Initiatives

In focus: Speed Freaks

The Speed Freaks Charitable Trust is a strategic partner of parkrun in New Zealand. Both organisations support each other’s aims and vision by promoting the benefits of walking, running and volunteering on physical and mental health.

Speed Freaks was established in 2021 to support recovery from addiction and mental distress through the vehicle of walking and running, which includes regular participation at parkrun. Participants and volunteer coaches are identifiable by their distinctive blue shirts, which are earned through regular attendance and a commitment to the Speed Freaks kaupapa.

In focus: Invictus Australia - Team Veteran

parkrun Australia has been collaborating closely with Invictus Australia since 2019 to promote parkrun as a welcoming space for the defence community and their families to connect through physical activity and a sense of belonging. At the heart of this collaboration is the parkrun group ‘Team Veteran', which any veteran, family member or supporter can join by logging into their parkrun profile.

In 2025, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide identified the urgent need for initiatives that foster social connection, reduce isolation and provide purpose, factors that are strongly linked to improved mental health outcomes for veterans and families.

In focus: parkrun Australia Defibrillator Appeal

The safety and wellbeing of the parkrun community is our top priority, with every event equipped with a defibrillator to help in instances of Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

The support of the parkrun community is vital in ensuring these life-saving devices are regularly maintained and replaced when necessary so they are ready to perform in an emergency.

In focus: Event Team Collateral

These resources are designed to be downloaded and posted on parkrun event team social media pages.

In focus: junior parkrun

junior parkruns are 2k events for 4-14 year-olds and their families. They currently take place in the UK, Ireland and Australia on Sunday mornings.

In focus: Queensland Active Women and Girls

Thanks to funding from the Queensland Government, parkrun Australia has developed a publicly available resource kit to celebrate and promote parkrun participation amongst female school pupils. Whether you work in education, you're a parent, or you go to school yourself, this material showcases how schools and parkruns around the state are collaborating to involve more girls in parkrun, more often, as walkers, runners and volunteers. Each resource can be downloaded from the site and can be used in a variety of ways such as presentations, social media and on screens in schools.

In focus: Volunteering

Volunteering is one of parkrun’s greatest success stories. It is a hugely positive experience and is a form of participation that is inclusive, respected and accessible to everyone.

In focus: Women and Girls at parkrun

Thanks to funding from the Australian Sports Commission, this 12 month project aimed to better understand motivations amongst women and girls that can lead to parkrun participation. The feedback was used to develop an extensive collection of digital resources to highlight the different ways women and girls take part in parkrun and the health and social benefits it brings.