| Fit For Good |
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Fit for Good is the fitness industry's charitable foundation designed to provide health and fitness opportunities to Australians in need.
Click here to download 'In Kind Support' PDF
The Initiative Fit for Good is an initiative of the Australian Fitness Network, a professional association with a Who does Fit for Good help? Fit for Good works directly through Mission Australia Community Service and Employment Service Centres to support their clients and services with health and fitness initiatives. We work on an individual level – that is, case workers apply to us to provide their clients with gym memberships, exercise footwear and clothing, personal training or mentoring and at a centre level – that is that Mission Australia drug and alcohol, homeless, youth and employment centres can apply to have volunteer fitness professionals teach classes, deliver healthy lifestyle land/or motivational lectures and have fitness equipment provided to develop fitness facilities within their centres. The following testimonial speaks of the work we have done so far: "We have been fortunate to work with Fit for Good for six months and have been impressed and delighted with their professionalism and support. Fit for Good provide us with valuable volunteering and partnership opportunities which in the not for profit industry are few and far between. Lisa and her team have considerable knowledge about our business and moreover understand with compassion what many of our clients are facing. They connect us with benefits that take into account our needs and deal directly with our service staff and the feedback from our staff is consistency glowing. We are very fortunate to have Fit for Good as a partner and we look forward to a long term relationship with them." Tabitha Feher Examples of whom we have helped and what we have done since our launch in April 2011:
Provision of 'Fitness Packs' to 18 residents of Mission Australia's Triple Care Farm. When packs were delivered, Fit for Good Ambassador Janelle Abbott told her personal story of how exercise helped her fight her battle with mental health and Lisa Champion, Fit for Good's founder, spoke of the power of exercise for overcoming mood disorders. Ashleigh Holmes, a Case Coordinator at Triple Care Farm says, "Fit For Good has been a fantastic organisation that has assisted the youth at-risk within our service in re-establishing health and fitness options back into their lives. Our clients are aged from 16-24 and come from a range of backgrounds that have resulted in a number of drug and alcohol issues which has further resulted in a deterioration of health and fitness. Fit For Good has helped to enhance the lives the youth involved in our program by providing exercise footwear and clothing so the young people can begin to transform their health and fitness, weekly yoga classes are offered to our clients thanks to Fit For Good and all of our clients have the exercise attire to attend our onsite gym on a regular basis, support within the community through gym memberships for clients who have graduated from the program has also been a wonderful contribution from Fit For Good. The joy and excitement that our clients have upon first being informed that there is an organisation out there which is willing to provide assistance to help them achieve their health and fitness goal's is the motivation that they need to help them transform their lives." We are also assisting Triple Care Farm with the development of a fitness centre on their 100-acre property and will be sourcing 2nd hand equipment and, if finances allow, providing additional support to turn their facility into a well-equipped centre. Consulting with Mission Australia Housing on the development of a fitness facility in a brand new homeless program called Common Ground in Camperdown, Sydney. This collaboration has resulted in connecting a donor who wanted to give $36,000 of nearly new fitness equipment to Fit for Good. The equipment will now be placed in the Common Ground facility for the 52 residents who were previously homeless. Fit for Good will also be working with Common Ground to provide fitness professionals to consult and contribute to the running of this facility. Provision of volunteer personal trainer, footwear and clothing to men involved in a homelessness support program in Parramatta, Sydney. This project has been going for 10 weeks and will commence with their participation in the Sun Herald City to Surf on Sunday 21 August 2011. Provision of a complimentary gym membership, footwear and clothing to Mission Australia clients in Sydney, Darwin, Brisbane and Wollongong. Currently receiving approximately 5 requests per week from around the country for this 'package'. Designing and implementing a plan for a 32 year old woman, recently released from prison and being supported by Mission Australia in Brisbane, who went from 160 kgs to 80 kgs while in prison and now wants to continue with her health and fitness journey. She has been given a free gym membership, personal training with a volunteer, footwear, clothing and, after review in three months, will be eligible to apply for a scholarship to complete her Certificate III in Fitness. Currently we have five Scholarship Applications pending for young people who have experienced hardship to complete their Certificate III and Certificate IV in Fitness. These will be assessed and reviewed within the next several weeks. We also have fitness professional volunteers on standby to mentor and encourage these applicants should their scholarships be rewarded. Provision of Reebok apparel and donated 2nd hand exercise shoes to the Gapuwiyak, Galiwin'ku, Yirrkala, Nhulunbuy and Gunyangara communities in East Arnhem Land - approximately 600km from Darwin. This occurred via the Miwatj Health Corporation which works closely with Mission Australia services in Darwin. Eddie Mulholland, CEO of Miwatj Health, said that they are always extremely grateful to receive exercise clothing and footwear. Eddie and his team are working hard to promote involvement in all types of sport and fitness. Running of 2nd Hand Footwear and Footy Boot drives around the country to be sent to the above-mentioned communities.
Words from Mission Australia's CEO – Toby Hall "Mission Australia applauds the Australian Fitness Network on its Fit for Good initiative and its ambition to transform the lives of individuals and families in need. There's no question that physical fitness, regular exercise and a good diet can make a significant contribution to improving a person's mental health and outlook on life. Mission Australia's own health and fitness initiatives with homeless people- many of whom have mental health issues - have produced very positive results. We look forward to working with Fit for Good on these very exciting initiatives." Words from Mission Australia's National Marketing Manager for Community Services – Tabitha Feher "We have been fortunate to work with Fit for Good for six months and have been impressed and delighted with their professionalism and support. Fit for Good provide us with valuable volunteering and partnership opportunities which in the not for profit industry are few and far between. Lisa and her team have considerable knowledge about our business and moreover understand with compassion what many of our clients are facing. They connect us with benefits that take into account our needs and deal directly with our service staff and the feedback from our staff is consistency glowing. We are very fortunate to have Fit for Good as a partner and we look forward to a long term relationship with them."
Words from Australian Fitness Network's Managing Director – Nigel Champion "Australian Fitness Network is extremely proud to be supporting the fitness industry's charitable foundation – Fit for Good. As corporate sponsors, we provide financial assistance for the centralized costs of running Fit for Good and are committed to using our vast network of fitness professionals, fitness centre owner and managers and fitness businesses to spread the message of what Fit for Good is doing and to encourage as many people involved in our industry to get on board with their support. The work of Fit for Good is important on so many levels – for the clients who are in need, for spreading the word about the power of exercise in the journey of life and to show that the fitness industry has compassion, care and concern for those who would not normally be able to afford our services. We are 100% fully behind Fit for Good!"
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membership base of over 10,000 fitness professionals. Network is the leading source of information, education and events for people working within the fitness industry in Australia (see www.fitnessnetwork.com.au for more information). Network hosts FILEX, a convention for over 2000 fitness professionals, in April each year.