PRECEDE: A body’s health is dependent on all parts working in harmony – from the heart beating blood around the body to the brain ensuring everything stays on an even keel. In terms of a community’s health and wellbeing, its recreational facilities and the ways they connect with the broader community ensures it stays healthy. Gazette reporter MATTHEW SIMS spoke to Aligned Leisure Cardinia leisure manager Paige Kristalyn about her love for the area and her passion for helping others maintain their physical and mental health.
BREAKOUT QUOTE: “You will never regret being active – it doesn’t matter what type of activity at what intensity but it is a guaranteed way to increase positive wellbeing.”
As Cardinia leisure manager for Aligned Leisure, Paige Kristalyn has to wear a number of hats across a number of Cardinia’s recreation facilities from Cardinia Life, Officer Community Hub, Pakenham Regional Tennis Centre and Cardinia’s four seasonal pools located in Emerald, Garfield, Kooweerup and Pakenham.
“I manage the operations of Cardinia Shire’s major recreation facility contract for Aligned Leisure,“ she said.
“In addition to the management of the operations within these facilities, we partner with council, local businesses, schools and community organisations to deliver impactful community programming aimed at improving the overall health and wellbeing of Cardinia’s residents.“
Originally hailing from Maryknoll and Pakenham, Ms Kristalyn went to school at Nar Nar Goon Primary School and Beaconhills College.
She started her journey at Cardinia Life in 2015 as a customer service officer whilst studying a degree in public health and health promotion at Deakin University.
Ms Kristalyn then ascended through various roles within the Cardinia Leisure contract, including people and compliance co-ordinator, Healthy Cardinia co-ordinator and customer experience manager, which provided required skills and understanding to take on the current position as Cardinia Leisure Manager from early 2019.
“I am passionate about improving community health outcomes through taking a preventative approach to positive health and wellbeing,“ she said.
“I get to exercise this passion every day in many ways in my role through finding ways to allow as many people as possible to take time for themselves to connect with like-minded individuals and be active in a supportive environment.
“I also try to embed this outlook in our employee culture by ensuring our team feel supported in the workplace, and excited to come to work by having a great understanding of the positive impact they have through the work that they do every day.“
Ms Kristalyn said one of the initiatives she was most proud of leading was the Tiger PAW program, a program which educates Grade 5 and 6 students on nutrition, physical activity, cultural diversity and
respectful relationships at no cost to the school or participants, which has been to every school in Cardinia.
“One of my most significant achievements in this role would have to be the safe and timely management of opening and reopening our facilities during the pandemic and the ability to retain the large majority of our workforce during this time,“ she said.
“As a management group, we worked tirelessly to ensure our facilities would open the second that they could so we could welcome our community back.
“We have just engaged Proud2Play to support us in ensuring our facilities are safe and welcoming for our LGBTQI+ community members to enhance opportunities to participate in sport and recreation activities.
“Through the closure periods, we also prioritised our efforts into maintaining connections with our team and customers, understanding that so many were feeling extremely isolated.“
Ms Kristalyn said seeing Cardinia and the individuals which make up the broader community prosper fuelled her work.
“I am inspired by and get the most energy from seeing those around me thrive in whatever they are doing whether it is playing sport, walking their dog, working hard to achieve a goal or anything else that brings happiness to them and others,“ she said.
“Relationship building is a natural strength for me and I am really proud of the meaningful connections I have created over the years with those who engage with the work we do.
“I have a very light-hearted and solutions-focused approach to my life both inside and outside of work.“
Ms Kristalyn said she also enjoyed helping others discover the joy and fulfilment physical activity can bring to their lives.
“It can support them to succeed in other areas of their lives – work, study, caring for children or loved ones – and reduce the likelihood of some illnesses,“ she said.
“I find through maintaining my physical activity routines it supports my wellbeing in every other sense – I feel energised, more clear minded and at times use it as an opportunity to connect with others.
“It sets me up to get through busy days at work, followed by studying at night and some sort of social life.“
Ms Kristalyn said she was committed towards continuing to support Cardinia community members flourish.
“Over the years, I have watched Cardinia grow from paddocks to estates which has brought with it great diversity and I think something that has remained during that growth is a sense of community,“ she said.
“The other thing I really like about the area is you can go from being in suburban Pakenham to the hills of Emerald or to the country of Bunyip all within one LGA.“
Ms Kristalyn said personal relationships between individuals and groups were invaluable.
“I see human connection similarly to the importance of physical activity, in that it can enhance our quality of life,“ she said.
“I think building connections is fundamental to our wellbeing and can only improve us as individuals through learning from others, sharing experiences, seeing different perspectives, and supporting each other through difficult times.”
“In both personal and professional contexts, the opportunity to contribute positively to someone else’s life or work can be incredibly energising, reinforcing the importance of building connections, whether it be helping a colleague learn a new skill or talking through one of life’s many challenges with a friend.
Under the Together We Can banner alongside Together We Can collective impact facilitator Fiona Cost and Aligned Leisure head of customer experience Chris Banbury, Ms Kristalyn developed the ’He Can So We Can Too’ campaign, which aimed to increase awareness around equity in sport and promote that sport is for everyone.
“Undertaking the task of becoming a White Ribbon Accredited organisations was something Aligned Leisure committed to coming in to the facility management contract, having researched & understood the significance of this issue in the Cardinia community,“ she said.
“I got to be a part of the action group that worked on all the tasks to achieve the accreditation and part of that I was connected with the Together We can group back in its infancy and have remained a part of this collective impact group since.
“Although Aligned Leisure have not renewed the accreditation with White Ribbon, we are still committed to helping reduce and prevent family violence within Cardinia through working collaboratively with council and other community organisations.
Every year, Aligned Leisure partners with Cardinia Shire Council and Outlook to run an event which raises awareness on the topic of gender equity and raises funds for local charities who support this cause.
Ms Kristalyn said she would continue to support those experiencing domestic violence or gender inequity.
“Investing time and energy into this work is really important to me,“ she said.
“I think I would be described by others as feminist, but the reality is I deeply believe in equity for all and that everyone should be allowed the opportunity to live their best possible life.
“Knowing that this issue is so prevalent and is taking that away from others drives me to support this cause in any way I can.“
Ms Kristalyn said she hoped the campaign helped prevent or reduce instances of family violence moving forward.
“As humans, we are all equal, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, or ability,“ she said.
“By promoting equity, in concurrent with respectful relationships, it is hoped that old stereotypes are broken down paving a more cohesive future for our community.
“It was hoped that by promoting this campaign through sports it supports and normalises the cultural and epic shift we are seeing in the sporting world of more inclusive environments for girls and women, our CALD and LGBTQI+ communities, and for people with disabilities.“
Ms Kristalyn said she was excited to see Cardinia continue to develop.
“I am very committed to Cardinia as an LGA having spent most of my life living, learning and working here,“ she said.
“I am fortunate to have had great family support from my family and friends over the years and now live a pretty great life with my partner who also runs a business in Pakenham and my dachshund Bruce.“
Ms Kristalyn said she hoped her work and the team at Cardinia Life were able to inspire others to make their physical and mental wellbeing a priority.
“You will never regret being active – it doesn’t matter what type of activity at what intensity but it is a guaranteed way to increase positive wellbeing,“ she said.
“Working in the fitness and leisure industry is extremely rewarding and there are so many different types of roles within these facilities from swim teaching, lifeguarding, cleaning, café attendant, childcare and customer service through to group fitness and gym instructors – there is something for everyone.“
