A Well Overdue Update
It may have been a little while since our last edition, but the team hasn’t slowed down for a second. Since the last issue we’ve continued to welcome new staff and students, reshaped the timetable, stood alongside the profession at Parliament House and spent plenty of time out in the community, so there’s a lot to catch up on.
The gym has never been busier, recently setting new records with 693 check-ins in our best week and 158 check-ins on our best day. For some perspective, when we celebrated our first birthday last year our best week sat at 472 check-ins and our best day at 120. We’ve now passed 49,500 total check-ins since reopening in September 2024, and we’ll be keeping a close eye out for our 50,000th visitor over the next few days!
Thank you to everyone who keeps the space so lively and welcoming, whether you drop in now and again or you’re here every morning before the coffee machine has warmed up.
Telstra Best of Business Awards
ACT State Winner
Hot off the press, we are so excited to announce that EQUIPD Allied Health has been named the ACT State Winner of the Change Award for the 2026 Telstra Best of Business Awards. The Change Award recognises businesses making a purposeful and positive impact for people and communities, which is exactly what we set out to do when we reopened the gym just over two years ago.
We couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve been able to bring back to the community. An award like this is never about one person. It reflects a team who look after members, clients and students every day with real care and skill, and a community that has backed this place from the very first day. Thank you to every one of you. Your stories gave us plenty to write about.
Dylan will travel to Hobart later in November to pitch EQUIPD for the National Change Award, with national winners also considered for Telstra Business of the Year. With more than 20,000 businesses reportedly entering this year, being recognised just two years in already means a great deal. We’ll let you know how we go.
Yoga Update
Ingrid has unfortunately had to step back from teaching Chair Yoga, Yoga and Vinyasa Yoga for the time being. A big thank you to Ingrid for everything she’s brought to our yoga classes since reopening. The good news is she’s still teaching her weekly Meditation class, now on Thursdays from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. To keep things running smoothly, the following changes are already in place:
Chair Yoga (Tuesday and Thursday, 1:00pm) is now Low EverActive
Yoga (Tuesday and Thursday, 2:15pm) is now Pilates
Vinyasa Yoga (Tuesday, 6:00pm) has been removed for the time being
A reminder that Low EverActive is a chair-based exercise class focusing on strength, mobility and balance in a safe, low impact environment, so it’s a great option for anyone who enjoyed Chair Yoga. Our new pilates offering keeps the strong mat-based intensity many of you loved in Yoga with some new equipment to challenge core stability, flexibility and muscular endurance.
Group Fitness Timetable Update – From 2 November
We’re also taking the opportunity to give the rest of the timetable a bit of a glow up, building on what we’ve learnt and piloting some new class times. From Monday 2 November:
Tuesday 8:00am EverActive becomes High EverActive
A new EverActive class starts on Tuesdays at 11:45am
New Pilates classes start on Mondays at 11:45am and Wednesdays at 1:00pm
Friday 8:00am becomes Functional Fitness, still the same class led by Duncan
Supportive EverActive unfortunately didn’t get the engagement we’d hoped for at its current times, so we’re heading back to the drawing board and looking at afternoon options. Thank you to those who supported someone to give it a go. Helping members with intellectual disability thrive in our setting remains a real priority, and we’ll keep working on the right way to do it.
If you’re unsure which class suits you best, check in with the instructor or one of the team. New flyers are about to go to print and will be up in the gym shortly, with the website timetable kept up to date
Exercise Physiology Price Update – From 2 November
Almost 12 months ago, we flagged that Exercise Physiology pricing may need to change as award conditions, our clinical team, funding models and service demands continued to shift. That time has now come. Following discussion and support from the Community Advisory Group at its 15 June meeting, our private Exercise Physiology rate will increase to $165 per hour (including GST) from 2 November, with shorter sessions charged proportionally.
Keeping our prices affordable has always mattered to us, and we’ve worked hard to find efficiencies and absorb rising costs. Over our first two years though, we’ve learnt a lot about what it really takes to run a community gym and an allied health service under one roof, and a few things have now stacked up.
The biggest is the Health Professionals and Support Services Award, which covers our Exercise Physiologists. In April 2025, the Fair Work Commission found that health professionals under this award had been undervalued on the basis of gender. Its final decision lifts minimum rates by roughly 16 to 32%, with the first instalment taking effect from 1 October. It’s an important step for the profession, and it has meant a complete rework of pay grades and structure across our clinical team so we can keep attracting and retaining great staff.
Looking ahead, we want to keep elevating the scope of our Exercise Physiologists, so their time goes into assessment, planning and more complex care. This shift will also make way for delegated models of care, where other members of the team deliver parts of your program under Exercise Physiologist oversight, at more affordable price points.
What isn’t changing: we’ll continue to bulk bill 30-minute Exercise Physiology review consultations under Medicare Chronic Condition Management Plans, as one of the only providers in Canberra to do so, and community gym membership stays at $22 per week. The gym and group fitness classes remain the most affordable way to stay active with us.
If you have any questions about how this affects your care, have a chat with your Exercise Physiologist or the team.
Team Update and Recruitment
A big welcome to Siobhan, our new Exercise Scientist, and Laura, our new Group Exercise Instructor. Thank you also to our recent University of Canberra placement students for their time and hard work, and welcome to those joining us for the final block of the year.
We’re now recruiting more Accredited Exercise Scientists to support growth in the gym, and we’re also advertising a new Principal Exercise Physiologist role. This senior clinical position will add depth of experience to the team, support our growing group of clinicians and students, and strengthen our clinical leadership and governance.
Membership Agreement Review
Over the coming months we’ll be reviewing our membership agreement and waiver to make sure they stay clear, relevant to our current offering and easy to complete. A lot has changed since we reopened, and our paperwork needs to keep up. We’ll let you know if anything changes for existing members, and if you have feedback on the current process, we’d love to hear it.
Axe The Tax – Final Update
Thank you to everyone who signed and shared the AXE THE TAX petition calling for Exercise Physiology to be GST-exempt. Over 25,000 signatures were collected nationally, and the petition was tabled in the Senate on Tuesday 13 October.
EQUIPD hosted a media breakfast that morning, and Dylan met with a number of senators, MPs and other parliamentarians across the sitting week to keep the momentum going. Thanks also to the members who jumped on ESSA’s social media and gave the team more great content to support the public messaging.
Signatures send a strong signal, but tabling the petition doesn’t change anything straight away. Exercise Physiology still attracts GST, and any change is now in the hands of government. ESSA’s advocacy continues and we’ll keep you posted as things progress. If you’d like to help further, the campaign page now makes it easy to email your local MP with a letter of support.
https://gst.good.do/axethetax/email-your-mp/
ESSA Report Launch at Parliament House
In August, Dylan and member Peter Lawson also supported ESSA at Parliament House for the launch of a new Deloitte Access Economics report, Valuing the Contribution of Exercise Physiologists in Australia, with Canberra’s own Dr Andrew Leigh MP among those in attendance.
The headline numbers are big. Exercise Physiologists save the health system at least $940 million every three years across six chronic conditions, while helping avoid almost 100,000 hospitalisations and emergency department presentations and more than 1.3 million GP and specialist appointments over
the same period. Once productivity gains are counted, the total benefit to the economy rises to almost $1.1 billion. Every $1 invested returns around $2.50, and for people living with certain chronic conditions that return climbs to $3.
It’s also a reminder of how much the profession has grown. Around 9,800 Accredited Exercise Physiologists now see roughly 243,000 Australians every week. It’s strong evidence for what many of you already see on the gym floor every day, and it adds real weight to the case for removing GST. Peter represented the gym and the profession very well, speaking passionately at the event and to media about his own journey.
Vale Ben Seale
It’s with great sadness that we share the passing of Ben Seale (9 October 1982 – 6 July 2026), a much-loved member of our community. Ben had a bigger influence on the design of the gym than he probably ever realised and he was a big part of why the space is set up so a member in a large motorised wheelchair can come in and knock out a serious workout. While things slowed down a little towards the end, Ben kept showing up and loved his time exercising alongside our members. He’ll be greatly missed, and our thoughts are with his family and friends.
Exercise Physiology Vs Exercise Science
You may start to notice our language and team profile shift a little as the EQUIPD model grows, around the gym, in our allied health services and in the way we support students across two distinct degrees. In previous issues we mentioned expanding our delegation framework so more of the team can be involved in your care while keeping clinical oversight in place.
In simple terms, our Accredited Exercise Physiologists are the health professionals who lead the clinical side. They complete your screening and assessments, prescribe exercise for chronic conditions, injury and disability, write treatment plans and work with your GP and funding schemes such as the NDIS, DVA, Support at Home and Medicare. Under the framework, they can also delegate parts of your care to Allied Health Assistants and Disability Support Workers.
Our Accredited Exercise Scientists are also university qualified and specialise in exercise to improve health, fitness and performance and help prevent chronic disease. Here at EQUIPD, they supervise the gym floor, run group exercise classes and help you put your program into practice day to day. Our Group exercise Instructors round out the team, also running several of our classes each week.
For many members, this will mean seeing more of our Exercise Scientists in your regular gym sessions and exercise classes, with your Exercise Physiologist overseeing your plan and checking in on your progress. Both roles play an important part in your care, and we’ll keep refining how they work together so you get the right support at the right time.
Gym Equipment Update
Following on from our last update, the single stack cable pulley closest to the parallel bars has now been replaced. We’ve also added more hand weights, ankle weights and group exercise equipment, and refreshed our resistance bands ready for classes.
A reminder to please take care with the cables and pin-loaded strength machines. Sudden and jerky movements are what cause damage, wearing out cables and pulleys well before their time, and the new cable is already showing similar signs of wear. Please avoid pulsing against them or using them for explosive work. If you’re unsure how to use them as part of your program, just ask the team, and if you find the weights crashing between reps, please seek support from a staff member. A little control goes a long way, for your body and our equipment.
Social Area Update
A coffee and a piece of fruit after a session has become part of the routine for plenty of you. We’ve now locked in a reliable fruit supplier and continue to buy our coffee beans from the Chifley Grocer, so it’s local business supporting local business. Thanks also to those who drop in a gold coin donation, it all helps cover the costs.
We’re finalising plans to upgrade the social area alongside the fit-out of new clinical treatment rooms out the back. It should make for a small but welcome improvement to the space, and the new treatment rooms will give our clinicians more private space for assessments and consultations.
Len Minty is also selling his jams again. Keep an eye out by the entry and let staff know if you’d like a jar for $5 to support Bricks and Smiles.
Courtyard Gardener Wanted
Got a green thumb? We’re looking for someone with a passion for gardening to help bring our courtyard to life. EQUIPD will provide everything required, we’re simply hoping for someone to support the team, whether that’s helping plan some planting or keeping things ticking along week to week.
We’d also love your feedback on adding more tables and a shade sail, along with improving access around the concrete areas so the courtyard works for everyone. Anyone up for a game of table tennis
on the lawn?
Parking and Access
Just another friendly reminder that parking is available on both sides of the Chifley Health and Wellbeing Hub. For our more active members, the parks around the side closer to Chifley Preschool have their own side entrance and help keep the closer, accessible spaces free for those who need them most.
We’re still working towards a more accessible waiting spot down by the car park for those arriving by community transport or taxi. If you know someone who may be able to help build a chair, shelter or similar, please get in touch
Evening Classes – Expression of Interest
We’re gauging interest in higher intensity evening classes from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. If you, or someone you know, would come along to a strong Yoga, Pilates or HIIT class at that time, let the team know or email feedback@equipdalliedhealth.com.au.
Evening classes would open the door for people who work during the day and can’t make our current timetable, and they’re a great way for us to grow the community without putting more pressure on our busy daytime sessions. The more interest we hear about, the sooner we can make it happen.
Out and About
Thank you to everyone who stopped by the ESSA ACT State Chapter stalls during Exercise Right Week, with this year’s theme being “Expert Advice for Every Body”. EQUIPD staff joined local volunteers at the Haig Park Markets and the Old Bus Depot Markets, offering free health checks and practical advice on safe, evidence-based exercise.
We also joined Anna’s Walk for Beat Bladder Cancer Australia at the National Carillon on Sunday 17 May, where EQUIPD provided in-kind business support while ESSA volunteers ran free health checks.
It was also great to be back at the COTA ACT Seniors Expo in September, which ran over one and a half days this year and included the ACT Seniors Awards ceremony. It’s a staple on our annual calendar, and congratulations to all the winners.
Community Talks
Dylan presented to the Canberra Bushwalking Club in August on exercise for bushwalking, with members joining both in person in Weston and online. Club members sent through questions in advance on knee pain during long descents, training for multi-day pack carrying, whether to use poles and walking with knee osteoarthritis, which made for a very practical session. Thanks to the club for having us.
Nutrition Australia were also back in June with two student-led talk and taste sessions, following on from their workshop in March. Each session explored different topics and foods, and they’re a great way to support University of Canberra students while picking up some practical nutrition tips along the way.
We also recently presented alongside Diabetes Australia to general practitioners and other health professionals on diabetes care and the Multidisciplinary Approach to Diabetes Care (MADC) program. As part of MADC, our team delivers sessions here at Chifley individually, in small groups and throughout the gym, with the pilot running through to June 2027.
Part of a community group that would enjoy a talk from one of the team? Get in touch anytime at
admin@equipdalliedhealth.com.au, we’re happy to come along at no cost.
Christmas Party – Friday 4 December
Our annual Christmas party will be held on Friday 4 December at 12:00pm. Last year set a high bar, with a barbecue feast cooked by the team and more than enough dessert to sink the gym. This year we’re looking to blow it out of the park with another buffet, lawn games, lucky door prizes and even more members! If you’re able to bring a plate of treats to share, we always love having some of the community’s cooking on the table, but please don’t feel any pressure. Mark it in your calendar now, we’re hoping for a huge turnout as always.
WCS Little Pantry Food Drive
While originally planned for June, we’ve decided to team up with Woden Community Service again and support the Little Pantry’s Christmas Drive instead. We’ll be collecting donations throughout November, right up until our Christmas party on Friday 4 December. Last year’s winter appeal collected 1,007 items, including 431 tins, 275 pantry items, 174 rice and grain items and 127 toiletries, so let’s see if we can top it. A poster in the gym will list the most needed items, with non-perishables and activity packs especially welcome.
Exercise Physiology Support at Home Associated Provider Update
Since Support at Home began last November, EQUIPD has become what’s known as an “Associated provider” with the local organisations listed below. If one of these providers manages your home care package, clinical Exercise Physiology services, including home visits for those who can’t make it to the gym, are covered with no client contribution required, only an assessed need. We’ll put together a treatment plan when you start and review it every three months, or sooner if things change. If your provider isn’t on the list, ask your care partner to get in touch and we can organise it.
Absolute Home Care, At Home Together, Goodwin, Help at Home by Montefiore, HomeMade
Support, IRT, KNC, LetsGetCare, Local Guardians, MaryMead CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn,
MyHomeCare, Right at Home Canberra, Trilogy, Uniting
A reminder that EQUIPD is also a registered NDIS provider, and all of our Exercise Physiologists hold a Medicare provider number, so we can accept Medicare and DVA referrals. Some services also attract private health insurance rebates, depending on your cover. If you’d like to talk through your options, please speak with the team.
Community Advisory Group Meeting
Our last Community Advisory Group meeting was held on 15 June, where members heard the latest updates from the team and shared their feedback on the gym and our services. Our next meeting will be on Monday 7 December from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Whether you have ideas, feedback or simply want to hear what’s coming up, all members are welcome to come along.
Thank You
As always, thank you for being part of the EQUIPD community. If we’ve made a difference for you, a Google review helps others find us and is one of the simplest ways to spread the word:
https://g.page/r/Ca4NqjYneEmCEBM/review
We also love hearing your stories, whether it’s easier daily living or a big hike you’ve been training for. Share them with the team on the gym floor or at feedback@equipdalliedhealth.com.au.
For any questions about the updates above, get in touch at admin@equipdalliedhealth.com.au.
