Project Management at Adelaide City Council Fitness Center - Case Study Example

Adelaide City Council Improving Physical Fitness Mr. Fred Wilshere Adelaide City Council 23768 Hindley Street Adelaide, OH 43319. Dear Mr. Fred Wilshere, In regard to the above mentioned project, this proposal is submitted for funding to increase public safety and health of people of Adelaide City Council. University of South Australia, department of Sports Science hopes that the Council will respond favourably to this effort to better serve the citizens of Adelaide City Council. Sincerely, Benard S. Washington Head of Department Contents Contents 2 1.0.Project Overview 2 2.0.Location and Target Population 4 3.0.Implementing Agency 4 4.0.Executing Agency 4 5.0.Commencement date of the Project 5 6.0.Duration of the Project 5 7.0.Project Cost for Year One 5 8.0.Plans for Future Funding 7 9.0.Current Situation 7 10.0.Affiliations with similar organisation 8 11.0.Problems and Needs 9 12.0.Justification and Benefits 9 13.0.Project Objectives 10 14.0.Expected Environmental Impacts 10 15.0.Monitoring and Evaluation 10 16.0.Financing Requirements 11 16.1.Budget 11 17.0.Cost Recovery and Sustainability 12 18.0.Reference Lists 13 1.0. Project Overview University of South Australia, department of Sports Science and Adelaide City Council has had mutual working relationships for long time. However, in the recent years, the department has registered a high incidence of cardiovascular and musculo-skeletal problems amongst residents of Adelaide City Council, University staff and students. Going by the research conducted by Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) (2008), this problem continues to escalate and has reached a point where public safety may be at jeopardy. The research further indicates that establishment of fitness center where residents can take regular exercise will help keep people healthy and fit. The project (Adelaide City Council Fitness Center) also notices the escalating number of sick leaves among students and Adelaide City Council workers (Department of Health, 2012). This project therefore aims at reducing such leaves by 20% within a period of two years. It is therefore proposed that a fitness center be improved so that residents of the City Council and students can regularly exercise. This project involves the renovation of some sections of the city hall as a workout room, purchase of the needed facilities and equipments and training of the needed participants according to standards set by (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2008). The proposed programme will be run under the supervision of exercise and medical professionals, with requested funds totaling in excess of $50,000 (detailed budget is shown below). Further maintenance of this project will be necessitated through appropriations from Adelaide City Council and volunteers’ assistance and friends of the department of Sports Science. 2.0. Location and Target Population The physical fitness project is located direct opposite to Adelaide Town Hall. This will ensure that the project serves individuals residing within the environs. Going by the Adelaide City Council 2008-2009 Annual Report (as cited in Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2010) the city has high young population comprising of 45% (81,190), students enrolled in city institutions (25,893) and estimated permanent residents (118,500). Totaling these figures, research by Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2011) finds that in Australia, in every 1,000 population sampled, 10 are likely to suffer from cardiovascular and musculo-skeletal problems. Therefore with a population of about 250,000, targeted population can be estimated to be around 2500-3000. This is not to mean that the project will be expected to accommodate 2500-3000 persons at one single time. Instead, it will be based on shifts and as per the convenience of members registered. 3.0. Implementing Agency This project will be established and managed by University of South Australia, department of Sports Science. However, constant consultation with stakeholders from Adelaide City Council will also be done especially where legal formalities are concerned. 4.0. Executing Agency This project intends to utilise Human Resource Directors in presentations to participants. These will be successful employed individuals with proven track record of performance and those who can make most of existing project resources. Adelaide City Council managers will also be expected to give advisory roles especially in terms of budgeting and expenditures. 5.0. Commencement date of the Project It is worth noting that this project will be established and run under the jurisdiction of Adelaide City Council. With this at stake, City Council by laws requires that all major projects commence immediately after annual budget is read. Therefore this project expects to start its operation one week after reading of the budget. 6.0. Duration of the Project Incidences of cardiovascular and musculo-skeletal are lifelong problems and therefore this project expects to be operational for as long as cardiovascular and musculo-skeletal problems can still be reported. 7.0. Project Cost for Year One Category Requested Amount Justification for Funding Purchase of facilities $25,000 This project aims at purchasing ultra-modern fitness equipments which will enhance elimination of the problems highlighted above. This figure has been quoted based on the quantity, quality and price specifications available online. This cost will also cater for transport and installations. Cost of the rented hall $5,500 This project aims at hiring the hall on annual basis so as to ensure consistency in training. Employees 22,000 This project will have 4 trainers; two for each gender, project co-coordinators and one human resource manager. Participant Incentives $5,000 This project will be offering certificates and trips to other training facilities so as to attract other members Project participant payments $6,400 Four focus groups will be conducted on three phases within one year. These groups are individuals selected to help in training and motivating other members. This amount has therefore been selected to stretch for a period of one year. Travels $4500 These are annual projected travels by selected members of this project with an aim of occasionally meeting City Council’s coordinators over the progress of the project. This expense will also take care of the seminars, competitions and auditions by members. Other Direct Expenses $6,000 While the figure will also include fringe and tuition benefits, the amount proposed will take care of regular repairs and maintenance. Total $74,400 This project therefore requests a total of 63,500 to undertake the project as per the above specifications. The majority of the funds will go towards purchase of the facilities and individual expenses. 8.0. Plans for Future Funding This will be achieved through private fundraising, state, council and federal funding/grants which will be sought so as to support the project. Planning of this project has also tasked other personnel who will be sourcing for funding so as to enable sustenance of the current programme as well as securing employment for more individuals who can help. This project also expects to submit other proposals so as to continue supporting the additional and recurrent expenditures as well as assisting with additional case management costs, prevention and education programmes and client transportation costs where necessary. 9.0. Current Situation By the time the University of South Australia was developing this proposal, the following activities and programmes were already going on within the fitness centre: The Council has resource center programmes which have been helping registered members with strong parenting skills which enhance life styles, eating patterns and provide them with positive community activities relevant to their health situations. With this programme, the project has already registered approximately 40 members who attend this programme fortnightly. This project has also identified about 12 members with chronic cardiovascular and musculo-skeletal problems. These members are entitled to a food basket programme. These are foods that enhance their immunity (Australian facts, 2007). Bakery goods, household materials and clothing are sometimes provided depending on the budget allocation. Also available is the youth programme which mainly comprises of university students from local institutions with their chairman coming from department of Sports Science, University of South Australia. They provide services such as; training of the registered members, youth education programmes aimed at elevating cardiovascular and musculo-skeletal problems and athletic activities. Lastly, the centre provides health programmes; thanks to the funding by Adelaide City Council. The project, through this funding has implemented three health fairs, touching over 300 residents. These services include; cancer screening and immunizations, bloodwork and mammograms. For instance, Access Economics (2010) reports that in 2009 cardiovascular exercise alone reached over 342 adults. This data was sampled from an outreach worker who contacted people who managed to attend the health fair with follow up information and recommendations. 10.0. Affiliations with similar organisation Though Adelaide City Council fitness centre is not affiliated with any organisation, it has been working closely with several other organisation and projects within the council. These projects include; Rundle Mall Redevelopment, Sturt Street Housing Projects, Adelaide Oval Redevelopment and Hindley Street Activation. 11.0. Problems and Needs One of the key problems the project is currently facing is the limited access to programmed training facilities. At the moment, there are three of such facilities which the population overwhelms. This has forced members to resort to manual fitness such as weight lifting. Another problem faced is the low income. In most cases, potential clients are students who cannot afford to pay the needed fees. On the other hand, workers from the council too have limited income and this greatly affects their commitment to the project. This has also been characterised by the rate of unemployed persons within the council which now stands at 29% according to (Australian animated population pyramids, 2009) There is a special need, especially among the aged (50-70 years) living in low-income surrounding of the council that this project be able to provide activities and support that prevent them from the above mentioned health complications. Another problem facing this project is the consistency by its members. In most cases, members fail to commit to the recommended fitness programmes thus ending up with other bodily complications. 12.0. Justification and Benefits Improvement of the fitness centre will aim at making commendable progress toward health of people living around the council. During the first six months after the intended renovations, emphasis will be placed towards pre-project health of the members and training the different categories of participants. The aim of doing this is to ensure the project benefits participants by reducing the use of sick leave for cardiovascular and musculo-skeletal problems. This goes with the research conducted by Grafmiller et al. (1986) who suggested that there is a need for regular exercise which can reduce cardiovascular and musculo-skeletal problems by 25-30%. 13.0. Project Objectives The project aims at reducing cases of cardiovascular and musculo-skeletal problems by over 40% by the end of its two years of operation. Research conducted by National Heart Foundation of Australia/Australian (2008) reveals that regular weight training is a sure way of ensuring the reduction of cardiovascular and musculo-skeletal infections by half. This project intends to build from these researches so as to minimise such cases by equal percentage. Another objective of this project is to ensure that within the first 3years of operation there is reduction or lowering of the average resting pulse of the unfit members by at least five beats per minute. Recommendations by Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2008) suggest that eight month of persistent training lowers chances of cardiovascular and musculo-skeletal problems as well as lowering pre-program resting pulse rate by 20%. 14.0. Expected Environmental Impacts This project is 100% environmentally friendly. The training materials are recommended by the authorities and comply with other regulations. 15.0. Monitoring and Evaluation While daily attendance by members and non-members is intended to vary, the project’s objectives will be measured and evaluated by the following; Attendance sheets: the project intends to be compiling and submitting its attendance on a weekly basis. Rate of reduction of cardiovascular and musculo-skeletal problems: this project will be inviting medical practitioners on a monthly basis to check on the progress of the above mentioned problems. 16.0. Financing Requirements 16.1. Budget EXPENDITURES Item Name Cost 1 Advertisement $1020 2 Equipment and other capital expenses $3002 3 Printing and publications $420 4 Postage and shipping $120 5 Rent and other occupancy costs $5600 6 Salaries $23020 7 Telephone $103 8 Supplies $2100 9 Travel and utilities $3490 TOTAL EXPENDITURE $38,875 17.0. Cost Recovery and Sustainability To be able to serve the intended group, virtually all of whom cannot comfortably pay to run the project, there has been development of a fund raising plan which will be including annual fund drive targeted to individuals. For instance, last year there was annual auction/banquet. 18.0. Reference Lists Access Economics (2007). Population ageing and the economy, Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, Canberra. Australian animated population pyramids (2009). Australian Bureau of Statistics http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/d3310114.nsf/home/population%20pyramid%20preview Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2011). Projections of the Populations of Australia, States and Territories, 1995‐2051. Cat No. 3222.0. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2010): Australian Social Trends: Table 1 Population: National Summary, Catalogue No. 4102.0). Australian facts (2007) (Cardiovascular Diseases Series No. 22). AIHW and National Heart Foundation of Australia. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) (2008). Heart, stroke and vascular diseases Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2008). Canberra. Online http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/dis/da/index.html Department of Health (2012). Physical activity, health improvement and prevention. At least five a week. Department of Health. Grafmiller, H.L., Raup, R.O., and Sampson, L.H. (2005). An Evaluation of Organizational Fitness Programs. Harvard Corporate Review 71 (9): 49-61. National Heart Foundation of Australia/Australian (2008). Cardiac Rehabilitation Association. National Heart Foundation of Australia. Read More