Fitness Australia expands Keep on Moving campaign and builds industry advocacy

Fitness Australia has provided an update on its ‘Keep on Moving’ Campaign, launched last week to highlight the importance of populations keeping active and continuing a regular exercise routine during the Coronavirus crisis.

During the first week of the campaign, Fitness Australia advises that its media activity resulted in more than 370 pieces of coverage as, the peak body explains "we continue to lead the conversation about keeping active".

No it is moving into Phase 2 of the campaign which includes highlighting the impact closures are having on Australia’s fitness industry.

Fitness Australia will also continue to advocate for greater awareness on the benefits exercise has on people's immune function, physical and mental wellbeing – particularly as populations face increasing levels of anxiety in the community and enforced isolation.

Fitness Australia has also provided the following update on its ongoing activities:

Industry Impacts
Over the coming days a survey will go out to all Fitness Australia members regarding financial losses, gym membership cancelations and other business impacts as a result of this week’s gym closures.
The findings of this survey will form a report titled COVID-19 Fitness Industry Impacts to Date, that will be used as part of our government advocacy and media relations campaign.
 
Getting involved with ‘Keep on Moving’
‘Keep on Moving’ Phase 2 will also include more opportunities for gyms, personal trainers and their members and clients to be involved in the community awareness aspect of the campaign.

A new campaign website will be launched this weekend which will provide Australia’s 4 million gym members access to virtual workouts from our partners and members, information on PTs delivering permitted outdoor training and boot camps as well as the latest news and information.

As previously advised, Fitness Australia has already raised more than $50,000 to spearhead this campaign and get it up and running. The more we can do, the bigger impact we can have on people’s lives.

People can get involved and show their support for the ‘Keep on Moving’ community awareness campaign via our Go Fund Me campaign. 100% of all funds raised will go directly to this campaign.
 
Advocacy
Fitness Australia will continue to build momentum and critical mass support for the fitness industry through the development and distribution of a digital ‘Advocacy Pressure Pack.’

The pack is designed to equip us and the community with the tools to advocate for maintaining fitness during COVID-19 and, in consultation with health authorities, reopen gyms safely sooner rather than later for the benefit of everyone, not just Fitness Australia members.

The pack will include an open letter to the relevant Minister, information about our GoFundMe campaign for individuals and other organisations to publicly show their support, and newsletter and social media assets to use for digital advocacy.

Once this digital pack is ready it will be provided to all members to share with their membership networks.

In addition, Fitness Australia will be calling on the government to urgently kick off the World Health Organization’s Global Action Plan on Physical Activity (GAPPA), which Australia has signed up to. As fitness industry leaders, we believe Fitness Australia and its members can play a pivotal role in driving and implementing this campaign.

As we continue to work together through this changing environment, a unified industry is a strong industry that will survive these trying times.