The increasing cost of children’s sport and fitness programs is becoming a major barrier to an active
lifestyle for young Australians, as the cost-of-living crisis worsens.
To help address that issue, Planet Fitness is expanding its Teen Fit Pass program, providing Aussie teens free access to health and fitness training and education programs over summer.
Recent data reveals the average Australian family spends around $1,304 annually for their sporting
endeavours, up from the $796 five years ago. Data also shows that more than half of Australian families are making sacrifices in their household budget to pay for children’s sport.
This is contributing to poor health among young people, with the latest available data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealing 83 per cent of young people aged 15–17 were insufficiently physically active.
The expansion of the free gym memberships for teenagers over the summer period is designed to help Australian households make healthy choices, despite the rising cost of living.
Registrations for the Teen Fit Pass program are now open to all Australian teens, aged 15 to 19 and will run at all participating Planet Fitness clubs from 16 November 2024 to 25 January 2025.
It enables them to access to top-of-the-line gym equipment, as well as access to specialised online workout plans via the free Planet Fitness Australia app.
Planet Fitness Australia Managing Director, Danielle Monroy, says the program is all about boosting
health for young Australians and improving physical and mental wellbeing.
“Australians are forking out more than ever for access to the gym, with the average spend across the gym category being around $700 per year,” Monroy says.
“At Planet Fitness, we’re committed to making fitness easy and accessible for all, which is why our members pay nearly half that rate.
“It’s also why we’re delighted to announce that our free program, Teen Fit Pass, is returning for another
year and expanding to 21 clubs across our network.
“This program is designed to lift the pressure on Australian families, enabling teenagers a free way of
accessing health and fitness programs over the summer.”
Regular exercise helps build healthy lifelong habits
Certified Trainer and General Manager at Planet Fitness, Sam Wainwright, says it’s important for young people to establish a regular exercise routine and build healthy habits for life.
“Working out is an effective mood booster, relieving tension and increasing energy levels through the
release of endorphins,” Wainwright says.
“This program creates an accessible and encouraging atmosphere for young people to get fit with their friends these holidays.
“While many teenagers are exposed to physical activity at school during the term, they’re often left in the dark come summer holidays. The Teen Fit Pass program offers teenagers a safe and convenient place to engage in physical activity at no extra cost to their family.”
For Victorian Waqar, whose son is involved in soccer and PE classes at school, accessing the gym experience outside of school hours has been “transformative”.
“He is keen to go to the gym daily. The hydro bed and massage chairs are beneficial, especially for soreness after training. He feels more active and lighter. Mentally, he’s more focused and disciplined, feeling like a new person with a healthier lifestyle.”
Another parent, Kleber, in Queensland, says “I wish there was this kind of support when I was a teenager”.
“Having access to a free gym will hopefully build long term motivation and commitment / create a healthy lifestyle for life.”
