For midwife and mother of two Meagan Chave, 45, Peak Body was more than a gym, it became a pillar in her life for 12 years. She joined when her daughter was five years old and later brought her son, who started attending at just six months old while still breastfeeding.
“I used the gym and crèche three times a week for an hour. If the babies were unsettled staff would come and get you, but most of the time they were fine. It was a really friendly, lovely place, not pretentious at all.”
The gym has been based in the North Beach Shopping Centre for 15 years, and was recently given 30 days’ notice to vacate the premises.
For Valentina Camillacci, a long-time member of Peak Body gym and mother of young children at the time, the crèche was more than just a convenience, it was a necessity.
“The crèche was a priority for me, as I didn’t have any family support nearby. I actually went to the gym more to have a break from my kids than to exercise. It was my only time off as a mum; I even used to do two classes back to back.”
Valentina Camillacci.
Though her children are now old enough to stay home alone, she remembers the Peak Body crèche as an essential part of her daily life.
“For sure, Peak Body felt like an extension of my home. My kids felt safe there, and as I said before, I used to spend hours there every single day of the week, besides the weekend.”
Her experience reflects a wider issue facing Australian parents. Fitness and Lifestyle Group, which owns major chains such as Fitness First and Goodlife Health Clubs, shut down crèche facilities at 89 gyms nationwide in July 2022, citing business decisions.
The move sparked outrage among parents who depended on these services, especially considering the high cost of childcare in Perth, which averages $170 per day.
Jason Cockman, a strength coach at Peak Body for nine years, believes that gym crèches are not just a convenience but a necessity, and made sure to prioritise créche services when choosing a facility to relocate his services to.
“I’m at a gym in Hillary’s that has a free crèche every morning until 11am Monday to Saturday. This was a massive feature as to why I came here. We need to remove barriers for people to work on health, it’s hard enough for parents to find time, much less having someone to care for an infant or child for 40-60 minutes.”
Jason Cockman.
Mr Cockman says some franchise gyms for prioritising volume over personalised care, often neglecting demographics such as parents, the elderly, and those with special needs.
“It was a brutal business decision by the landlord without any consideration for displacing 1,500 members and 30 employees,” he says.
Meanwhile gym chains like Revo Fitness continue to expand, with plans to open 25 new locations in 2025.
For parents like Ms Chave and Ms Camillacci, and coaches like Mr Cockman, their message is clear: gyms must prioritise childcare services to support those who need them most.
“I dream of a gym where I can go and exercise with my kids near me or even together so I can set a great example for them as well,” Ms Camillacci says.
With 18-34-year-old Australians leading gym participation rates, the demand for inclusive fitness spaces remains high. However, without crèches many parents face an uphill battle to stay active.
The question now is whether gyms will step up to fill this gap, or if parents will be forced to choose between their fitness and their family responsibilities.