Fit for Office Wrap Up
Last week, our CEO, Barrie Elvish, presented at the ACE Conference hosted by the Australasian Society of Association Executives. With passion and insight, he spoke about the transformative impact of the Fit for Office campaign, detailing how it has fortified our advocacy efforts with Federal Politicians.
Barrie also presented the Fit for Office winners with their well-deserved certificates at Parliament House in Canberra. First place was awarded to the Hon. Dr. Andrew Leigh, followed by the Hon. Angus Taylor in second place, and Dr. Helen Haines in third. An additional highlight was the recognition of Christine Thorpe, the first female staff member in Dr. Haines' office, who also received her certificate.
We also seized the opportunity to engage with these politicians to reinforce our commitment to advocating for the implementation of a nationwide public health campaign. This campaign would increase the physical activity levels of our nation, fostering improved well-being for every Australian. With your help, we will continue to shape a healthier and more active future for our community.
Sustainability Project: Ecoactive
This month we’ve made good progress on ’Ecoactive’, AUSactive's Sustainability Project. This program is designed to support gyms and facilities in optimising their energy, water, waste, and chemical usage. Our overarching objective is to contribute to environmental conservation while delivering tangible benefits to businesses, including substantial energy cost savings and increased appeal to eco-conscious clients.
Thanks to a grant from the City of Sydney, we have initiated a pilot project in this local government area, and will expand it nationally to benefit all our members. To kickstart this initiative, we've enlisted a sustainability consultant who is conducting thorough environmental audits of gyms and facilities in the City of Sydney to identify areas for improvement.
Following these audits, detailed recommendations will be provided to enhance both environmental impact and cost-effectiveness. For instance, installing solar panels may be recommended, with repayments potentially lower than a typical monthly energy bill in some cases. Additionally, we're developing online dashboards that will showcase the energy and water savings achieved by facilities through this process. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our commitment to sustainable practices and positive impacts on both the environment and our members' bottom line.
If you are interested further information about the project please get in touch: [email protected]
Have your voice heard in the WA Fitness Code review
The Western Australian Government is currently conducting a review of the WA Fitness Industry Code of Practice and values your input on your experiences and opinions regarding the impact of the Code.
Implemented on July 1, 2021, the Fitness Code was drafted to ensure the optimal functioning of the fitness industry, enhance consumer confidence, and foster support and promotion of the sector as a whole.
AUSactive is actively participating in the government's review process and will be submitting a formal response. In our submission, we will advocate for the alignment of the WA Code with the ACT’s Fitness Code of Practice and AUSactive’s National Code of Practice. These aligned standards state that exercise professionals must complete relevant qualifications for their modalities, be affiliated with a registered association, and require all participants to complete a Pre-
Exercise Questionnaire before starting an exercise program. Such measures aim to safeguard consumers and uphold industry standards and integrity.
We will also propose expanding the Code's name to “Fitness and Active Health Code of Practice” to better reflect the diverse range of modalities present in our sector. This more inclusive title will comprehensively represent all facets of our industry, fostering a holistic approach to industry standards.
Your insights and experiences are crucial to shaping a Code that truly serves the needs of our community and maintains the highest standards of professionalism in the fitness and exercise industry.
To have your say, go to the government’s consultation page:
https://consultation.dmirs.wa.gov.au/consumer-protection/fitness-code-review/
The survey closes 5 January 2024.
