Pat Farmer “Run for the Voice”
On the 22nd August I ran from Neutral Bay to the Opera House with the extraordinary Pat Farmer, ultramarathoner and ex Federal Politician as part of his Run for the Voice. This is a 14,400km run around Australia where he is raising awareness about the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum, over 6 months. Pat started in April 2023 in Hobart, Tasmania, and will finish on 14 October in Uluru. Pat is running up to 80km/day every day!
As a former politician who understands the importance of physical activity and exercise, it was a fantastic opportunity to leverage Pat’s experiences and knowledge to support our Fit For Office campaign.
Once we hit the Opera House, we were met by the Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore, the Federal Member for Sydney Tanya Plibersek and none other than the Prime Minister himself Anthony Albanese, to celebrate Pat’s achievements, so far.
I have so much admiration for Pat who is pushing himself to his physical limits because he is raising awareness about an issue that he believes in, so strongly. Similarly, it is why I want to drive the discussion amongst AUSactive members around our Fit For Office campaign, because politicians as leaders of the country should be acting as role models and leading by example to encourage Australians to move more often, which is important to tackling our inactivity and health crisis.
Image with AUSactive's Policy and Advocacy Officer- Mariana Ivantsoff and ultramarathoner and ex Federal Politician – Pat Farmer.
Review of the ACT Fitness Industry Code of Practice
AUSactive is pleased to see that the ACT government is reviewing its Code of Practice, because currently gyms and fitness centres are impacted by regulations where they must make an application to remain open and available for the public use during unstaffed hours.
During these times the following equipment must not be used by members (for safety reasons):
- Weight plates, free weights or dumbbells over 40kg
- Kettle bells
- Free weight bench press bar
- Free weight squat rack
AUSactive strongly supports a review of this Code so that our members can operate with weights over 40kg, kettlebells, a free weight bench press bar and squat rack, so that their clients can make full use of their facilities.
AUSactive maintains that to mitigate the risk of using this equipment during unstaffed hours, our members can follow our guidelines that provide safety instructions for the operation of 24 -hour gyms. Our other business members outside the ACT are already utilising these safety guidelines successfully.
Through this review, we would also like to see the Code Administration Committee reinstated so that we can monitor any regulatory changes are implemented by the Code, to report any feedback to the government.
AUSactive is speaking to its impacted members about this review, and welcome all feedback from our members in the ACT on the following questions:
- How would removing the condition to secure free weights during unstaffed hours affect you and your business operations?
- What strategies could fitness industry peak bodies and fitness centres adopt to address the safety and wellbeing of patrons using free weights during unstaffed hours?
- What strategies could fitness industry peak bodies and fitness centres adopt to mitigate noise and disturbance associated with the use of free weights during quieter night-time hours?
Please e-mail your responses to [email protected]: by Monday 18 September 2023.
Review of the Franchising Code of Conduct
The Government is reviewing its Franchising Code of Conduct.
AUSactive is delighted that the government is better recognising the importance of the active health and fitness industry and is keen for our members to contribute to this review.
One of our members was invited by the government to participate in discussions with Minister Collins, shadow minister Susan Ley, the Hon Bruce Billson Ombudsman as well as Treasury Kate O’Rourke and Gino Grassia to discuss small business success in Australia and the challenges that it is facing- as part of Code’s review.
If you are from the franchise and small business sector, we encourage you to share your feedback on the Franchising Code review, you can read all about it here: https://treasury.gov.au/consultation/c2023-436091
Send your submission via email to [email protected]. Submissions close on 29 September 2023.
Meeting with Service NSW
AUSactive met with Service NSW last month to talk about challenges and opportunities for small business in the active health and exercise industry.
We discussed progressing our NSW advocacy actions that include ours asks for the government that include:
- The NSW Government expanding the successful Active kids Vouchers for adult use, including in gyms, yoga and Pilates studios and for personal trainers offering supervised outdoor programs.
An expansion of Vouchers will encourage people across all NSW to increase their physical activity whilst supporting businesses impacted by the pandemic and cost of living pressures.
- The NSW Government taking action to address the skills shortage in the exercise and physical activity sector.
Considering exercise professionals are critical to ensuring people undertake exercise safely and effectively, the current post Covid skills shortage in the fitness industry in NSW is problematic. AUSactive is asking the government to work with us to provide fee-free VET sector places and create employment pathways for prospective students.
- The NSW Government follow Queensland’s lead and classify exercise and fitness facilities as ‘Essential Services’.
During the COVID-19 lockdowns fitness facilities were closed in NSW, significantly impacting people’s physical and mental health. Adults’ participation at the gym is second only to walking as a preferred physical activity and mental wellbeing is a strong participation motive for exercise with up to 37% of women saying they undertake physical activity for their mental health.
Queensland Health recognised the critical role gyms play when they declared health and fitness facilities as an essential service in December 2021. Whilst it’s unlikely NSW will go into lockdown again, declaring the industry as an essential service is an important form of insurance and will help build the sector’s longevity.
See you next month!
