Careers in Fitness
If you would like to provide services to people in a vibrant and positive environment, you should consider a career in the fitness industry.
Exercise Professionals are typically employed to instruct individuals and/or groups in traditional settings such as Fitness Centres or Studios. However, recently a larger number of roles in an expanded range of settings have emerged. These include instructional, consulting and management roles across a variety of settings such as community, sport, workplace, outdoor and mobile services.
More than ever before, exercise professionals are able to plan and extend their career through delivering a range of services in a variety of settings, to a larger proportion of the community.
The main roles in fitness include:
- Exercise Instructor
- Exercise Trainer
- Specialised Exercise Trainer
- Fitness Centre Manager
Within the roles, there is a range of specialisations to choose from including personal trainer, gym instructor, group exercise instructor, aqua instructor, children’s instructor and older client trainer.
Depending upon what type of environment you would like to work in, you can select which you will specialise in. Some people like the fun of running classes in a gym, while others prefer to help people individually.
What do fitness instructors and trainers do?
They may perform the following tasks:
- Assess the needs and capabilities of individuals through a thorough health risk screening process and regular fitness assessments
- Prescribe and deliver personalised exercise programs in resistance training, flexibility and cardiovascular conditioning
- Liaise with medical and allied health professionals to deliver prescribed health and fitness programs for higher risk clients
- Demonstrate and provide regular advice to individuals regarding exercise technique and equipment use
- Plan and deliver group exercise programs such as circuit training, exercise to music and other forms of group fitness classes
- Assist in the cleaning and general maintenance of a fitness centre
- Implement and apply first aid procedures
- Work at the centre reception attending to sales, public relations and membership issues.
What are the career opportunities?
Exercise Professionals can readily obtain casual or part time work in a variety of settings including fitness centres, personal training studios, outdoor programs, community and aquatic centres, workplace programs, school based programs and sports clubs.
As your career in fitness progresses, you are more likely to obtain a full time role that is more diverse and may include elements of administration, management, education, health promotion or specialised programming. There is an increasing range of educational opportunities in fitness that lead to a larger number of employment opportunities.
Download The Job I Love, our careers guide to the service industries
What training do you need?
There are two fitness industry registration bodies in Australia. To be recognised by either Fitness Australia or Kinetic Australia you need a minimum of the Certificate III in Fitness. Registration as an exercise professional ensures you are covered by liability insurance.
The relevant qualifications are:
Certificate III in Fitness provides training to be qualified to work as a gym instructor, group exercise instructor or aqua instructor.
Certificate IV in Fitness provides training to be qualified to work as a personal trainer.
Diploma of Fitness provides training to be qualified to work asa a specialised exercise trainer.
More information
There are two fitness industry associations in Australia that provide a national registration scheme for fitness instructors and personal trainers:
1. Fitness Australia - Fitness Australia is the national health and fitness industry association working for a fitter, healthier Australia. Fitness Australia is a not-for-profit, member-based association with over 900 registered fitness business members and 20,000 registered exercise professionals Australia-wide. They also offer career advice at www.fitnessaustralia.org.au
2. Kinect Australia is a not-for-profit association that strives to enhance individual health and well-being, build stronger communities and create more liveable and sustainable environments through the promotion of active living. Kinect was originally established as VICFIT by the Victorian Ministers for Health and Sport and Recreation in 1982. Kinect Australia provides a national registration scheme for fitness personnel. They offer industry advice at www.kinectaustralia.org.au
