Bega Valley Health Service cardiac rehabilitation program coordinator, Rebecca O’Duibhir, said that despite the image of Australians being rugged outdoors or beach-loving people, many people increasingly sat anchored to their computer screens or lazing on the couch, oblivious to the real harm they were doing to themselves.

"When combined with the amount of time we spend sitting down at work or home, then the sheer scale of our inactivity becomes clear," Ms O’Duibhir said.

The trend towards physical inactivity among Australians was highlighted by data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which showed that only 60 per cent of Australians aged 15 years and over participated in physical sport and recreation in 2013-14.

This year, Heart Week will focus on physical inactivity and its contribution to chronic diseases. 

Using the banner 'Move More, Sit Less' the Heart Foundation aims to educate the public about the long-term social, health and economic risks of physical inactivity.

To assist educating local residents with heart disease and improve exercise capacity and quality of life, Southern NSW Local Health District is offering a free, eight-week cardiac rehabilitation program.

Ms O’Duibhir said the program was available to anyone with or at risk of heart disease, or those who have recently had a heart attack, angioplasty/stent or cardiac surgery.

“The free education sessions are conducted by a multidisciplinary team from the Bega Valley Health Service,” Ms O’Duibhir said.

One of the aims of the cardiac rehabilitation program was to assist participants to exercise and make lifestyle changes as well as providing social support for people with similar health problems, she said.

The program is held at Pambula Community Health on Thursday mornings and referral to the program can be made by GPs and hospital health professionals, or by phoning Bega Valley Community Health Intake on 1300 131 562.