care.
Looking ahead, Whiddon aims to expand its Reablement Programs across Residential and Home Care, focusing on creating a suite of clinically proven options tailored to the diverse needs, preferences, and goals of its residents and clients across NSW and Southeast Queensland.
-ENDS-
About Whiddon
Whiddon is an award-winning care provider that aims to inspire every day in its 23 RAC homes, dedicated community care and NDIS support across NSW & Southeast QLD. Its purpose is to enrich people’s lives and make a real difference.
Whiddon has been providing exceptional care to older Australians and people with disabilities across regional, rural, and remote NSW and QLD for more than 75 years.
Whiddon proudly partners with academics and universities to remain at the forefront of innovation as it leads the latest thinking, programs, and training around quality of life and ageing.
