Benefits of Croquet For Government

This policy brief presents the case for croquet clubs as a dual-benefit preventive health intervention for seniors — addressing both falls prevention and social isolation through a single, low-cost, community-based activity. It draws on 62 peer-reviewed and government sources.

Key Findings

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospital admissions in Australia, costing the health system $4.7–5 billion annually. One in three Australians aged 65 and over fall each year, resulting in 238,055 hospitalisations with an average stay of 9.5 days.

Social isolation compounds the problem. The Queensland Government's 2024 Social Survey found 62.5% of adults feel lonely at least some of the time. Loneliness costs the Australian economy an estimated $2.7 billion annually.

The evidence base for intervention is strong. Group-based exercise programs reduce fall risk by 40–64%, and centre-based programs outperform home-based alternatives. Active club participation is associated with 40% lower Medicare and 30% lower pharmaceutical costs over three years.

Croquet delivers the specific components shown to prevent falls — balance, coordination, grip strength — in a club setting that also addresses social isolation. The estimated return on investment from falls prevention alone is 200–1,280%, before counting social isolation benefits.

Strategic Recommendations

The brief proposes an annual investment of $500,000–$1,000,000 across Queensland croquet clubs, estimated to prevent 200–640 falls annually and yield $2–6.4 million in hospitalisation savings. Funding pathways already exist through the Gambling Community Benefit Fund ($60M+ annually), Minor Infrastructure Program, and Age-Friendly Community Grants.

Download

Croquet as a Seniors Health Intervention — Policy Brief (PDF, 8 pages, 62 references)