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 | Welcome to the first edition of AustCycle e-news.
The AustCycle team have been working hard on a number of projects and the e-newsletter provides us with an opportunity to share these with people also passionate about providing the community with the skills, confidence and safety to ride bikes recreationally.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their continued support and feedback about how we can continue to improve AustCycle in 2011. It is already shaping up to be a crucial year in AustCycle's short but successful life and it is hard to believe Christmas and 2011 are just around the corner.
Since coming on board in October it has been a busy and exciting time for AustCycle and there are a number of projects that highlight the important role AustCycle and cycling play in the community.
These are:
• Over 5000 community members across NSW have been trained through the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECCW), NSW Voucher scheme.
• The pilot phase of the Healthy Communities Initiative (HCI) has seen 12 Local Government Areas (LGAs) address overweight and obesity issues in communities across Australia.
• The expansion of AustCycle nationally with AustCycle Teachers being trained in NSW, ACT, WA, SA, QLD,VIC and Tas with NT training scheduled for early 2011. | | • Establishment of participation programs engaging adults in targeted Local Government Areas (LGAs) in February 2011.
• Development of a Provider Pack (available early 2011) to assist our licensed Providers with local marketing, brand awareness and program delivery
of AustCycle.
• National launch of AustCycle at the UCI World Road Track Championships in Geelong.
Let's hope that with so many new bikes sitting under Christmas trees that time is spent getting AustCycle training and education early and throughout 2011. On behalf of all the staff at AustCycle I would like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a very safe holiday. Gareth Watkins
General Manager
AustCycle
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| The Australian Government grants AustCycle $1 million as part of its Healthy Communities Initiative The Australian Government has recently granted AustCycle $1 million over a three year period to roll out the AustCycle program to all remaining states and territories as part of their Healthy Communities Initiative (HCI). The HCI program aims to reduce the prevalence of obesity in Australia by maximising the number of at-risk individuals engaged in healthy lifestyle programs. The HCI will also provide grants to 64 local government areas (LGAs) in rural/ remote, regional, outer-metropolitan and metropolitan areas over three years to support the delivery of these chosen healthy lifestyle programs.
Encourage your Local Government to apply for funding and get more people riding in your local community. | |
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| | Level 1 AustCycle Teacher Accreditation Program AustCycle has recently launched its new Level 1 AustCycle Teacher Accreditation Program which was developed in conjunction with Cycling Australia and in line with Australian Sports Commission guidelines. The nationally accredited AustCycle training allows AustCycle Teachers to teach people of all ages in the community how to ride in a variety of different settings and hard to control environments – on and off the road. Additionally, AustCycle Teachers can teach school children and adults about road safety, the road rules, and take them out on cycle lanes and roads to ride. | |
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| | Upcoming Training CoursesWant to train people so they can safely and confidently enjoy cycling in any environment?
Simply enrol in our next course in your area and become a nationally accredited AustCycle Teacher.
Courses in most states will be running in early 2011. If you would like to register your interest in attending a training course in 2011 or if you want more information on the program, contact Rachel de Bear at info@austcycle.com.au or 02 9339 5842.
Find out more about the training here. | |
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| | Michael Hull
Finesse Cycling Finesse Cycling has been running a series of adult classes for the Department of Health on the Central Coast under the DECC voucher scheme. Continuing to grow in this space customers now include Lake Macquarie Council, Singtel Optus, Hunter DECCW, Hunter Water and MacMaster SLSA. Finesse have also moved into being the most popular sport in the Active After Schools Program in the area with 24 schools now having completed the skills program.
 | |  Finesse is now moving into indoor fitness classes with 6-week indoor, outdoor and skills classes run as preparation for getting on the road. These courses focus on building confidence and Michael loves nothing more than seeing a trainee start off nervously and finish the course determined to make riding a regular part of their life. Finesse is gradually growing and starting to build its brand. They have been recognised by the local government agencies as the place to go for cycle training in the area. Finesse runs training courses in the Upper North Shore and the Central Coast to Lower Hunter Valley areas. | |
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| | The Department of Environment and Climate Change, NSW (DECC) vouchers and funding was a great initiative as it allowed AustCycle Providers to offer workshops to interested community groups and organisations free of charge.
This allowed them to sample what AustCycle has to offer, which is extremely important in a low socio-economic area like the Far North Coast. Courses were tailored to meet the needs of each group and usually centred around safety, confidence, basic riding skills and bike maintenance.
In all of the workshops you could see the visible difference in people's riding skills and their faces light up as they finally got it.
Common comments included "I didn't think I would learn that much" and "When is the next one?"
One school aged boy told me "It is the best day
I have had all year!" | | The most important facet of the vouchers for Providers and Teachers was that it allowed us to get the AustCycle name out there and become known in our local areas for what we can offer. It has also resulted in repeat business with schools who are already starting to book for next year.
Rachel Sipple
Jack Ransom Cycles
Ballina NSW
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| |  | | AustCycle attended the UCI Road World Championships in Geelong from 29 September to 3 October 2010 to create awareness of the AustCycle program among the Australian cycling community.
The AustCycle marquee was set up in the West Park Precinct and training sessions were run only metres away from where the likes of Cadel Evans and Michael Matthews whizzed by on Pakington Street.
Read more | |
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| | Top Tips for Riding in Traffic • Use appropriate equipment and clothing…
• Develop your cycling skills…
• Know and follow the road rules…
• Plan the safest route…
• Be aware…
• Be predictable…
• Take care…
• Take suitable precautions when it's wet…
• Use reflective devices and lights when riding between sunset and sunrise or in poor light…
• Know when it's not safe to ride…
Click here for full version of
Top Tips for Riding in Traffic
If you need help in any of these areas contact AustCycle
to find a training Provider in your area. | | 1. Cycling is the fourth most popular physical activity for Australians over the age of 16 years.
2. Bike riders account for around 2 per cent of road deaths and about 11 per cent of seriously injured each year. | |
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| | What is AustCycle? Click here
Interested in Training? Click here
Interested in becoming a Teacher/ Provider? Click here
Promoting healthy cycling in your local community. Click here | |
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