Parks and Leisure Australia (Vic/Tas) and Sport and Recreation Victoria revised the Outdoor Fitness Equipment Guidelines in 2024.
What?The Guidelines review will:
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Who?Parks and Leisure Australia (Vic/Tas) led the review of the Outdoor Fitness Equipment Guidelines, with funding support from Sport and Recreation Victoria (SRV). University of South Australia were engaged to deliver a comprehensive literature review of available research on outdoor fitness equipment in Australia. Emerge Associates were engaged as project consultants to help deliver the Guidelines review. |
Why?The Guidelines for Planning, Installing and Activating Outdoor Fitness Equipment were originally developed and delivered in 2018 by PLA Vic/Tas in partnership with SRV to inform the decision-making processes to plan, design, install, maintain and activate outdoor fitness equipment in our communities. The guidelines now require updating due to industry advancements including the establishment of Australian Standard (AS16630:2021) in 2021, to ensure that they remain valuable, leading-edge resources for all professionals working within the sport and recreation industry and provide them with the necessary tools to assist their decision-making. |
Where?For the purposes of the guidelines, outdoor fitness equipment (OFE) is exercise equipment that is located outside – often in parks and public open spaces. It is usually owned by local councils and is free for community use. It can be grouped together (as an outdoor gym or fitness station) or spread out along a walking/cycling trail. Equipment types include static and dynamic equipment, seniors or rehabilitation equipment, and ninja warrior or obstacle courses. |
How?To engage with the broader sector we:
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When?The Guidelines were reviewed between February – May 2024. A final report was submitted to Sport and Recreation Victoria in June/July 2024. We are currently awaiting further advice as to their public release from the Victorian government. |
We wanted to extend a big thankyou to all who volunteered their time as sector representatives for this project:
Project Working Group
- David Eager – University of Technology Sydney / Standards Australia
- Andrew Reedy – PlayCheck / Standards Australia
- Jenny Veitch – Deakin University
- Liam Cole – Wellington Shire Council / PLA Vic/Tas
- Katherine Howard – Emerge Associates
- Joey Boothby – Emerge Associates
- Dan Ferguson – PLA Vic/Tas
- Jessica Steele – SRV
Stakeholder Reference Group
- Chahana Paudel – Deakin University / Whitehorse City Council
- Pazit Levinger – National Ageing Research Institute
- Kahlia Flett – City of Port Phillip
- Baylie Lang – Pyrenees Shire Council
- John Wilkinson – City of Charles Sturt
- Ben Clark – City of Launceston
- Gavin Roberts – City Of Greater Dandenong
- Ella Angarane – Bass Coast
- Michael Stamatovski – City of Kingston
- Cara Smith – City of Greater Bendigo
- Sharon Winbanks – Lark Industries
- Clive Milham – Imagination Play
- Dean Joel – a_space
- James Preece – Fitness Trails
- Mark Chatman – Kompan Australia