Joshua 'Thurston' Toole (Founder)
Joshua 'Thurston' Toole (Founder)
Where you’re from and where you live now?
My family are from the Coonamble throughout the Castlereagh catchment north west New South Wales (Gamilaraay country). I grew up from an early age in Bourke New South Wales (Barkjindi Country) but now I am living on Wiradjuri Country in Dubbo New South Wales.
Qualifications and work history:
I have completed my undergraduate degree in Health Science and am Currently completing my postgraduate degree to become a Physical Education Teacher (Secondary). I am also studying to become a Personal Trainer and a Diploma of Nutrition.
Why you are working with Blackfit:
BlackFit Fitness has been a dream of mine since 2015. This is my passion and everything that can be accomplished within BlackFit reflects the people involved and the lives they have lived. I work for BlackFit because I believe that we can assist in closing The Gap.
Your visions for Blackfit:
I vision that one day the impacts that BlackFit can have on the people it comes in contact with will be so powerful so that it won’t come down to being Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal, yes, it’s important to acknowledge who we are – but I want everyone to be equal and viewed as Australians in unity.
My health journey and what is health to me:
Health for me is everything, at the end of the day it’s all we have – so why not invest and cherish that. Fitness and physical activity have helped me through some dark times that have shaped who I am as a person. I also hold tight to a healthy lifestyle as I have witnessed how devastating life can be when we walk away from it – especially in my family and communities growing up.
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BlackFit Fitness Workshops
The BlackFit Fitness Engagements have evolved and expanded across the country over time, drawing from our extensive experience working with schools, communities, and institutions. Our school programs are tailored to meet the specific needs of each institution and are developed upon request following consultation with your team. We strive to create the best possible experiences for your target group by blending their personal needs with our expertise and experience.
These programs are suitable for a variety of organizations, including schools, government institutions, correctional centers, and youth centers. Some examples of our current programs within these institutions include:
- Facilitated BroSpeak
- Group and individual mentoring
- Traditional dance workshops
- Art workshops, including mural creation
- BushTucker and Dreaming space construction
- Didgeridoo groups (we can provide didgeridoos upon request)
- Sport, fitness, and physical activity sessions
- Men's mentoring
- Artefact creation
- Wellness and goal-setting workshops
All workshops can be developed into ongoing programs or presented as one-offs. These details, along with additional considerations, are discussed collaboratively to create a personalised program that aims to achieve the best outcomes for your organisation.
Holiday Programs
The BlackFit Fitness Holiday Programs aim to align with the goals and outcomes of the community, with a recent focus on youth engagement. We have traveled across the state to deliver these engaging and personalised programs, which have ranged from running over a week to just a single day in various communities. The content of our programs is tailored to suit the specific needs of each community.
Some examples of our past community holiday programs include:
- Traditional dance workshops
- Art workshops featuring ochre art creation, including murals for funding organisations
- Sport, fitness, and physical clinics, including competitions and prizes
- Young soft ninja warrior course suitable for children under 10
- Fishing competitions
- Wellness and meditation workshops
- Gym sessions, including boxing programs
All workshops can be developed into ongoing programs or presented as one-offs. These details, along with more specific considerations, are discussed as a group to create a personalised program that strives for the best outcomes for your organisation.