One popular option for workers in certain sectors is Fitness Passport — a corporate health and wellness program offering access to a wide range of gyms, pools, and fitness centres. But with the cost of living in Australia, is Fitness Passport worth it? In this article, we’ll explore Fitness Passport cost, its value for money, and who is eligible — helping you decide whether it’s the right choice for you.
What is fitness passport?
Fitness Passport, an exclusive employee benefit package, offers subsidised access to a variety of training facilities for a monthly cost. Many organisations, notably those in the government, education, and healthcare sectors, provide it to improve employee well-being and lower healthcare expenses.
How does it work?
- Companies that partner with Fitness Passport provide staff members with discounted subscriptions.
- Workers can use a single membership to access many gyms, pools, and fitness centres.
- Family members are also available at an additional cost.
How much does Fitness Passport cost?
Pricing varies based on your employer’s agreement with Fitness Passport, but here’s a general range:
- Single membership: Ranges from $13 to $20 per week
- Family membership (includes spouse and dependent children): Costs between $20 and $35 per week.
- Certain employers cover a portion of the cost, making it more affordable for their employees.
When weighed against conventional gym subscriptions, which run from $15 to $40 a week for a single facility, especially for those who regularly use several training facilities. Training Passport provides outstanding value.
What does fitness passport include?
A membership in a Fitness Passport allows one access to a wide spectrum of fitness facilities throughout Australia. Your area could let you visit:
- Leading gym chains are Plus Fitness, Snap Fitness, and Anytime Exercise.
- Swimming areas are private as well as public.
- Classes in CrossFit, Pilates, and Yoga.
- Indoor rock climbing.
- Martial Arts schools and boxing clubs.
- Leisure and aquatic venues.
- Training facilities for several sports teams.
This variety lets participants change their workout so they never grow tired of repetitive tasks. Usually spanning multiple sites across states and areas, memberships give flexibility for those who travel often.
Who is eligible for fitness passport?
The Fitness Passports are only available to staff members of cooperating companies. Typical companies that provide Fitness Passports include:
- Healthcare – Public and private hospital workers; aged care providers; allied health professionals.
- Government sectors – Local governments, law enforcement, and emergency services.
- Education – School teachers, TAFE staff, universities.
- Corporate companies – Some big private businesses and corporations.
Many companies additionally let family members qualify, thus dependent children and wives can participate in a family plan. Families wishing to remain active together without paying the extra expenses of several individual memberships would find great advantage in this.
Is fitness passport worth the cost?
Whether it’s worth the cost depends on how often you work out and what your fitness preferences are. Below are the key pros and cons:
Benefits of fitness passport
- Compared to keeping several gym memberships, the savings are rather significant.
- Among the several forms of exercise offered are weight training, swimming, and yoga.
- For homes with several active members, especially helpful are family memberships.
- Promotes flexible workout choices and an enthusiastic way of life.
- Lessens the dedication to a certain gym, thus more chances to assess several routines are possible.
- Perfect for those who travel throughout Australia since the membership is good in many different sites.
Drawbacks of fitness passport
- Restricted to staff of affiliated businesses, they cannot be bought on your own.
- Some gyms may have peak-hour use limitations, hence entry could be restricted during crowded times.
- A basic gym membership could be more sensible if you do not often use several facilities.
- Your chosen gym might not be featured since not all fitness facilities join the project.
- Not everyone’s budget will fit direct deduction of membership fees from income.
Alternatives to fitness passport
Consider these should your company not provide Fitness Passports:
- Local gym memberships – Many of them provide corporate rates or flexible membership.
- Class pass – A subscription-based tool giving access to several training institutions.
- Council-run fitness centres – Usually running reasonably priced membership schemes for gyms and pools, councils also offer community events.
- Workplace wellness programs – Certain companies give rewards or refunds depending on fitness.
- Pay-as-you-go options – Some gyms offer casual passes, which might be less costly than a complete membership should you not visit often.
Fitness Passport compare to traditional gym memberships?
Unlike conventional gym subscriptions, which usually confine you to one facility or brand, Fitness Passports grant access to a network of facilities. Those who like mixing several kinds of activity, such as weight training, swimming, and group fitness programs, should find this very helpful. Though regular gym memberships could have less limits on peak-hour access, their cost when compared to many subscriptions for various activities is usually more.
Regular visitors also have more freedom thanks to Fitness Passport since you can use your membership anywhere in Australia. For people who fly between sites for business or personal purposes, this makes it a more sensible choice.
Conclusion
For Australians whose employer offers the program, Fitness Passport can be excellent value — especially if you regularly visit gyms, pools, or fitness classes. Membership pays for itself even if you only workout one or twice a week, considering usual gym costs. If you just visit a certain gym not included in the Fitness Passport network or exercise seldom, you could be well suited with a standard membership or casual passes instead. For families and generally active people, the Fitness Passport is a great value; nevertheless, check the list of participating facilities in your area to maximise it.
