1 /5 J S: A deeply disappointing and unsafe experience at Goodlife Health Clubs Point Cook.
As a long-standing member of this gym, I feel compelled to warn others—particularly women—about the toxic and dismissive culture that has been allowed to flourish under the current management.
On Friday, 30 May, the Gym Manager, Ben, publicly berated, ignored, and humiliated a female member (in front of over 30 people) for simply trying to ask a question about a new and poorly thought-out class ticketing rule. This policy—preventing members from setting up equipment until ticket distribution just 10 minutes before class—creates chaos and a serious health and safety hazard.
But more alarming than the policy itself was the behaviour of the manager, who refused to acknowledge or speak to the member despite multiple respectful attempts. This wasn’t an isolated incident—it’s part of a pattern. Ben has repeatedly displayed aggressive, condescending behaviour, particularly toward women, often in front of other members and staff. On more than one occasion, female members have been reduced to tears, belittled, and told to “leave if they don’t like it.”
When escalated to the regional manager, the complaint was swiftly dismissed:
Witnesses who explicitly gave permission to be contacted were ignored.
A CCTV clip with no audio was used to absolve the manager, without any consideration of tone, language, or humiliation.
Internal staff (who report to Ben) were consulted as “evidence” of his professionalism—hardly impartial.
This response shows a complete lack of accountability, objectivity, or care for member wellbeing.
More broadly, this raises a serious concern about the role of fitness institutions in ensuring safety and respect for women—especially women of colour. In a state like Victoria, where the rates of aggression, harassment, and violence against women continue to rise, it is deeply troubling that a national fitness brand like Goodlife would ignore lived experiences, silence complaints, and dismiss any challenge to power. Gyms should be safe spaces—not ones where women are intimidated, dismissed, or made to feel like they are the problem for speaking up.
If youre considering joining Goodlife Point Cook, ask yourself:
What happens when you raise a safety issue?
What support do you receive if youre mistreated by a staff member?
Does this feel like an environment where women—all women—are truly safe and respected?
This experience has made it painfully clear that Goodlife does not take the concerns or safety of its female members seriously. It’s not just bad customer service—it’s part of a larger, more dangerous problem.