Free Gym Access for Teens Just Landed and Parents Are About to Love This

If you have a teenager at home, you will know the summer holiday juggle all too well. On one hand, they finally get to sleep in, decompress from the school year and take a breather. On the other, too much unstructured time can quickly turn into endless scrolling, mood swings and that familiar “I’m bored” energy that fills the house by about 10am.

That is why this new initiative from Club Lime feels genuinely timely. Lime NRG is a nationwide program giving teenagers aged 13 to 17 two weeks of free gym access at over 130 Club Lime gyms across Australia from Monday 12 January to Sunday 25 January 2026. No contracts, no awkward sales pitches, just an open door for teens to move, hang out and feel better in their bodies during the school holidays.

Why movement matters more than ever for teens

For parents, this is not about raising elite athletes or pushing gym culture. It is about something much more important. Mental health, confidence and connection.

We are all watching our kids grow up in a world that feels heavier than the one we had. Anxiety is rising, screens are everywhere and routines disappear during school holidays. Exercise is one of the simplest tools we have to help our teens feel more grounded, but getting them started can be the hardest part. When something is free, social and easy to access, the barrier to giving it a go drops dramatically.

And the science backs this up. Teenagers who do less than 30 minutes of physical activity a day are around 70 per cent more likely to experience anxiety and depressive symptoms. Even more powerful is moving together. Group based exercise has been shown to reduce psychological distress by up to nearly 50 per cent. That means going to the gym with a friend, training together, laughing together and building small routines that feel fun rather than forced.

What the experts are saying

Exercise psychologist, former AFL player and parent to two teenagers Dr Ben Robbins says the initiative arrives at a critical moment, with many young people experiencing more unstructured free time during the holidays and spending less time on social platforms following recent policy changes.

“When routine drops away, we often see increases in isolation and low mood among teenagers,” Dr Robbins says.

“Movement is one of the most accessible and effective tools young people have to support their mental wellbeing, especially when it feels social and low pressure.”

He also points out that the hardest part is often not motivation but getting started.

“As a parent, I see firsthand how hard it can be to pull teenagers away from screens. Often the hardest part isn’t motivation; it’s taking that first step. Club Lime’s initiative provides a practical way to do just that, offering a welcoming environment that encourages teens to get off the couch, and to move with friends and feel good. When an opportunity like this is free and easy to access, participation becomes far more likely”.

Why Club Lime created Lime NRG

Rob Nolan, Chief Marketing Officer at Viva Leisure, which owns Club Lime, says Lime NRG was built around community and confidence rather than pressure or performance.

“We always believe that just one hour of movement a day can change people’s lives. Lime NRG is an invitation for teens to experience what it feels like to be part of a community, to train in a fun, supportive gym environment, without pressure or expectations,” Rob says.

“It’s part of Club Lime’s ongoing commitment to supporting teen physical and mental wellbeing, with Lime NRG set to return during future school holidays to help build positive, consistent habits and create meaningful, long-term impact.”

Why parents should care

From a parent’s point of view, this is one of those rare school holiday wins. It gives teens somewhere to go, something to do and a reason to get off their screens that does not feel like nagging. It also gives them access to a safe, structured environment where they can build habits that might stick long after the two weeks are up.

There is also something incredibly powerful about letting teens take that first step themselves. When they register for their own Lime NRG pass, walk into a gym and choose how they want to move, it builds autonomy and confidence. Those little moments matter more than we realise.

How it works

Lime NRG is available at all 130 Club Lime gyms across Australia from Monday 12 January to Sunday 25 January 2026. Teens aged 13 to 17 simply need to register for a free Lime NRG Pass to gain access. There are no lock ins and no contracts, just two weeks of open access to a welcoming gym environment.

The long term impact

Research shows that building movement habits early has lasting effects, with each additional hour of daily physical activity in early adolescence associated with a 12 per cent lower risk of psychiatric diagnosis by age 18. That means something as simple as going to the gym over summer could have ripple effects far beyond January.

For families with teens, this is one of those opportunities that feels genuinely helpful rather than gimmicky. It supports mental health, physical health and social connection all at once, during a time of year when many kids need it most.

If you have a teenager at home who could use a boost, a routine or just a reason to get out of the house, Lime NRG might be exactly what this summer needs.

Register for a free Lime NRG Pass here https://www.clublime.com.au/nrgpass/