As part of my past role as Venue Manager at a large community-based leisure venue such as Knox Leisureworks, I have had the opportunity to witness firsthand the incredibly positive impact the venue can have on our member’s mental health.

More than ever before, we are all acutely aware of how important our mental health is, and as locals ourselves, you could say us team members at Knox Leisureworks have a vested interest in keeping the community as healthy and happy as possible – after all, happiness is contagious, right? 

With Knox Leisureworks being the sole aquatic facility in the municipality, it’s vital for us to offer those in the community the chance to not only participate in health and wellbeing activities but also have that social connection to other members and patrons, as both factors contribute to a physically and mentally healthy state of being.

Having these two offerings removed as a result of lockdowns in Victoria, however, had a significant impact and that has been the message in conversations with members and patrons throughout the venue.

In rebounding from Covid in a meaningful way, we have had the opportunity to launch several programs which have made significant positive impact on the mental health of many of our members.  

Firstly, The Carer’s Program, which is delivered through our Council Contract partner Knox City Council, provides carers of any age the opportunity to participate in a group exercise class and coffee – the perfect dose for participant’s physical and mental health. These classes, which run twice a week, are always packed and you’ll know when the group are here because you can hear the laughter and joy they have with each other and team members every week they visit.

Carer, Bronwyn, summed up her time spent in the Carer’s Program. 

“Coming to classes is like my respite, it’s my time out where I totally relax and thoroughly enjoy it. At the end, I feel like I’m walking on a cloud and it makes me feel so valued and cared for.”

We have also been able to relaunch Take Charge, a program targeted at connecting people who have raised mental health as a concern to a medical professional. These individuals can then be referred to us so we can help provide physical activity and social connection opportunities.

Through a tailored individual program with a trainer upskilled in mental health training, participants have the opportunity to use the facilities in a way that suits them, with the support they need.

There’s no health without mental health

Mental health issues are very common. They’re the number one reason for New Zealanders and Australians to visit their GP. Physical activity has a critical role to play in preventing the onset of mental health illness and its treatment.

MHeLPs is a cutting-edge initiative developed under the guidance of international mental health and exercise experts. Designed specifically for the New Zealand and Australian leisure and community support sectors, MHeLP equips workers and volunteers with strategies to support themselves and others’ mental health. Find more information on MHeLP or give it a go yourself here.

With the insights from implementing these programs and the success that they have had, I was fortunate enough to recently participate as a guest panellist at Knox City Council’s Mental Health Summit, which was an enlightening and impactful experience.

This event brought together a diverse group of mental health professionals, community leaders and advocates to discuss pressing issues and share valuable insights about mental health within the Knox Council municipality.

Mental health has become a crucial topic, especially in the wake of the global pandemic, which has exacerbated mental health issues for many, including those in the Knox community where I work and reside. It was a great opportunity to share my insights as a Venue Manager with Belgravia Leisure for the community that our facility serves, and I look forward to continuing to offer evidence based programs to community members to ensure they have every opportunity to enjoy a happy and healthy lifestyle.

By Danny Fotinatos, former Venue Manager at Knox Leisureworks.

Danny Fotinatos, former Venue Manager at Knox Leisureworks wrote this piece during his tenure with us. We are grateful for his contributions and insights, which continue to resonate within our community.

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