New health and wellbeing program helping NDIS participants lead a healthier lifestyle

Australian allied health and healthy meal delivery service, Kinela, has partnered with the Cerebral Palsy Alliance (CPA) to deliver The Better Health Program to deliver the innovative health program nation-wide.

The 10-week, evidence-based program aims to help participants reach a healthy weight range, increase physical activity, and improve nutritional intake and understanding around healthy eating. 

Delivered by CPA’s ESSA Accredited Exercise Physiologists (AEP) in collaboration with Kinela’s Accredited Practicing Dietitians (APD), each program is tailored to individualised goals, and takes a multi-discipline approach to enable participants to achieve life-changing outcomes.

Currently, National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants need to access multiple providers for their holistic health and wellbeing needs. To simplify this process, The Better Health Program sees CPA and Kinela share their services to deliver a multi-disciplinary service in one.

Kinela Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Karn Ghosh says the program brings together two of Australia’s leading health and wellbeing organisations within the disability sector.

“The Better Health Program combines CPA’s state-of-the-art gym facilities across the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and New South Wales (NSW) with Kinela’s best-in-class health services, meal delivery support and online therapy technology Australia-wide,” says Mr Ghosh.

“These services combined create a more simple, accessible and holistic way of managing health and wellbeing for Australians living with a disability nationwide. We’re incredibly proud to be delivering an initiative alongside CPA that has the potential to greatly impact the lives of so many for the better.”

Last month The Better Health Program pilot saw 10 people living with a range of disabilities access CPA and Kinela’s services. Participants experienced a range of improvements including weight loss (of up to 3.5kg), improved feeling of health, improved confidence, improved energy levels and improved satisfaction with their food choices.

Kinela dietitian and lead dietitian in The Better Health Program, Hannah Sweetnam says the program is a true testament to the powerful role that technology and innovation can play in driving personalised solutions for people with disabilities. 

“Our platform allows us to deliver the best-in-class programs and support to anyone in Australia, regardless of their disability type or location. Using this technology I can deliver truly engaging programs for our clients that deliver real, measurable results – and that means everything to me as a clinician,” she says.

One participant of the pilot program is 53-year-old Zell Goldman, who lives in a group home and has cerebral palsy. After completing the program, Zell lost a total 3.3kg in 10 weeks, and his overall feeling of health improved over 30 percent. His overall happiness with weight improved 150 percent and his energy levels improved almost 70 percent.

Zell says that since completing the program, he is making healthier choices daily.

“Previously I was having 1-2 cookies per day for morning tea, but I’ve now switched to snacks from the five food groups such as yoghurt and fruit while still enjoying a cookie once a week,” he says.

“I’ve also commenced Kinela’s nutritious ready-made meals and am loving these. Previously I was reliant on what the staff were able to cook for me, but these meals give me more choice and control, as well as regular veggie portions.” 

Other program participants also achieved successful health transformations, including Michael who lost 1.8kg during the program, and David who lost 3.5kg over the 10 weeks.

The Better Health Program is available nationwide for any NDIS participant through CPA and Kinela. For more information, visit the CPA website.