The Fitness Project

Empowering People with Disabilities to Access Fitness, Health, and increase Wellbeing

What is The Fitness Project?

The Fitness Project was born from the idea that everyone deserves access to inclusive and supportive fitness environments.

Whether you’re a person with a disability, a gym owner, or a health professional, this project helps break down the barriers to participation in mainstream fitness.

You’ll find practical guides, inspiring stories, expert advice, and powerful tools to help make inclusive fitness the norm across Australia.

Cassie Gardner

Cassie is a fierce advocate for inclusion in fitness spaces. She brings a deep understanding of the challenges and strengths that come with navigating mainstream fitness.

Vanguard Business Services

Mark offers consulting support to farmers and rural communities in regenerative agriculture. He also helps people with a disability start their own Microenterprise.

Sitting Low Reaching High

Mel provides motivational speaking, consulting, education and blogging in order to break down barriers and explore all aspects of life including adaptive fitness, travel, work and recreation.

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Freya Wolf

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Freya Wolf is a writer, speaker, activist, and embodied dance facilitator who integrates art, advocacy, and embodiment to promote social justice and inclusion.

Cassie Gardner

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Mel Harrison

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Mark Gardner

Freya Wolf

resources

The Inclusion Podcast

Through real stories, expert chats, and honest reflections, we dive into the wins, the challenges, and the lessons learned on the journey toward a more accessible and welcoming world for all, with a focus on fitness and health.

More About The Project

The Fitness Project is a regional NSW initiative focused on making fitness more inclusive for people with disability. It was created to address one big question:

“How can we make mainstream fitness safer, more welcoming, and more accessible for everyone?”

Many people with disability want to get active, join a gym, or take part in fitness programs—but they’re often met with barriers. These might be physical barriers like stairs, lack of equipment, or confusing layouts. Sometimes the biggest barriers are social—like not feeling welcome, not being understood, or not being seen.

The Fitness Project is about changing that.

We’re bringing together people with lived experience, gym owners, health professionals, and local communities to rethink what inclusive fitness looks like. Together, we’re creating tools, stories, training, and support to make fitness a real and enjoyable option for people with disability.

This project is supported by the Department of Social Services (DSS). DSS funds projects like this to build stronger, more connected communities where everyone can participate fully.

Information

Contact details
Cassie & Mark Gardner
Address
24 Erskine St, Dubbo NSW 2830
Phone
0427 009 475

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Thank you!
 Address: 24 Erskine St, Dubbo NSW 2830
Phone: 0427 009 475
cassie@abilitywest.org.au
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