Advocating for a Healthier Australia

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AUSactive is supporting the professionals and businesses in the exercise and active health sector to create a healthier Australia, and improve our national health and economic outcomes. We are relentless in our resolution to make sure our members are recognised for their contribution and their commitment to excellence in their chosen modalities. This includes working with, and on behalf of, the sector to drive the development of rigorous and well-recognised standards, education and accreditation programs.

Federal Advocacy Initiatives

Removing Barriers to Recognition

AUSactive is advocating for recognition of the contribution of exercise and active health professionals in improving general health, and for Medicare funding to be made available for their services.

The convergence of health measures such as physiotherapy, general medical practice, dietetics, alternative health therapies and personal training, is expected to increase, with personal trainers and the wider physical activity, exercise and fitness sector projected to further incorporate into general health and wellbeing services.

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Including Preventative Health in Federal Programs

AUSactive is advocating for registered, educated and experienced exercise professionals to be recognised to deliver safe, evidence-based exercise programs under My Aged Care and NDIS programs.

As Australia’s population continues to age, older age groups are becoming increasingly aware of health issues and endeavouring to exercise more to help extend their life expectancies. Exercise plays an important role for older age groups in maintaining (and sometimes restoring) independence, as well as social support and staying connected.

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Private Health Fund Reform

AUSactive is advocating for the Government to reinstate discretion to Private Health Funds so they may allow their clients to access rebates for physical activities such as gym, yoga and Pilates memberships, that prevent chronic disease and improve mental health. Health funds should also have discretion to allow their clients to access rebates for natural therapies.

Private Health funds are fully aware of the health and financial benefits that come from preventative health activities. Accordingly, they should be given full responsibility as to which activities and services they deem will be eligible for member rebates.

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State and Territory Initiatives

Expanding Active Kids Vouchers

AUSactive is advocating for States and Territories to expand their successful Active Kids Vouchers for adult use, including in gyms, yoga and Pilates studios and for personal trainers offering supervised outdoor programs. In addition, the ACT does not have an Active Kids Voucher Program and we are advocating that they should investigate implementing one.

Research indicates two thirds of Australians are keen to utilise vouchers to get physically active. If incentivised to the value of $100 per person, the return on investment to the health system is $3.11 per person for each $1 spent.

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Movement for Movement

AUSactive recommends States and Territories allocate funding for a Movement for Movement program, a public awareness and activation campaign that is a call to action to get people active.

This program will highlight the importance of physical activity in advancing health outcomes and building social connectivity within communities. AUSactive has already been successful in applying for a grant from VICHealth in Victoria and will be delivering recreation programs to disadvantaged children, and children with disabilities in regional areas.

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Connecting Preventative Health across Government Portfolios

AUSactive supports the creation of a specific Preventative Health Portfolio that connects Health and Sport and Recreation ministries across each state and territory government.

A Minister having specific responsibility for preventative health would have the mandate to address chronic illness in the community, particularly where health inequalities exist due to physical inactivity with lower socioeconomic groups and regional and remote communities.

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A Fitness Code of Practice

AUSactive is advocating for States and Territories to follow the lead of the ACT and implement a Fitness Code of Practice to instil consumer confidence and increase participation in exercise and active health practice.

A Code of Practice should be enacted to raise standards within the industry, ensure fitness staff are appropriately qualified and engage in continuing education, complete pre-exercise health screening and operate within defined scopes of practice. In addition, while a robust Code of Practice exists in the ACT, we are involved in positive conversations with the ACT Government about removing a clause that restricts gyms operating unsupervised, particularly with the use of free weights.

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Addressing the Skills Shortage

AUSactive recommends States and Territories to take action to address the skills shortage in the exercise and physical activity sector. TAFE fee-free places have been allocated in NSW and we are now advocating for this action across the nation, as well as for funding for RTOs to deliver these programs.

AUSactive supported the campaign which resulted in Queensland Health recognising the critical role gyms play when they declared health and fitness facilities as an essential service in December 2021. AUSactive recommends the NSW Government follow Queensland’s lead and classify exercise and fitness facilities as ‘Essential Services’.

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Peak Body Status

AUSactive is recognised as the peak body for exercise and fitness in Western Australia, which allows us to work with the government to deliver recreation programs.

We are now advocating for other States and Territories to now follow WA’s lead and endorse peak body status for AUSactive, to enable greater support for active recreation across the country.

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Local Goverment Initiatives

Waive the Permit Program

AUSactive is working with councils to cut red tape and make it easier for exercise professionals to conduct outdoor training sessions, so that the community can benefit.

AUSactive is delighted that Wangaratta and Casey Council in Victoria have made the outdoor exercise permit processes easier for our Business and Sole Trader Members.

Promoting the wellbeing of individuals and communities is fundamental to the work of local government. They have a major role in supporting the objectives of public health which includes increasing the physical activity of their residents.

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