Monash University’s very own fitness club, Monash Sport, provides students with the opportunity to stay active and connect with the wider university community.

With three locations at the Clayton, Caulfield and Peninsula campuses, Monash Sport’s wide range of programs and modern facilities helps students stay fit and manage other aspects of their life.

For me, as a Monash undergraduate student, it is irreplaceable in the convenience it offers, as I frequently go to the fitness centre before my classes begin. I can then use the locker room and shower to freshen up before I go to class.

So what does Monash Sport have on offer in 2025?

For this review, MOJO News spoke to Monash Sport service desk manager and memberships coordinator Chammi Amarasinghe.

How much does it cost?

Monash Sport provides a very accessible service for university students and how they manage their lives, Amarasinghe says.

“We are located on campus," she says, "which is convenient for students. It gives them an opportunity to use the facilities in between classes [and] after class."

Monash Sport pricing is competitive, she says, with no joining fees and discounted rates for Monash students and staff.

According to comparison website Finder, the most popular gym chains in Melbourne such as Snap Fitness, Anytime Fitness and Fitness First charge more than $20 a week.

On the other hand, a Monash Sport fitness membership, which gives unlimited access to the fitness centre and group fitness classes, costs $17 a week for students.

I really like the affordability of these memberships, given how constraining the cost of living is for me as a student, and the ability to pay fortnightly rather than weekly helps me manage my finances.

I've also found Monash Sport to be helpful if you need to suspend or cancel your membership for whatever reason.

What facilities are available?

In addition to the gym and specialised fitness classes, having a wide range of facilities available makes Monash Sport an attractive option for students, Amarasinghe says.

“We cater across the three sites. Clayton is the largest site … It caters for 22 badminton courts, five basketball courts … [and] our aquatic facilities," she says. That includes two 25-metre lap pools and a leisure pool.

“Caulfield and Peninsula sites offer your fitness programs and your court spaces,” Amarasinghe adds.

I’ve occasionally used the court spaces to play social badminton or basketball, and found it to be a good way to maintain interaction with friends at a central and accessible location.

While a Monash Sport membership does get you a discount when booking these spaces, I would like it if there was an option to integrate court access with the general fitness membership. 

Can I get personalised support?

Amarasinghe says the expertise and accessibility of Monash Sport staff is a key factor that differentiates it from other fitness clubs.

“What we do that’s different from other clubs is we always have a staff member that’s out on the floor.

"[You] can actually book a program appointment and get a tailored program designed,” she says.

This is something I appreciate about Monash Sport.

Not only was I able to get a qualified fitness instructor to create a personalised program for me, but I can also reach out to these instructors when I am working out, ensuring that I am always staying on track.

I also find the staff to be super-friendly; they know exactly what I need in order to meet my personalised fitness goals.

The gym has a range of machines that you can use for cardio and strength exercises, and you can always ask the instructors for their guidance on how to use the equipment. 

The number of machines available, in combination with the flexible operating hours, means that I usually find it easy to finish my workout in an efficient manner.

The gym opens as early as 6am and closes as late as 10pm, depending on the day.

Sometimes the gym does get very busy, especially in the evenings when students come after class, but even at peak times I find that I am usually able to complete my exercise program.

The quality of Monash Sport’s swim instructors at the aquatic facilities was another aspect of Monash Sport which Amarasinghe spoke to.

“We always score highly on our Platinum pool as well,” Amarasinghe says, referring to the Platinum Pool program that highlights aquatic facilities achieving the highest standards in aquatic safety and risk management in Victoria.

Apart from the physical benefits that students gain by joining Monash Sport, Amarasinghe spoke to the chance to build connections with the wider Monash community.

“[It provides] a place where you can gather, socialise, meet new friends,” she says.

“We also provide a space where people can come and study and [there is] also a multi-purpose facility … that we cater for all sorts of events.”

Overall, Monash Sport provides a range of fitness and aquatic facilities as well as areas to engage in social sport and engage with the wider Monash community — all on campus.

Further information about Monash Sport can be found here.