City of Fremantle
Coastal Charm
The City of Fremantle supports a number of health and well-being programs.
The City of Fremantle works in partnership with Mentally Healthy WA to promote the Act Belong Commit message, encouraging everyone to do things to look after their mental wellbeing.
Mental health conditions are increasing around the world and are currently responsible for approximately one third of the total ‘burden of disease’, indicating the increasing importance of mental health promotion/prevention and early detection/intervention activities. This is why the Act Belong Commit campaign aims to increase individual resilience and build community cohesion to prevent the onset of mental health problems.
The campaign targets the general population and encourages everyone to do things to keep mentally healthy, just like we do things to stay physically healthy.
The positive mental health message is based around the ABC guidelines for positive mental health:
Keep mentally, physically and socially active.
Maintain and create new social connections, become involved in local groups, attend community events.
Take up a cause, volunteer, commit to something that brings meaning and purpose to your life.
The campaign works by promoting events and activities based in Fremantle as great ways for people to look after their mental health, from sporting activities, to volunteer opportunities and community events. Check out the new Activity Finder to see what’s happening in your area.
Visit the Act Belong Commit website for more information.
There is no doubt a healthy community, is a connected community. Your local club, group or school has the opportunity to get involved in Mental Health Month and help contribute to a positive movement in our City.
The Mental Health Community Kindness Initiative encourages everyone to spread kindness. We have designed a Community Kindness Card to distribute throughout the Fremantle community, and we invite you to get involved in sharing the message.
The card explains the benefits of random acts of kindness and some simple ideas of how to do it. Those who receive a card through an act of kindness are encouraged to do a random act of kindness for someone else, pass the card on, and share your kind story.
Being kind or helping someone can:
Acts of kindness may include:
The City is offering local groups, school, services and clubs the opportunity to collect some cards and share them in their community in fun ways during October. If your club or group would like to be involved and receive some Community Kindness Cards, please email the City with your request.
Please share your stories and acts of kindness with the City by tagging us in your Facebook and Instagram stories.
If you are looking to learn more about ways to improve your health, see some of the below resources.
The Australian Dietary Guidelines provide information about the recommended food types and amounts, food groups and dietary patterns are beneficial to achieve:
The Heart Foundation has great resources, recipes and information about healthy eating for heart health.
Livelighter provides a range of recipe ideas for people to try to support their diet and overall health.
Parkrun organise free, weekly, 5km timed runs around the world. They are open to everyone, free, and are safe and easy to take part in.
These events take place in pleasant parkland surroundings and we encourage people of every ability to take part; from walkers or those taking their first steps in running to Olympians; from juniors to those with more experience; parkrun welcome you all.
To join in parkrun simply visit the Parkrun website and complete a once off registration, print out your barcode and turn up on Saturday morning, it is that easy!
The Wanjoo Wanderers Walking Group is an over 55’s social group that come together to socialise, grab a coffee whilst completing some low impact exercise. This initiative promotes elders’ physical and mental wellbeing that is free of cost.
FREE | No booking required.
We run the Your Move program with the Department of Transport. Your Move promotes walking, cycling, scooting and public transport to get around Fremantle. The program offers support and advice to help you find other ways to get to and from school, your workplace and around your local area.
You can get involved by walking, riding and using public transport whenever possible. It is a great way to increase physical activity, reduce environmental impact and connect with others.
We have a number of local Your Move schools committed to increasing active transport among their students. If you would like to find out more about the Your Move program, visit the Your Move website for ideas, resources and tools to get you and your family moving.
If you would like to hear more about how to get Your Move in your school, contact us on 1300 MY FREO (1300 693 736) or info@fremantle.wa.gov.au.
This mental health support resource is an information tile found on the Access My Community App for people living in the areas of Cockburn, Fremantle and Melville. It provides information on services in one location for individuals and families or people supporting others. Services are free or low-cost, and are accessible without a referral or a mental health care plan. These services can be used alone, complement GP’s advice, and help those on a waitlist to see a psychologist.
For more information on how to access and download the tile, click here
To access the Mental Health Support brochure, click here
For more information go to the Alliance Against Depression website or email ifaad@stpats.com.au.
In line with our ‘Strategic Community Plan’, Health and Happiness are one of seven strategic focus areas the city focuses on. To achieve Health and Happiness, engaging in physical activity is a positive behaviour. Physical activity has several benefits, including:
The City provides a range of programs and facilities to encourage regular physical activity amongst residents and visitors to Fremantle. This includes facilities available at the; Fremantle Leisure Centre, Samson Recreational Centre the Fremantle Visitor Centre and local parks. In addition the City provides youth sport grants and organises regular events and festivals promoting outdoor experiences.
The City’s Fremantle Leisure Centre provides affordable access to a gymnasium, and public swimming pool. The centre also offers affordable swimming lessons, personal training and group fitness classes (which include; zumba, pilates, yoga, cardio sculpt and much more).
Samson Recreation Centre provides a variety of affordable sports programs including; netball, badminton, yoga and tennis.
The City Parks and Landscapes team aims to maintain parks and play spaces to a high standard to encourage community use.
The Community Development team provides a range of free physical activity opportunities through its ‘Come and Try’ program for the Over 55’s, school holiday programs and other sport and recreation initiatives.
A range of youth sport grants are offered to local residents aged under 21 years to assist young people to participate in sport and recreation programs of their choosing.
Booyeembara Park working group has been formed to ensure the park is maintained with care and can be utilised by the community.
The City’s Fremantle Visitor Centre offers free bike hire.
The City’s Festivals team and the community development team organise many outdoor events and festivals which promote outdoor activities.
The Esplanade Youth Plaza creates an inner–city hub for young people and families to recreate, winning two awards specifically for enhancing physical activity and creating adventurous play spaces. The City Actively promotes this site with activities and events throughout the year, especially during school holidays; this further encouraging physical activity and community participation. The plaza also provides a location for future youth festivals and events.
For more information visit the Disability access and inclusion page.
The City of Fremantle has partnered with Heart Foundation Walking to help make discovering and starting walking groups simple and fun!
Walking has many benefits including helping to:
Joining or starting a walking group is a great way to stay motivated, make new friends, and to feel safer walking in a group!
Heart Foundation Walking is Australia’s largest network of free community-based walking groups coordinated locally by the City of Fremantle.
Heart Foundation Walking groups help build and support a community of walkers, making regular physical activity enjoyable and easy. Walking groups walk at various times and distances.
Visit the Heart Foundation Walking webpage for more information. If you do not live near a group or prefer to walk on your own, you can join as a ‘Virtual Walker’ and track your progress online.
Please contact your local Coordinator if you are interested in participating by emailing Alexanderh@fremantle.wa.gov.au.
If you would like to start a new group, consider becoming a walk organiser!
Walking groups are a great way to meet new people, and see more of your community, while also improving your physical health and mental wellbeing. New groups are wanted for all suburbs and all areas; park walkers, slow walkers, fast walkers, parents with prams, early morning and end of day walkers, walk with your dog, or just a reason to walk.
To register as a walk organiser please email Alexanderh@fremantle.wa.gov.au.
Fremantle Women’s Health Centre is a not-for-profit, community health organisation dedicated to women-centred care.
