Program builds communities while helping people get active
The Live Life Get Active program is determined to help more people experience the physical, mental and community benefits of getting active.
04 November 2022
Determined to help more people experience the physical, mental and community benefits of getting active, the Live Life Get Active program has reached more than 100,000 people since it delivered its first free camp in Blacktown, NSW, in 2014.
A Live Life Get Active camp at the Royal Park Regatta Grounds in Launceston, Tasmania.
The program has since expanded to locations around Australia and online, delivering the message that anyone, anywhere can get active and improve their health.
Live Life Get Active received a $250,000 Australian Sport Commission Participation Grant in 2021, which it used to help set up eight new year-long camps attracting 600 people.
CEO Amanda King said the program wanted to reach people who had generally rejected sport and physical activity for a variety of reasons including low general fitness, chronic illness, affordability, or age.
Ms King said for many of these people, their priority was looking after family and merely making ends meet, so taking time out for physical activity didn’t seem worthwhile.
But by creating accessible, free camps in community facilities, they were able to quickly demonstrate the benefits of physical activity and help create long-term change.
“Anyone can participate,” Ms King said. “Come to a local park, wear whatever, have fun and meet people.”
The camps are run by qualified local instructors who want to give something back to their community and help show people how important physical activity is in their lives.
One of the programs greatest benefits was offering people a chance to meet other people and connect with their community.
“Social isolation is a massive issue,” Ms King said. “If we can offer something that connects people then they’re more likely to continue.”
Ms King says the Live Life Get Active program can see the program is improving lives and is determined to keep it growing.
“We’ve got real people getting real happy and fit,” she said.
Interested participants can head to the Live Life Get Active web page , opens in a new tabto find a session near them.
More information on the ASC’s Participation Grants program is available via the Grants and Funding page.
