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Merle Health

Empowering Australians to thrive in retirement

Step Ahead is a human-led, tech enabled holistic wellbeing program for Australians who are either approaching, transitioning or in the early stages of retirement.

Transitioning into retirement reshapes many parts of life: your daily routine, sense of purpose, and social world. It’s also a key moment to invest in your wellbeing, choices made now can have a lasting impact on your long-term health and quality of life.

Australia’s population is ageing, with 2.5 million Australians set to retire over the next 10 years.¹ Many retirees go through a predictable journey, an initial honeymoon, followed by a period of real disorientation as purpose, identity and routine quietly disappear:

0 %

don’t meet National Physical Activity Guidelines2

0 %

struggle to find meaning or structure in their first year3

0 %

report feeling “socially adrift” within 12 months3

As a result, the rate of chronic conditions among retirees continues to rise, even though up to 80% are preventable through lifestyle changes⁴.

While Australians often receive comprehensive financial advice when planning for retirement, few are guided on how to protect their most valuable asset - their health.

The Step Ahead Program

Step Ahead is built around a simple insight: the retirees who thrive aren't always the ones with the most savings, they're the ones who find purpose, connection and structure sooner. Our program brings together coaching, digital tools and personalised support across the three dimensions that matter most in retirement: your physical health, your emotional resilience, and your social world. Together, they're what a long, genuinely fulfilling retirement is actually made of.

Our Three Pillars of Retirement Wellbeing

Social Health

Explore the importance of social connection and define what it means for you. Develop a plan that encourages deeper community engagement, builds lasting happiness, and helps protect against the risk of social isolation.

Emotional Health

Step confidently into this next chapter by uncovering your personal values, sense of purpose, and emotional needs. Our program supports you in navigating the psychological shifts that often accompany retirement.

Physical Health

Invest in your long-term vitality through regular targeted exercise, and balanced nutrition. Small, consistent actions can significantly reduce chronic disease risk, helping you to live stronger for longer.

Real support, from real people, with technology that makes it easier

How it works:

Initiate

Start by opening a case through our secure portal or app, and book your Retirement Readiness Assessment.

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Discovery

Connect with our team of Retirement and Wellbeing Coaches via video call to explore your goals, challenges, and overall needs.

Design

Work with your Coaches to design a personalised plan to optimise your Social Connection, Emotional Health, Exercise and Nutrition

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Take Action

Meet your Retirement Coach to put your plan into practice and build lasting lifestyle change.

App & Portal features

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