Wellbeing for Australian Veterans and Emergency Services (WAVES)

Improving wellbeing through sport, exercise and community engagement

The Wellbeing for Australian Veterans and Emergency Services (WAVES) Program supports current and former military personnel and first responders, as well as their families, with their physical, emotional and social goals. This is through access to a range of exercise and wellbeing activities and allied health services such as exercise physiology and occupational therapy.

Beginning as the Invictus Pathways Program (IPP) in 2017, this world-first program was developed as a short-term pilot to support veterans in South Australia to prepare for the 2018 Invictus Games. It was motivated by the spirit of the Invictus Games to mobilise the benefits of sport to aid physical, psychological and social wellbeing. The Program was extended in 2019 to include South Australian first responders.

Since its establishment in 2017, the Program has evolved to provide a more holistic approach to training for improved health and wellbeing, relaunching and rebranding as WAVES in 2024.

The WAVES Program’s history and ongoing motivation is inspired by the spirit of the Invictus Games.

While some WAVES’ participants will strive to compete at national and international events, the WAVES Program is not exclusively focused on preparation for competition. Rather, WAVES now focuses on growth, development, health and fitness for life for participants with the aim of improving the wellbeing of veterans, first responders and their families, and the training of allied health students.

About WAVES

The WAVES Program:

Provides current and former military personnel and first responders (participants) with a 24-month student-delivered, individually tailored and culturally appropriate growth, development, health and fitness program. It is delivered by allied health university students under professional supervision in one-to-one sessions.

Membership of WAVES:

Once a member of WAVES, participants and alumni of the student-delivered program, and their family members, can access additional activities and workshops that will be advertised in the monthly WAVES newsletter.

Current and former military personnel of the Australian Defence Force – Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) – and first responders – including police, fire service and paramedics – based in South Australia are eligible to express interest in participating in the WAVES Program.

If you are interested in participating in the WAVES Program, please complete our expression of interest form.

The overarching goals of WAVES for all participants are to:

• Promote post traumatic growth via positive psychological or personal growth in the aftermath of a traumatic event (e.g. injury, psychological trauma, stressful life event etc.)
• Improve physical wellbeing
• Improve psychological and emotional wellbeing
• Promote community reintegration and participation.

How WAVES works

Following screening assessments and enrolment in the Program, the flagship program involves participation in exercise training sessions with an Adelaide University Exercise Science or Exercise Physiology student at a minimum of two sessions per week at Adelaide University gyms, for two years.

The students will be completing their placement hours and will be supervised and supported by the WAVES’ staff.

If you would like to hear more about the program, the following 10-minute podcast features Dr Max Nelson, Program Director at Adelaide University, who discusses the WAVES Program and the role of exercise to promote recovery and wellbeing for veterans and first responders:

Before starting your exercise training program, you will attend initial screening assessments at the Adelaide University Occupational Therapy and Exercise Physiology student-delivered clinics to support the development of your program.

NOTE: If a participant is not medically cleared/suitable for the WAVES Program, they will not progress past the initial screening assessments.

Within the WAVES Program, participants have access to student-delivered clinics including exercise physiology, physiotherapy, podiatry and occupational therapy.

WAVES' participants, alumni (previous participants) and their family members have access to additional activities and workshops provided by WAVES both during their time in the 24-month program and after transitioning out of the student-delivered program.

How does WAVES benefit me?

Participants have reported the following benefits from participating in WAVES: 

• Physical Health: increased mobility, strength, and overall fitness through regular exercise, rehabilitation and tailored support to help injury recovery, prevent further health deterioration, and maintain long-term fitness goals.
• Mental Wellbeing: improvements in mental wellbeing, mood, resilience, and reduced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Family and Social Benefits: positive changes in family dynamics, as well as motivating family members to adopt healthier lifestyles as well.

Student-delivered services

WAVES provides a unique opportunity for allied health students to gain valuable placement opportunities within the adaptive sports and wellbeing fields to support the physical, psychological and social wellbeing of returned service personnel and first responders, while working in collaboration with other students from other allied health professions. 

When undertaking their placement with WAVES, students have an intensive induction, attend tailored workshops and receive mental health support to prepare them to work with veterans and first responders. Students strengthen their understanding of the practical side of their degrees, while building meaningful relationships with the veterans and first responders they work with.

Students involved in the WAVES program have consistently reported a deeper appreciation for the population they serve and feel a deeper sense of meaning in their work.