AMPD Academy
Originally founded to meet the specific training requirements of its own venue management operations, Ampd Academy now embraces a broader mission to combat skill shortages across Australian…
read moreWith the NSW Government announcing further relaxations in COVID restrictions over the past week, Fitness Australia Chief Executive, Barrie Elvish has welcomed the easing, advising that “NSW citizens are keen to get back to any kind of new normality after 20 months of uncertainty”.
However, with restrictions being eased for nightclubs but still applying to group fitness, Elvish has pointed out “while most relaxations were understandable and clearly the result of balancing risks with reward - one sticks out as being illogical: continued group exercise restrictions.”
In an open communication issued today, Elvish (pictured below) writes “it is counter intuitive that people can go back to indoor entertainment venues including nightclubs, where dancing is permitted in larger numbers, but group exercise classes remain restricted to only 20 people.
“(So), let’s analyse the two contexts.
“Both settings require a two square metre social distancing; but that’s where the comparison ends. In a nightclub alcohol is readily available and, as the night progresses, it is safe to assume that social distance barriers will dissolve and, depending on the participants and their inhibitions, or not, physical contact will be prevalent.
“Apart from a possible resident DJ the dance floor activities will also be unsupervised until the club closes many hours later.
“Now consider that environment with a group exercise class where there is no social contact, a safety motivation to maintain social distancing, no alcohol and the class is supervised from start to finish, approximately 45 minutes later.
“Imposing an unnecessary class/group size limitation on fitness, health and exercise facilities denies many individuals from their chosen exercise regime, with their friends, in an environment where all participants are double vaccinated and in facilities with the sole purpose to improve their mental and physical wellbeing.
“Even the most concerned Health official must acknowledge that group exercise is a significantly safer activity.”
Elvish concludes by asking NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet to explain.
Indoor Play Centres reopen in NSW
Other lockdown easing in NSW, has seen, as of last Wednesday (3rd November), NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard signing an amendment to the Public Health Order allowing indoor play centres to reopen.
This amendment was effective immediately.
8th November 2021 - 22% of Australia gym goers cancelled their membership due to COVID-19
2nd November 2021 - NSW COVID-19 roadmap changes again for the fully vaccinated
1st November 2021 - Australia’s first Fire Fit gym opens in Sydney suburb
28th October 2021 - Sydney gym faces member backlash over vaccination stance
27th October 2021 - New COVID-19 cases linked to Sydney CBD gym
21st October 2021 - 2021 Fitness Australia Award winners announced
15th October 2021 - NSW Premier announces end of quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers
9th October 2021 - Confusion over NSW Government’s reopening vaccination rulings for gyms and fitness centres
8th October 2021 - Fernwood Fitness looks to reopen Greater Sydney and NSW clubs at midnight on Monday
7th October 2021 - NSW Premier Perrottet announces further lockdown easing with more pool activities set to be allowed
4th October 2021 - Revised NSW reopening roadmap will see early opening of indoor pools for lessons
1st October 2021 - Fitness Australia looking for guidance on vaccination requirements for reopening NSW gyms
14th September 2021 - Fitness Australia’s Barrie Elvish ‘perplexed’ by ongoing restrictions on operation of exercise facilities in regional Victoria
9th September 2021 - New Les Mills Global Fitness Report suggests members ready to ‘flock’ back to facilities
8th September 2021 - Fitness Australia survey reveals NSW members against vaccine passports and staff vaccinations
7th September 2021 - Fitness Australia launches dedicated Aqua Exercise Instructor registration
20th August 2021 - Fitness Australia slams Northern Territory Government’s decision to keep gyms closed
19th August 2021 - Fitness clubs shut and with no ‘take away’ for 30% of days since March 2020
31st July 2021 - Nine businesses in Bondi banned from selling takeaway liquor for seven days
29th July 2021 - Fitness Australia advises of concessions achieved for gym reopenings
21st July 2021 - Fitness Australia calls for ‘JobKeeper 2.0’ as Coronavirus lockdowns widen
3rd July 2021 - Fitness Australia invites input on industry trends survey
2nd July 2021 - Prime Minister Scott Morrison reveals four step plan to take Australia beyond the COVID-19 pandemic
9th June 2021 - Fitness Australia and Vic Active demand exercise facilities be allowed to open in regional Victoria
23rd March 2021 - Fitness Australia says industry ‘continues to strengthen’ 12 months since COVID-19 shutdowns
24th February 2021 - Fitness Australia welcomes NSW Government’s lifting of gym class numbers to 50 people
23rd February 2021 - Fitness Australia’s Barrie Elvish highlights the value of health
12th February 2021 - Fitness Australia disappointed at NSW Government’s easing of restrictions for all indoor venues except gyms
4th January 2021 - Fitness Australia calls for Federal government to introduce national plan to improve physical activity rates
17th November 2020 - Fitness Australia Chief Executive questions why gyms must close but pubs can stay open
29th October 2020 - Fitness Australia advise that risk of infection in a gym is less than ‘one in a million’
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