Queensland Education Minister announces Fitness Passport agreement for staff wellbeing

A significant announcement from Queensland Education Minister Di Farmer will see all Department of Education staff, including teachers, principals, teacher-aides, office staff and cleaners and their families given discounted access to the Fitness Passport health and wellbeing initiative.

The exclusive program offers a choice of hundreds of fitness facilities near home and work at a discounted rate all on the one pass for the 95,000 employees of the Department of Education.

Fitness Passport provides access to a choice of fitness facilities close to a staff member’s home and work at a discounted rate.

The program has been a huge hit already on the Gold Coast and Scenic Rim with 3490 Department of Education signed up members in the department where it has been available since 2018.

Now a new agreement between the Education Department and Fitness Passport offers Education employees throughout Queensland and their families the chance to participate in the program.

It provides choice from an extensive network of facilities with financial savings up to 50%, unlike traditional gym memberships which typically grant access to one facility.

Most Queensland Government departments have contracts with Fitness Passport, which involves no fees or charges for the participating agency.

Providing access to Fitness Passport is in line with the Department of Education’s Staff Wellbeing Framework and the Queensland Government’s wider community objectives.

Announcing the agreement, Minister Farmer stated “exercise is such a great way to be healthy and happy and I am pleased to announce the expansion of the Fitness Passport to every Education Department employee in Queensland.”

She added “this is an opportunity for teachers, principals, teacher-aides, school office staff and cleaners to access discounted access to fitness facilities near where they live or work.

“Fitness Passport provides an opportunity for staff and their families to improve physical wellbeing and for the department to demonstrate support for their physical, psychological and social wellbeing.

“The Fitness Passport operating model enables staff to benefit from discounts with gyms and fitness centres across Queensland and Australia, reducing potential cost barriers for staff and family members to access a variety of fitness and physical activity options.”

For more information on Fitness Passport go to www.fitnesspassport.com.au/