Frequently
asked questions

The Better Health Coaching Service is an evidence-based, phone health coaching service, for eligible adults living in South Australia. The program is free and confidential, and aims to support participants to improve physical activity, eating habits, reduce alcohol consumption and learn how to live healthier lifestyles. 

Coaching appointments are available from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). Our registration line for all other enquiries is available from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).

Once you’ve signed up, one of our friendly intake team members will contact you to confirm your registration within 1-2 business days.  

From there, you’ll have up to an initial 60-minute call and then another nine additional 30-minute phone coaching calls, with your own dedicated health coach. During your first call your coach will spend some time with you understanding your health and wellbeing goals, as well as any current challenges you’re experiencing with your health and wellbeing. Together you’ll set some achievable goals to work on throughout the upto 6 months program, and then during each follow up call your coach will support you with making plans to achieve those goals. 

Find out more about the kinds of topics you might cover here. 

To be eligible for the service you will need to be a South Australian resident between the ages of 18 and 74, with a BMI of 27 and over. The service is suitable for those seeking support for healthy eating, reducing alcohol intake, increasing physical activity, and/or maintaining a healthy weight.

If you’re unsure of your BMI please complete the sign up form and one of our friendly team members will give you a call to assess your eligibility.

The Better Health Coaching Service offers expert advice and motivation support to help South Australians to eat a healthy diet, get active and maintain a healthy weight in order to reduce the risk factors that can contribute to poor health.

BMI is used as an eligibility criteria as it is a quick and easy method for assessing weight status, and being above a healthy weight is a known risk factor for chronic disease.

If you’re ineligible to participate in the Better Health Coaching Service, talk to your GP or health professional about options that are best for you.

For tips on how to build healthy habits into your day, visit the Wellbeing SA website:

· Tips for being active https://www.wellbeingsa.sa.gov.au/your-wellbeing/being-active-healthy/movement-being-active/tips-for…

· Track your steps using the 10,000 Steps Program https://www.wellbeingsa.sa.gov.au/your-wellbeing/being-active-healthy/10-000-steps-program

· Tips for healthy eating https://www.wellbeingsa.sa.gov.au/your-wellbeing/being-active-healthy/eating-well/tips-for-healthy-e…

· Connecting in nature https://www.wellbeingsa.sa.gov.au/your-wellbeing/connecting-with-others/connecting-in-nature

· Looking after your mental health and wellbeing https://www.wellbeingsa.sa.gov.au/your-wellbeing/looking-after-your-mental-health-wellbeing

South Australians can re-enrol in the service if they:

• Have previously completed less than four coaching calls with either the Better Health Coaching Service or Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service, or
  
  
• Have previously completed four or more coaching calls with either the Better Health Coaching Service or Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service and have waited two years since they have had their last coaching session, and
  
  
• Meet the current eligibility criteria.

You can sign up online here, or give us a call on 1300 822 953 to register over the phone. 

We do accept health professional referrals but you don’t need a referral to register. You can easily sign up online here. 

The Better Health Coaching Services is free for eligible adults living in South Australia.

You can join the Better Health Coaching Service at any time, and you’ll be able to get started right away. After registering our friendly intake team will give you a call to book in your first coaching appointment, which can usually be scheduled within the week. 

As part of the Better Health Coaching Service you’ll have an initial 60-minute phone coaching call, and then nine additional 30-minute phone coaching calls. These can be scheduled at a time that suits you between 8am and 8pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Public Holidays). 

Outside of the calls, you might like to allocate some specific time each week to work on your goals – your coach will help you to work out how to best fit this into your day-to-day life. 

Yes, if required interpreting services can be used to access the service. 

If required, the National Relay Service can be used to access the service.

The Better Health Company has developed and continues to deliver the Better Health Coaching Service throughout Australia.   

Better Health Company works with a diverse range of partners and stakeholders to enable effective programs, training and resources to be implemented in local communities.  

To find out more about The Better Health Company, please visit www.betterhealthcompany.org  

The first coaching call will go for 60-minutes. This is a longer call so that we can get a detailed medical and personal history, and spend some time understanding your goals. After that, each call will be 30-minutes in duration. 

All coaching calls are confidential.

Our health coaches are all qualified health professionals e.g. dietitians, sports scientists and nurses who are trained and experienced with supporting healthy behaviour change. Typically you’ll have the same health coach who will support you right throughout the program.  

Meet some of our health coaches here. 

We know that ‘life happens’ so if you cannot make your designated coaching appointment time, please give our team a call at least 24 hours in advance and we’ll be able to reschedule your appointment.  Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours notice cannot be rescheduled. 

We know that ‘life happens’ so if you cannot make your designated coaching appointment time, please give our team a call at least 24 hours in advance and we’ll be able to reschedule your appointment.  Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours notice cannot be rescheduled. 

If you’re unsure if the program is right for you, please call the Better Health Coaching Service on 1300 822 953 to discuss your medical conditions further. Usually, a medical condition won’t prevent you from participating, but we may require medical clearance from your GP or treating health professional.  

We will ask you to answer a series of questionnaires before and after the program. This information helps us to understand your physical activity and eating habits, and deidentified data is also used to evaluate the success of the coaching service.

The Wellbeing SA, a state government agency, is required to collect, store, use and disclose your information in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (2014) and the Government of South Australia Information Privacy Principles.

Click here to view Better Health Company’s Privacy Policy.