Healthspan institute adding life to your years
Seeking trust and sharing wisdom
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The HealthSpan Institute at UWA is a distinctive collaboration undertaking research, teaching, practitioner training and researcher training to provide services to the community which enhance their physical or mental health or wellbeing with a goal of promoting a longer span of healthy life.
What is HealthSpan
HealthSpan is the period of life spent in good physical, cognitive, emotional and social health. While advances in healthcare have increased life expectancy, many people spend their later years living with chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, dementia and other age-related conditions. HealthSpan focuses on delaying or preventing these conditions and supporting people to remain active, independent and engaged throughout life. HealthSpan is about adding life to our years, not simply years to our lives. It emphasises prevention, early intervention, healthy behaviours, supportive environments and evidence-based innovation across the whole life course.
News and events
Join the UWA HealthSpan Institute on 26 November 2026 for HealthSpan Insights, exploring the latest evidence on obesity, healthy ageing and emerging weight management therapies. Hear new findings from the landmark TREx study alongside insights into nutrition, sleep, health economics and incretin-based treatments. Discover what the evidence means for health outcomes, productivity, workforce participation and healthy ageing.
Morning | 9:00am-12:00pm
THE HEALTHY WORKFORCE ADVANTAGE: IMPROVING HEALTHSPAN, PARTICIPATION & PRODUCTIVITY
Beaumonde On The Point, Perth
An executive briefing for senior leaders responsible for workforce strategy, people and culture, health and safety, and organisational performance.Evening | 6:00pm-9:00pm
TREATING OBESITY TO EXTEND HUMAN HEALTHSPAN: EVIDENCE, OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLANGES
Wesfarmers Lecture Theatre, The University of Western Australia
Resistance training key to maintaining muscle function during GLP-1 weight loss
A world-first study has revealed that resistance (weight) training not only preserves lean and muscle mass but also increases strength in people taking weight-loss medication.
HealthSpan platforms
Health Hubs
The Health Hubs provide personalised preventive health assessments and interventions, helping individuals improve their health and wellbeing through tailored, interdisciplinary care.
Bringing together expertise across allied health, life sciences and primary care, the Hub offers integrated support in areas such as sleep, physical activity, nutrition and mental health.
The Hubs also support interdisciplinary practitioner and researcher training through community-based services, creating benefits for both students and the wider community while contributing to research that advances preventive healthcare.
Research Academy
Fosters community-engaged translational research focused on optimizing HealthSpan.
Enables consumer input into preventative health research priorities.
Enhances inter-disciplinary collaboration and research capacity building across UWA.
Knowledge Exchange
The Knowledge Exchange is UWA’s trusted public voice for evidence-based information on staying healthy and reducing the risk of future illness and hospitalisation.
It creates a direct connection between leading researchers, health practitioners and the community through public forums, webinars, podcasts and discussions focused on preventive health.
The initiative also supports lifelong learning through micro-credentials and continuing education opportunities for both community members and health professionals.
Policy and Industry Hub
Prevention, Policy & Industry Partnerships develop practical, evidence-based solutions that improve health outcomes.
Working with government, industry and community partners, we translate research into policy, services, workforce development and innovation.
This platform also supports the development of trusted health products and services while helping address future workforce and training needs.
Contact us
Let's shape the future of health together
Whether you are interested in research, partnerships, education or community engagement, we'd love to hear from you.