Join live online fitness classes
Join real people in real time for a free fitness class in your living room. Qualified instructors from our community centres bring you workouts to suit all fitness levels, from beginners to advanced. Our classes include zumba, yoga, pilates, high intensity interval training (HIIT) and gentle exercise.
Online fitness classes are free, but you need to book ahead. We’ve also handpicked a selection of pre-recorded workouts so you can have a go whenever it suits you.
You may also like: Online sport and fitness events on What's On.
Find your zen with meditation
Take time for yourself. Sheng Zhen meditation is a combination of easy-to-learn flowing, graceful movements and still meditation to help clear your mind and body. The class is held weekly on a Friday. It’s free but you need to book ahead.
Have a go at acting
Suzi Dougherty has an impressive CV: she’s a founding member of the Bell Shakespeare Company, a regular on Home and Away, and appears in Gloaming on Stan. You can tap into her decades of experience with a free online acting class on a Friday. The class is designed for older people but anyone is welcome to join in. Book ahead for the class link.
Learn to sing
If you’ve ever thought about giving singing a go, now’s as good a time as ever. Join professional singer and coach Sharon Hayes for this free online singing class on Friday. Sharon normally teaches at Reginald Murphy Centre in Kings Cross, where her class brings together a group of friendly, dedicated singers each week. Join in free online free – you just need to book ahead.
Get confident with technology
Don’t get left behind when it comes to technology. Join IT specialist Leo for free online classes to help you brush up on your internet skills or work your smartphone or tablet. Those who are more advanced might like to design and build a professional website. You’ll need to register to receive a link to the classes.
You may also like: Reboot small business webinars – helping small businesses and creatives adapt, innovate and bounce back better. The series ran from October 2020 to June 2021. You can now watch the series online.
Learn to say no without feeling guilty
This one speaks for itself. Assertive communication skills can help in all areas of your life, from having difficult conversations at work to asking for a refund when you need to. This course uses real-life scenarios to help you gain confidence. You can attend as a one-off or join in the full course. Book online.
You may also like: Find more talks, courses and workshops on What’s On. New events are listed by community members every day.
Grow your gardening skills
There’s not much as satisfying as growing your own food. Our Sydney City Farm courses are being run as webinars. Topics include setting up a worm farm, how to grow delicious, seasonal herbs at home, or how to keep backyard chickens happy and healthy.
There's also a nature play in the city webinar with an experienced bush school educator to inspire you to explore nature in your neighbourhood.
Discover Sydney’s online archives and history resources
Take a dive into our city’s past. Our online archives catalogue has over 1 million items about the City of Sydney and the local area. You can access documents, photographs, maps and plans from as early as 1842.
Join our online book club
Meet up with likeminded readers for a virtual chat. City of Sydney libraries are now running an online book club. Our librarians choose a theme each month with a suggested reading list. You can read the books on the list or find other related titles and then join the online discussion. It’s a great way to figure out what you should read next.
Book Club is on the last Thursday of the month via Zoom. It’s free, but you need to be a City of Sydney library member.
You may also like: 7 things you can do online free with a City of Sydney library card
Get creative in your own time
From drawing techniques to origami lampshades, learn new creative skills with our art and maker classes. This free series of step-by-step videos is presented by experienced artists and makers. All videos have Auslan interpreting and closed captions. The projects are designed for beginners aged 15 and over.
Challenge yourself to an online jigsaw puzzle
Take a trip through time and put your jigsaw skills to the test. We’ve turned incredible images from our city’s past into online jigsaw puzzles.
Develop your skills as a music producer
Has lockdown got you dreaming of making your own music? Or perhaps you already can but want to develop your skills? These accessible online workshops from Studio RCC are perfect for beginner to advanced music producers.
One for parents: storytelling and singing at home
Our librarians present fun storytime sessions for pre-schoolers and rhymetime for 0 to 2 year olds in pre-recorded videos for you to watch in your own time. Sessions are in English, Mandarin and Auslan.
Want more? Discover what's on over the next month.
Published 20 July 2021, updated 25 October 2021
