Kelly Donnelly
Project Coordinator
Primary Health Initiative
Urana/Oaklands Gym Project
Ph: 02 6049 1900
Email: kdonnelly@bordergp.org.au
What is the Urana/Oaklands Healthy Lifestyle (Gym) Project?
The Urana Oaklands Healthy Lifestyle Project is a Preventative Health Initiative (PHI). The Preventative Health Initiative’s mandate is to build community capacity to develop local solutions for local problems. PHI funding has been targeted towards remote and very remote communities or communities in rural areas which demonstrated high health care needs and limited access to health services. The primary focus is to improve health in the target community by improving capacity to address the social or environmental determinants of health.
What is the aim of the Urana Oaklands Healthy Lifestyle Project?
This project will benefit all community members, as the main intent is to provide support for everyone in the Urana and Oaklands communities to become healthier, more active people. Benefits for all generations include activities in the town, health benefits, and social interaction.
The grant will help provide subsidised classes and a community owned gym facility with equipment, which can be used 24 hours a day which will to enable people to make a difference to their own health. It is hoped that all age groups are catered for – from toddlers to teenagers to seniors. There are few people in the Oaklands and Urana communities who would not benefit from increased activity.
Particular goals of the project are to:
• prevent the development/progression of chronic disease;
• improve the physical fitness of farmers with the aim of preventing workplace injuries;
• reduce obesity through increased physical activity; and,
• decrease the impacts of social isolation through providing a supportive environment for group exercise – particularly for small socio-economically disadvantaged groups.
What will the Urana Oaklands Healthy Lifestyle Project involve?
The project is primarily focused on creating a “community gym” in each of the target towns (Oaklands and Urana). The fitness facilities will be equipped with a “library” of fitness apparatus to cater to a wide range of community groups and members.
A steering committee/committee of management will be established to direct and oversee the roll out of the initiative. The committee structure will reflect the values of the local community and ensure broad community representation.
It is hoped that each town will establish a group of diversely trained exercise leaders, who will be able to provide health and fitness skills to local community members and groups. This will enable a broad range of peer driven programs to be established (walking groups, weight management groups, cycling groups, aerobics, tai chi, pilates, yoga, injury prevention programs etc) that are self sustaining.
The program will also utilise local and visiting allied health and other professionals (e.g. dieticians, exercise physiologists, mental health workers, physiotherapists) to provide community based health promotion and education, group and individual programming.
How long will the Project run for?
The project will be funded until 30 June 2013, after which it is hoped that both community gyms will be completely self-sustaining.
Oaklands Community Health and Fitness Centre
The Oaklands Community Health and Fitness Centre has been established, largely through the efforts of Tamara Nixon. The AGM is to be held at the Oaklands Bowling Club on Wednesday 21st July 2010 at 6.30pm. All welcome to attend.
Call for volunteers
Oaklands and Urana are looking for volunteers interested in assisting the community gym projects. Volunteers will play an integral role in the development and ongoing functioning of the gyms, so if you are interested in assisting in any way then please scroll down to the bottom of the page and contact us.
Call for aspiring fitness leaders!!
Expressions of Interest
Are you interested in the Fitness Industry? Do you want to help people achieve their fitness goals by becoming a gym instructor?
The Oaklands Community Health & Fitness Centre along with the Albury Wodonga GP Network want you!!!
We are seeking interested people to complete Certificate III in Fitness*.
We are hoping to have enough numbers to run the course in the Oaklands/Urana area.
For Further Details Contact
Tamara Nixon from Oaklands Community Health and Fitness Centre
0417 559 152
*You maybe eligible for course subsidy. Please ask about the subsidy criteria.
Fitness qualification information
Certificate III in fitness
The Certificate III in Fitness is the minimum qualification required to commence unsupervised work in the fitness industry. During the Certificate III course you learn to apply various resistance, cardiovascular and flexibility programs, among other things. This base level course qualifies you as a gym instructor, which will allow you to run fitness assessments, write introductory programs, and supervise the gym floor.
Certificate IV in fitness
The Certificate IV in Fitness qualifies you as a Personal Trainer.This course is a progression from Certificate III, and provides you with knowledge and skills to deliver individualised one-on-one and group Personal Training sessions.
Group exercise instructor
This course is specifically for people looking to add group exercise instruction to their skill set, and is an additional specialisation of the Certificate III in fitness. During the course you will generally gain skills in the development of class plans, warm ups and cool downs, and communication techniques.
Where to get qualified
Locally, Wodonga Tafe offers a Certificate III and IV fitness course each year. The course begins in February and runs through to December.
TAFE NSW Riverina Institute (West Wyalong Campus) also offers a Certificate III and IV in fitness.
You can alternatively complete Certificate III and IV online through various different companies.
If you already have fitness qualifications and are interested in becoming involved with this project in either Urana or Oaklands, please contact me via the information below.
Contact information
Feel free to contact me to make any comments or suggestions, ask any questions, enquire about fitness training or request further information about this program.
Kelly Donnelly
Phone: (02) 6049 1900
Fax: (02) 6049 1999
|