Launch of Woolworths Healthy Life Report
In the last month, AUSactive made a significant contribution to Healthy Life’s launch of their “Living Healthy Report 2023”, which tells a story about Australians’ health and wellbeing, how we’re coping in challenging times, how much of our burden of disease is preventable, and the opportunities for us to work together towards a brighter future. The report was launched by the Hon. Ged Kearney, Federal Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care and was hosted by Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci. AUSactive’s research with Deakin University “A More Active Australia for a Healthier Nation” was highlighted to show the mental and physical inactivity challenges Australians are facing since the pandemic and the Healthy Life Report strongly supported our initiatives to meet these challenges by increasing physical activity to deliver improvements in addressing major chronic conditions- to ultimately deliver health and economic benefits across the country.
Barrie Elvish new Chair of World Active
Our CEO Barrie Elvish was elected as Chair of World Active, that is the worldwide representative voice of the fitness and physical activity sector, working for a physically active, healthier world. This shows the recognition AUSactive has on a global scale in the context of our leading role representing our members at all levels of government across Australia to inform policy change, and to drive recognition of our sector's role in improving preventative health outcomes. Barrie is looking forward to supporting the members of World Active through international collaboration, research, advocacy, and credibility.
Fixing Medicare
Barrie presented an inspiring report at the AusFitness Industry Summit that outlined ten recommendations to government, asking them to enact meaningful policy change in our sector to include how the physical activity, fitness and exercise sector can save Medicare. Genuine review needs to look at how the health system can work to prevent disease rather than just rehabilitate people once they have developed a condition – and this is where our sector comes to the rescue. AUSactive would like to see our registered professionals recognised under Medicare, to deliver preventive health programs to stop people from developing chronic conditions, enhancing their wellbeing, facilitating social connection and providing strength training, especially to keep older adults independent.
Meeting with David Southwick MP, Victorian Shadow Minister for the Commonwealth Games
AUSactive’s Chris Alexander General Manager, Industry Standards & Development and Adam Howes, Health & Fitness Manager at Quality Accredited facility Monash Sport Caulfield Campus met with David Southwick MP, who is responsible for many shadow ministries in Victoria including being the Shadow Minister for the Commonwealth Games, to celebrate the announcement of AUSactive’s VicHealth jumpstart grant. This coincided with the International Day of Sport for Development, which this year, highlighted the importance of advancing the health of marginalised groups, such as people with disabilities. Supported by VicHealth, AUSactive will deliver a program to engage adolescents with a disability who live in regional Victoria in physical activity.
Other Meetings with Politicians
During a recent meeting with AUSactive’s 2022 Exercise Instructor of the Year, Korin Koutsomihalis to present her with her Professional Accreditation certificate, I also met with the local NSW State MP and Kiama Deputy Lord Mayor to talk about ways we could get exercise professionals better recognised under My Aged Care to deliver services to older adults. Korin’s Soulfit spin class features an incredible 102-year-old client and many other wonderful community members, and is a prime example of the importance of physical activity and preventative health programs for older populations, as delivered safely by educated and experienced professionals.
This month Barrie will meet with the Federal Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and the Federal Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health to talk about how AUSactive can increase physical activity as a preventative health measure.
Skip the Permit and Local Government Forum
We are continuing to advocate for AUSactive professionals who conduct programs in outdoor open spaces, that any licence fees be waived (being our ‘Skip the Permit’ program). We are working with all councils to cut red tape and make it easier for trainers to conduct outdoor training sessions, so that the community can benefit. In a recent instance, AUSactive has reached out to our members who live and work in the Sutherland Shire Council to let them know of proposed fee increases to outdoor permits. AUSactive has written to and spoken to Sutherland Shire to express our concerns that the proposed fee increases will create a barrier to Personal Trainers conducting their business outdoors in the Sutherland Shire.
We are continuing this important work in local government areas around the country, because councils should be making it easier for all residents to be physically active by adopting policy and planning approaches that can enable all of the community to engage in active recreation and to support their increased participation in leisure activities. Outdoor group exercise provides an opportunity for communities to increase their physical and mental wellbeing, enjoy being active in nature and to socially connect with people in their neighbourhood.
Also this month we are holding a virtual Local Government Forum on 18 May to talk about a range of health and wellbeing initiatives and services to encourage and support councils to deliver physical activity programs in their community. All local government representatives are invited to attend and if you are an interested, please reach out to me at [email protected] to register your interest by Thursday 11 May 2023.
