Our role in a world that makes it hard to be well

June 16, 2026

By Victoria Goodwin-Barlow, Group Health and Wellbeing Manager.

Following Global Wellness Day on Saturday 13 June, it feels like the right time to reflect on what it really means to be well, and the role our venues play in making wellbeing feel more possible for more people.

Being well has never been more talked about, and yet for so many of us, it feels harder than ever to achieve.

In Australia, around half the population are managing a chronic condition, with Australian Bureau of Statistics data showing 49.9 percent of Australians had at least one chronic condition in 2022. This rises significantly with age, with 86.6 percent of Australians aged 65 and over living with one or more long-term health conditions. At the same time, we are living longer, but not necessarily better. Research has also found Australia’s gap between lifespan and healthspan is around 12 years.

I think about this a lot.

I listened to a podcast recently that described the world we live in as anxiogenic (a cause of anxiety) and obesogenic (a cause of obesity). It stayed with me, not because it was new, but because it put words to something you can see everywhere when you start paying attention.

Because when you step back and look at how we live, it becomes clear to see.

A world working against wellbeing

Everything is designed to be easier. Less effort, less movement, more convenience. Food arrives without us leaving the sofa. Meetings happen without us leaving the chair. We take the car for the shortest trips, even when we don’t really need to. Lifts replace stairs. A watch reminds us to stand, but only for a moment.

At the same time, we are constantly stimulated. Doom scrolling without really meaning to. One episode turns into three. You sit down for five minutes and suddenly it’s an hour. We are always on, but never quite at rest.

And none of this is accidental. These environments are designed this way. They reduce friction for convenience, but in doing so, make it that extra bit harder to do the things that keep us well. Moving, resting, recovering, spending time with people face to face. All quite simple things, but we exist in a world where they now take more effort than they probably should.

It seems being well is becoming less about individual choice, and more about the world we live in. Because the reality is, most people are trying. But they are trying to be well in environments that are quietly working against them. And when you look at this way, what we do as custodians of the very places many people go to feel well starts to feel a lot more important.

Why our venues matter

We create spaces that make it easier for people to move, connect and feel well. And when it works, you can see it straight away.

The person who walks in a bit unsure and leaves a little more confident. A quick conversation that clearly lifts someone’s day. The same faces coming back, with it feeling easier each time.

Across our venues, it shows up in different ways, but it’s essentially the same thing. On a campsite, it’s the change in pace that comes with being outside and switching off properly. On a golf course, it’s movement and conversation without any pressure. In a pool, it’s accessible movement and building confidence. In gyms and classes, it’s structure, progression and a sense of doing something for yourself. In cafés and shared spaces, it’s people spending time together, which we all know in this epidemic of loneliness, is more important than ever.

They’re not really separate experiences when you think about it. They all play a role in supporting physical health, mental wellbeing and social connection.

And quite often, it’s the small things that make the biggest difference. A genuine welcome. Someone remembering your name. A quiet word at the right time.

As the world becomes more digital, more automated and more sedentary, this only becomes more important. Technology will absolutely help us run things better. But it’s not going to replace the need to move, to switch off or to feel connected to other people.

That’s where we come in. Helping people feel a bit better, a bit more like themselves and a bit more well. That’s why what we do matters more than ever.