AusLeisure

Fitness Australia’s ongoing advocacy for gyms to be considered essential services due to the important role regular and consistent exercise in physical and mental health has been backed by Victoria’s Shadow Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events David Hodgett.

With Victoria in a strict Coronavirus lockdown regime, Fitness Australia has been advocating the vital role gyms, health and fitness centres and personal training have in the physical and mental health of the community as well as the push to have the health and fitness industry classified as an essential service.

Backing this stance, Hodgett, the State Member for Croydon, has this week backed the peak body in what Fitness Australia Chief Executive, Barrie Elvish says is an “important letter of support” that is “a significant step forward for the industry”.

The Shadow Minister’s letter states “the mental health and well-being of people during the (Victorian) Government’s lockdown restrictions is a major concern as people are forced to deal with the loss of freedom, the challenges of isolation, fear for loved ones, and concerns about income and employment - all which can take a significant mental health toll.

“Whilst I am not privy to the data and information the Victorian Government relies on to make decisions in relation to the classification of essential industries, the Andrews Government could reclassify the health and fitness industry in Victoria to an essential service and allow gyms and fitness centres to operate if social distancing, good hygiene practices, no shared equipment and so on are strictly adhered to.

“It’s astounding that you are not allowed to drive within 5kms of your house to exercise, yet you can drive your pet dog to a local dog park for them exercise.  Two people are allowed to walk or run together, but an individual is not permitted to be trained one-on-one by a personal trainer.

“The current restrictions are not at all supportive of the health and wellbeing of Victorians.

“I fully support the reclassification of the health and fitness industry in Victoria and again I note and acknowledge the role gyms and health and fitness centres play in the physical and mental health and well-being of people.”

Fitness Australia has also calling for the Victorian Government to apply what it says would be a “common sense” move “to allow Melbourne personal trainers access to their place of work to safely film digital content to ensure people have access to a variety of safe exercise options while in lockdown”.

Elvish said during national gym closures thousands of Australians turned to online personal training, live streaming of classes and fitness videos to ensure they could keep active in isolation. He said it was time for the Victorian Government to allow this to happen during the current Stage 4 Lockdown.

Related Articles

21st August 2020 - Belgravia Foundation rolls out mental health training for Belgravia Leisure staff

19th August 2020 - FITREC highlights ‘heartbreaking’ impact of Victoria’s Coronavirus lockdown

19th August 2020 - Victorian Chief Health Officer lifts restrictions on Melbourne residents driving to exercise

14th August 2020 - ISPO identifies health orientation as key fitness trend in post Coronavirus-world

13th August 2020 - Fitness Australia counters ‘misinformation’ that suggests gyms are a hotspot for COVID-19

12th August 2020 - Australia’s Chief Medical Officer says ‘high risk’ live music events are still a long way off

9th August 2020 - Gym owner calls for online protest over new NSW fitness club regulations

8th August 2020 - Les Mills Asia Pacific invites Victorian instructors and fitness enthusiasts to invest in themselves

7th August 2020 - Federal Government adds $15 billion to JobKeeper scheme to aid Victorian businesses

29th July 2020 - OneMusic introduces fee relief for customers in the fitness and wellbeing sector

19th July 2020 - Without JobKeeper 60% of Australian fitness businesses will close in less than a month

23rd June 2020 - VicHealth announces new funding for community sports clubs across Victoria

15th June 2020 - Fitness Australia calls for national consistency in state government gym reopenings

10th June 2020 - Fitness Australia releases new industry code of ethics

26th May 2020 - Call for fitness industry stakeholders around the world to unite on 1st June

31st March 2020 - With clubs closed fitness providers go online

24th March 2020 - FITREC’s Dennis Hosking slams ‘cavalier and irresponsible approach’ of Fitness Australia in promoting continuation of outdoor training services

16th April 2019 - MP presents $1.5 million novelty cheque to sports club despite funds not being approved

23rd October 2018 - Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events and Minister for Sport recognised with industry communication and marketing award

7th November 2017 - ‘Political’ appointments overshadow move to majority female board for Australian Sports Commission

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.