2026 September Newsletter
Term 3 is done and it's been a big one! Here's what's coming up, plus a few things we'd like you to know.
Spring Holiday Program: bookings open
Our Spring Holiday Program runs Monday 28 September to Friday 2 October.
One thing to note about dates: we're closed for regular classes the week before (21–27 September). If your family has two weeks off, the second week is the one we're running.
Skill workshops and OpenGym sessions are back, including our two most popular, Flip & Tricks and Handstands & Cartwheels. As always, numbers are capped, so if you haven't booked yet, now's the time
More info and bookings here: Spring Holiday Program
Important Dates
Term 3 runs through to Saturday 19th September
Our usual break week runs 21st–27th September before Term 4 begins
Term 4 runs 28th September to 20th December (no classes Tuesday 3rd November - public holiday)
Billing: fees are charged by direct debit on the first day of each month - you can always preview the month ahead's charges from the 15th of the month prior
The full calendar is always up to date on our Important Dates page
A Few Housekeeping Reminders
Make-Up Tokens - Know you'll be away? Notify us via the Customer Portal at least 1 hour before your scheduled class to receive a make-up token - it's the easiest way to make sure nothing gets missed. QR codes around the gym (and our website) link to a step-by-step guide if you need one.
Parking - A reminder that street parking on Carrington Drive is available on the western side only (opposite the gym). Please avoid parking across neighbouring driveways or car parks. Full details on our Contact page
Get Active Kids Vouchers are open
Westside Gymnastics is a registered Get Active Kids Voucher Program provider, and Round 11 is now open!
If your family has a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, you may be eligible for up to $200 per child towards registration and membership fees with us. Applications close at 10am on Tuesday 13 October, or earlier if the funding runs out, so apply soon.
How it works:
Apply at www.getactive.vic.gov.au/vouchers and your voucher will be emailed to you.
When you apply, select us as your Activity Provider. We're listed as Westside Gymnastics and our provider number is 3675475
Send us your voucher code when you pay your fees, and we'll take up to $200 off.
Already paid? You can apply for a reimbursement instead, for eligible costs from 1 May 2026 onwards. Each child can have either one voucher or one reimbursement this round.
Vouchers expire on 27 April 2027.
Eligibility, covered costs and special considerations are all explained on the Get Active website.
A word on pricing from 1 October
As we mentioned a couple of weeks ago via email, our pricing changes from 1 October 2026.
There are two reasons:
The RBA's ban on card surcharges means those costs now need to be built into our fees rather than added at checkout
Like most small businesses, we're also absorbing rising wage and superannuation costs this year
If your child is in a 1.5-hour class, your fees aren't changing. If you missed the full email or have questions, reply to this one. We're also always happy to talk it through in person.
You can check out our new tuition schedule here
Our Core Values, out loud
You might have noticed some new lines in our posts this month. They come from our Core Values, which we've now written down properly for the first time:
Protect First. Raise Second
We're raising people, not just gymnasts
Wobbly is fine. Wobbly is how we start
If its not fun, we're not doing it right
It takes a village. The West raises it's own
You can read the full version anytime here
Keeping kids safe, every week
Earlier this month was National Child Protection Week (6-12 September). This year's theme, Every Conversation Matters: Shifting Conversation to Action, felt like a good prompt to say something plainly.
As we shared in August, we've refreshed our child safety policies and procedures from top to bottom this year, in line with the Victorian Child Safe Standards. Every coach on our floor holds a current Working with Children Check. We don't talk about this often, but it sits behind everything we do.
If you or your child ever have a concern, big or small, please talk to Toby - Child Safety Office or email info@westsidegymnastics.com.au We will always listen.
A small sneak peek at 2027
We're not ready to share everything yet, but here's a start. Next year we're introducing structured skill tracking and check-in weeks. That means you'll get a real, term by term picture of where your gymnast is at, not just a quick "going well!" at pick up. More on this closer to the time!
See you back for an exciting Term 4 from Monday 28 September!
Toby & the Westside Team
