Run a Healthy Darwin Activity

Do you currently run, or are you interested in running, a low-cost activity or program that promotes healthy lifestyles?

This is your chance to be part of a community program helping build Darwin into an active and healthy place to live.

The Healthy Darwin program offers a range of group exercise sessions, workshops and short courses across Darwin to help our community live a healthy lifestyle. It runs all year round in two 6-month programs, Dry Season (April-September) and Wet Season (October-March). Each season consists of the Weekly Activities program (around 8-10 physical activities that run at the same day/time/location each week across the six months) and the Healthy Lifestyle Workshops & Short Courses program (a range of limited or one-off special activities).

Activities and workshops, where possible, make use of Darwin's community facilities and open spaces, and are subsidised by City of Darwin to ensure participants only pay a small fee.

The Healthy Darwin team invites service providers who deliver healthy lifestyle programs or activities, that meet the eligibility criteria, to apply to be part of this innovative, community-based program.

Applications are called for in January and July each year for the upcoming season, and are open for 3-4 weeks. This will be promoted here and on the Healthy Darwin Facebook page. Acceptance of applications after the closing date may be considered if funding is still available, but late applications will be prioritised accordingly. You will need to contact the Recreation Services Officer to see if further applications can be accepted for consideration.

Applications for the 2025-26 Wet Season program will be open Friday 18 July to Sunday 17 August.

Some examples of activities that have been included in past programs:

Weekly group fitness classes - boxing, boot camp, Zumba, yoga & Pilates, HIIT (high intensity interval training), aqua, seniors balance and resistance
Health and nutrition sessions - cooking workshops, supermarket tours, walk & talk all things food, healthy lifestyle education sessions
Workshops & Short Courses - meditation & breathing, cardio tennis, HIT cricket, running skills, swimming stroke correction, mobility & flexibility, mums & bubs belly dancing

The Benefits Of Being Involved:

We will promote your activity's inclusion in the Healthy Darwin program through various sources, including the City of Darwin webpage, Healthy Darwin Facebook page and other digital platforms, City of Darwin Libraries and Council's Vibrant Darwin newsletter.
We will help* cover the cost of venue hire or permit fees (*this does not imply 100% of the fees)
You will receive a set fee for service of $50 incl. GST per class (including delivery, planning and set up) for Weekly Activity providers; around $50 per hour for Healthy Lifestyle Workshops & Short Courses events - details will be provided upon successful inclusion in the program.
Participants will pay direct to the instructor $5 per class for activities included in the Weekly Activities program, or up to $10 per person per hour (pro rata) for the Healthy Lifestyle Workshops & Short Courses events.

Promotional Support:

City of Darwin will:

produce a promotional flyer for every activity, which will be distributed through our networks and supplied to providers for their use
produce an overarching Healthy Darwin flyer listing all activities, which will be distributed through our networks and supplied to providers for their use
create Posts on the Healthy Darwin Facebook page, which providers will be tagged in
create Events on the Healthy Darwin Facebook page, to which providers will be added as a co-host
create Events on the What’s On page on City of Darwin’s website on your behalf.

Successful applicants will be responsible for all additional and ongoing marketing to raise awareness of their activities. Providers will be required to acknowledge that the event/activity is part of the Healthy Darwin program, supported by City of Darwin (including tags and hashtags). Healthy Darwin and City of Darwin logos will be provided, and any additional promotional material produced by providers will need to be approved by City of Darwin prior to distribution.

Eligibility

Weekly group fitness/physical activity sessions - 45-60mins, low to medium intensity (or can be modified for participants as required) that promote healthy and active lifestyles
Healthy Lifestyle Workshops & Short Course sessions - minimum 45mins, pitched at an introductory level appropriate for participants with no prior knowledge but willing to learn
Provide the activity within the City of Darwin municipality
Provide an activity that can cater for 20 people
Hold current, appropriate qualifications, certificates and experience (where required) including First Aid and CPR
Hold, or willing to acquire, current public liability insurance for an amount not less than $20,000,000 (NB. If no current insurance, do not purchase until confirmation of inclusion in the program)
Sign and abide by the conditions outlined in the Healthy Darwin Service Provider Agreement that you will receive if successful
Abide by all venue hire or permit conditions
Uphold City of Darwin's Community Values - Diversity and Acceptance, Choice of Lifestyle, Environment, Sense of Community, and Equality

Apply Here