When 27 Squadron mover Leading Aircraftwoman Alyssa Wheeler missed the mark on her Physical Fitness Test run last year, she knew regular gym sessions were the difference between a pass and fail.
But with her schedule, getting a regular workout wasn't as simple as lacing up the shoes.
Aircraft landed at irregular hours and the refueller lacked experience to come up with her own routine.
She isn't alone according to MEC review board data, indicating some personnel were likely unaware of, or not performing appropriate physical training to handle the rigours of their jobs.
This unstructured approach to exercise contributed to a raft of workplace injuries and medical downgrades, with some squadrons' deployability rate sitting below acceptable levels.
A new approach to physical training was needed.
Now, movers can access an app-based program called MOVFIT, a Personal Training Instructor (PTI) led strength and conditioning routine specifically designed for the movements workforce.
PTIs run two in-person sessions a week, workouts are posted to TeamBuildr, a strength and conditioning app for personnel with scheduling issues.
Leading Aircraftwoman Wheeler has attended every PTI-led session since MOVFIT's introduction last year.
"Our mustering is prone to knee and back injuries, the sessions are tailored to strengthen these areas," Leading Aircraftwoman Wheeler said.
"We have a lot of younger people like me who are straight out of school and don't really go to the gym - it's my third year and I'm shocked I haven't been injured yet."
At Amberley, a significant part of the 23 Squadron workforce were unable to deploy because of injury in 2022.
In response, the following year, a 23 Squadron Human Performance Centre was opened and MOVFIT rolled out.
It allows movers a structured training plan and a space where they could complete sessions in the time between aircraft and cargo preparation tasks.
Recently, the unit's individual readiness has significantly improved.
MOVFIT national lead PTI Corporal Tim Kain said the aim was to provide a national approach to mitigate musculoskeletal injury, improving the mustering's deployment availability.
After it was initially introduced at Amberley, Pearce and Richmond, those who were failing their PFTs found a renewed confidence after attending regular sessions.
"As a PTI I was really happy to see people who have been consistent with the program not worried about passing their next PFT - they knew they were good to go," Corporal Kain said.
MOVFIT is one initiative from the Human Performance Optimisation team, recently recognised as a finalist in the 2023 Comcare National Awards Scheme for preventing injuries among trainees.
Namely, they helped double the pass rate of trainees at the RAAF Security and Fire School by introducing new training concepts, reduced lost training days and eliminated medical discharges.
The team investigated at-risk, priority workforces: movers, chefs, armament technicians and life-support fitters.
In addition to MOVFIT, other risk-mitigation initiatives are in the works.
"It's still early days. These things take a bit of time, but we're definitely seeing positive progression," Corporal Kain said.
"We're all shifting with the times and moving to a more occupational-specific approach, ticking boxes for the right reasons."
