Kinect relaunches as Physical Activity Australia

Kinect Australia, the Melbourne-based fitness professionals registration and advocacy organisation, has announced that it will be operating under a new name - Physical Activity Australia.

Explaining the change, Chief Executive Fiona Bailey today wrote to industry colleagues stating "for the last 30 years we have always been in the business of physical activity and now our new name lets everyone know that.

"This name change supports our simple, but ambitious new vision; every day, every Australian, physically active.

"There are no changes to our National Registration scheme or our Program Accreditation scheme (and) you will begin to see our new name on some of our exercise professionals' materials from today and we will gradually roll out the additional materials over the next 12 months.

"As an organisation we are strengthening our focus on national policies and initiatives that will more effectively promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour. We want to make it easier for Australians to be physically active. This includes changing the thinking, attitudes and way we operate as a society. Simple public education messages around regular exercise have been tried for years and are not enough. Changing policy and practice across society is likely to be the most powerful and cost effective mechanism to address the obesity and chronic disease epidemics and support prevention.

"We will continue to support and implement health promotion campaigns, especially our annual national campaign - The Walktober Challenge in October."

Organisations working on physical activity related policy, or whorepresent the fitness and/or physical activity industries and would like Physical Activity Australia's support, are asked to contact Physical Activity Australia on 03 8320 0100.

The organisation also has a new website and has moved premises to Suite 1, 24 Albert Road, South Melbourne Victoria.

For more information go to www.physicalactivityaustralia.org.au