We’re open for business!
Tomorrow, September 2nd, EQUIPD Allied Health is set to embark on a new journey, aiming to become a leader in the Exercise Physiology and community gym space. We can’t do it alone and look forward to bringing hundreds of clients along for the journey with us. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has shown support over the months —you all know how excited I am to bring this new space to you.
31 Days of Transformation
On August 1st, EQUIPD held a community feedback event in an entirely empty space, working around flooring contractors. Just 31 days later, we’ve completely transformed the gym, group fitness room, and office space, bringing new life to the facility. The equipment we once only dreamed of is now a reality, and we’re proud of what we’ve achieved so far, with great ambition for the future.
Group Fitness Timetable
We are excited to announce the finalised group fitness schedule, kicking off on Monday, September 2nd. A big thank you to the returning instructors and a warm welcome to the new faces you’ll soon see around our gym and group fitness programs. As we continue recruiting, we expect additional classes to be added based on class sizes and your feedback.
Check out the schedule at the link below or find a larger-size copy at the end of this newsletter. We received feedback that many of you couldn’t zoom into our last newsletter, so we hope this helps!
Open Gym
Starting September 2nd, the gym will open with significantly extended hours (see below). Please note that access is restricted during the EQUIPD Community Transition Program and Group Exercise Physiology classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. No booking is required, just check in at the front desk on arrival.
Gym Hours:
Monday: 7:00am – 1:00pm, 3:00pm – 6:00pm
Tuesday: 7:00am – 6:00pm
Wednesday: 7:00am – 1:00pm, 3:00pm – 6:00pm
Thursday: 7:00am – 6:00pm
Friday: 7:00am – 1:00pm, 3:00pm – 6:00pm
Plan Through September
Throughout September, we will focus on welcoming back our previous members and fine-tuning any minor issues. Our goal is to maintain the unique community dynamic that sets us apart. While marketing ramps up and we attract new members, our priority will be to ensure that our returning members feel right at home while new members feel welcomed into our community.
Grand Opening Launch Party – Save the Date
We are planning a grand launch party and inviting the member community, government stakeholders, the media, and everyone who helped bring this vision to life. Save the date: October 8th at 11 am! More details will follow, but we hope to see you there.
Equipment Update
Most equipment has arrived at Chifley, with just a few items still on backorder, including three fluid dynamics arm bikes, a LifeFitness cable stack, and a couple of smaller pieces. These are expected to arrive in the coming weeks, and you’ll find signs in the gym showing where they’ll be installed. If you have questions or need alternative equipment in the meantime, feel free to chat with our staff.
Streamlined Membership Process
Our membership process is now fully automated—no more physical forms! Simply provide your full name and email address to begin, and all necessary forms will be sent to your email for electronic signing. If you haven’t signed before your first session, our staff will have a device ready for you to complete the forms on-site.
To ensure your data is secure, and after learning lessons from the previous operator, we’ve eliminated physical forms to reduce vulnerability. Payment details are collected in person or over the phone and entered directly into our secure system, where they are encrypted and stored safely, with no direct access available to EQUIPD.
Offer For Previous Members In Alternate Contracts
We understand that some of our previous members have signed up with other gyms that have extended contracts, strict cancellation policies, or minimum payment requirements. We don’t want anyone to miss out on all the new equipment and activities at the Chifley Community Gym.
For a limited time, any previous member is welcome to use any existing membership from any gym to access the EQUIPD community gym and group fitness classes for the duration of their current contract. This means you can continue paying for your existing gym while your contract finishes, without missing out on what we have to offer at EQUIPD.
Please note that this offer only applies to memberships purchased before the 1st of August to avoid any misuse. We want to make sure everyone gets a chance to experience the exciting new changes we’re bringing to the community!
Exercise Physiology Services
With our equipment in place, members are welcome to access our Exercise Physiology services, especially if there’s been a change in your functional capacity or health history. While there’s no obligation to use these services if you feel confident resuming your workouts, you might find them beneficial.
We’re also excited to welcome Sierra, EQUIPD’s first University of Canberra placement student, who started last week. Sierra will assist members with new equipment and shadow Dylan during Exercise Physiology consultations.
Social Area
We’ve introduced a cold drinks fridge and coffee and tea station available for a small fee. All funds will go towards upgrading our social facilities, purchasing a modern machine, creating a community library, and expanding our presence in the social outcomes space.
Feedback Welcomed
As we re-establish services, we remain open to all member feedback. If you have suggestions for equipment placement, ideas for accessibility improvements, social activities, contacts we should reach out to, or any creative thoughts, we’d love to hear them.
