Frequently Asked Questions

Check out our FAQs below for answers to the most common questions that we get about The Push-Up Challenge event.
If you still can't find what you're looking for then Contact us, and we'll do our best to help.

If you have questions around mental health support, you can find some FAQs and resources on our Mental Health Support page.

When is The Push-Up Challenge happening?

add remove

We'll be kicking off this year from 5 to 28 June. Register your interest now and we'll keep you in the loop as we get closer.

How do I register?

add remove
Easy. Register your interest for The Push-Up Challenge 2024 and we'll be in touch.

What is the target?

add remove

We'll be aiming for 3,249 push-ups over 24 days.

The number of push-ups reflects the nunber of lives lost to suicide in Australia in 2022.

If you want to mix it up, don't stress, alternatives to push-ups are definitely allowed.

 

How much does it cost to take part?

add remove

$0. It's free to take part.

Where can I buy Merch?

add remove

Click here to visit our merch page and find out everything you need to know about our latest threads.

The Push-Ups

Does it have to be push-ups?

add remove

Not at all. We encourage people to mix it up where they can. Think sit-ups or squats or another tailored exercise that takes your fancy.

And feel free to mix up the type of push-up you want to do. Standard, on your knees, wall push-up or even one-handed if you're keen for a challenge!

How do I bank push-ups?

add remove

The main way to bank your push-ups each day will be via our app. You'll also be able to use our website (when logged in). 

During the event, you will be able to bank push-ups for the day you're on, or go back and bank them for any previous day of the event. Find out more about the app.

Can I bank more than the day's push-up target?

add remove

The maximum amount that can be banked each day on the phone app or website is the daily push-up target.

This is because we want everyone pushing towards the same goal - that goal being recognising and raising awareness of the number of lives lost to suicide.

We all love push-ups, but we also don’t want anyone hurting themselves. It is possible to have too much of a good thing!

Is this event accessible for different abilities?

add remove

Absolutely. In previous years we have had people of various ages and abilities take part.

You can also aim for half or the full daily target. We also encourage mixing up your exercises to fit your abilities. This could mean wall push-ups, sit-ups, tricep dips, or other tailored exercises.

Check out some of our training tips and exercise alternatives. If you have any concerns, best to check in with a health professional before taking part.

How many push-ups am I required to do?

add remove

You'll be challenged to complete 3,249 push-ups over 23 days in June, to help raise awareness of the 3,249 lives lost to suicide in Australia in 2022 (last year of available data).

You can also aim for half the push-up target. Remember - exercise alternatives are very welcome to mix things up a bit.

The amount you are challenged to do each day varies. We'll include the daily targets on the App or on your Profile page.

You'll also find the amounts:
- On the Handy Resources section of the website
- On Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn @pushforbetter

We suggest breaking up the daily target of push-ups into sets. For example, do a few when you wake up, some during the day, and then some before bed - to get as many done as you can. Each set of push-ups is totally up to you.

I have injured myself, what should I do?

add remove

Stop and get advice from a suitably qualified health professional. Perhaps there is an alternative exercise you can do, perhaps you need to rest and you can take part next year. Again, chat to your suitably qualified health professional about this.

How fit do I need to be to take part?

add remove

We have seen people with all sorts of fitness levels take part. If you're not sure, best chat to your health professional. Being able to complete 10 push-ups in 1 set (without stopping) is a good place to start.

If you struggle to complete that we recommend a little bit of pre-season training. Don't forget, you can always do alternatives like sit-ups, squats, or tailored exercises.

To break it up, there are rest days (every Sunday) within the event to recharge those push-up batteries for the coming week.

When can I bank my push-ups until?

add remove
You'll be able to bank push-ups for a few weeks after the challenge finishes.

Fundraising

Do I have to fundraise?

add remove

Whilst encouraged, that is up to you. If that is not your jam, we understand. If it is your jam, sweet - you will be supporting the mental health of Australians.

How do we spend the funds that we raise?

add remove

Funds raised through the event are used:
- To support our mental health charity partners, Lifeline and headspace
- To cover the costs of running the event
- To ensure that the Push for Better Foundation can continue to operate and run The Push-Up Challenge in future years
- To develop new initiatives to address existing gaps in mental health promotion and provision

As a charity, we are very conscious of our costs. We keep our team small and we lean on some very generous volunteers where we can. This ensures that as much money as possible is able to go towards our core objective - improving the mental health of all Australians.

When do donations close?

add remove
You can donate to The Push for Better Foundation via our website.

Donations for the challenge and our beneficiaries will kick off closer to the start of the challenge and we'll keep you posted on when these close.

Thanks to the generous fundraising efforts of our participants and your donations, we raised $14.7million for mental health last year.

Is my donation tax-deductable?

add remove

You bet. Anything $2 or above is tax-deductable.

Are my online donations secure?

add remove

Sure are. Information exchanged with any website address beginning with https is encrypted before transmission.

I was never sent/lost my tax deductible receipt. Can I still get one?

add remove

Sure thing. If you're a participant, you can find your donation receipts for any donations that you've made yourself in your settings when logged in. Just go to 'My Account', and then 'Your History' and you can download your receipt.

If you've sponsored one of our participants, you can access your receipt by clicking 'Login' in the black bar at the top of our homepage, and then entering your email address on the right hand side under Donor Login on the next screen. 

Can I make a business donation?

add remove

You sure can. Just select that option when making a donation.

Can I donate to a team or the cause in general?

add remove

Yes. To donate to a team go to their page (use the search function to find them). To donate to the cause in general, go to Donate at the top of this page and go from there.

Can I donate to another cause instead?

add remove

There are many great causes out there, however we'll be focusing our support on our selected beneficiaries.

What is your fundraising license?

add remove

The Push For Better Foundation is a charity registered with the ACNC and operates under the following fundraising licenses: 

NSW   CFN/25804
QLD    CH3446
SA       CCP3996
VIC      FR0025950
WA      CC22872
TAS     C/10933

Teams and Communities

How do I create a Team?

add remove

Easy. If you've already registered, go to your dashboard and select 'Create Team'.


If you've yet to register click on 'Register' and then 'Create Team or Community' and follow the prompts from there. 

How do I join a Team?

add remove

If you are already registered, go to your dashboard and select 'Join Team'. Find the team you are after and go from there.


If you are yet to register, click on 'Register' and select 'Join Team' from there

Can I be a member of two Teams?

add remove

We only allow for people to be in one Team.

How do I join a Community?

add remove

To be in a Community, you need to be in a Team.
Communities are collections of Teams.
Not in a Team? That's ok, you can create a Team of 1 person if you like.


If you have already registered:
To join a Community you need to be a Team Captain. If you are a Team Captain go to your dashboard and select 'Join Community'.


If you have not already registered:
Click on 'Register' and then select 'Create Team/Community' and follow the prompts from there.

How do I create a Community?

add remove

To be in a Community, you need to be in a Team.
Communities are collections of Teams.
Not in a Team? That's ok, you can create a Team of 1 person if you like.


If you have already registered:
To create a Community go to your dashboard and select 'Create Community'. Again, if you are yet to create a Team, do that first.


If you have not already registered:
Click on 'Register' and then select 'Create Team/Community' and follow the prompts from there.

What is the advantage of a Community over a Team?

add remove

Communities allow for collection of Teams under the same umbrella. You may want to create a Community if you:

- Are in a workplace or school which is expecting to have more than 10 people taking part

- Want some friendly rivalry between different groups of people.

We find that Teams with more than 10 people don't allow for optimal banter and cohesion.

Is the daily/overall target individual or shared with the Team?

add remove
All targets are individual. You can also combine your push-ups with other types of exercise if you want to mix it up.
 
And don't sweat - you don’t have to do 100% of the target. You can choose to do half or the full amount each day, and will be rewarded with a digital achievement badge in the app for reaching the targets.

 

The App

Go to the app info page to find out a stack of info on the app.