COMMENTS

Posted by: Anonymous | 03-Dec-2009 06:28 AM |

No this will not have an impact on anything as people will always go for the cheaper way. I have been a registered personal trainer for the past 6 years and I still see gyms and private clients hiring non registered nor certified personal trainers because they feel this is the cheaper way. In most cases it is the cheaper way not the experience, not the degree, not the registration that counts. (cheaper, cheaper, give me, give me) Sad but that is the plain truth.

Posted by: Mark Richardson | 03-Dec-2009 08:27 AM |

Anything that regulates an industry that has been (and still is to a certain extent) open to rougue operators is a great thing. How else can the public determine an experienced, multi talented trainer from someone fresh out of an 8 week course with "Personal Trainer" on their shirt? As long as Fitness Australia publicse this system, then it should be a good move.

Posted by: Vanessa | 03-Dec-2009 09:32 AM |

I think it's definitely a good thing but it perhaps doesn't go far enough. 2 more CECs isn't much but also there should be a grading of course quality in the future. I think there are too many cases of CEC provider courses passing people simply to get money through the door and then become known as a 'passable course' for reregistration. I also don't really agree that a Cert IV newly qualified trainer is intermediate. Cert IV itself needs a bit of an upgrade - I don't think 8 weeks is enough to then go out and train the general populace whom in my experience come at you with many injuries, complaints and problems. Perhaps there should be an internship period at a gym with experienced instructors? There being another problem around consistency of trainers in gyms and everywhere. The industry is constantly evolving and this is definitely a step in the right direction. There will always be those that take the easy way around but hopefully as conscientious trainers become more and more skilled they will be easily shown up and have a further developed REPs program to support them.

Posted by: Rachel | 03-Dec-2009 10:25 AM |

There needs to be an upgrade, 8 weeks courses qualifying someone as a Cert IV isn't enough for the varying health concerns trainers are faced with in the fitness industry. I personally have decided to go the AAESS route. I also think a degree and industry experience needs to be taken into account for FA Registration, if someone can be deemed qualified after an 8 week course then a 3 year (or more) university degree should be recognised automatically.

Posted by: Anonymous | 03-Dec-2009 10:55 AM |

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Posted by: Anonymous | 03-Dec-2009 03:36 PM |

This new system, if introduced could prove to be inequitable for several reasons. It appears that this is yet another example of how education and the money that buys it will be given preference as opposed to experience and or knowledge from that experience. Due to the fact that I dont have a degree, I will be scaled lower, recieve less recognition and therefore earn less money as opposed to those who do. I am confident in my ability to help clients achieve their health & fitness goals based on my experience in personal training. This 7 years experience I believe would put me ahead of many people coming out of university as new trainers.

Posted by: Mandy Reed | 04-Dec-2009 06:23 PM |

No matter which avenue re-registration takes, you are always going to get the knockers that don't agree. I have been teaching freestyle aerobics in a country town for 20 years. I have gained my appropriate CEC's for re-registration (and believe me, thats hard in the country), I do not have any university degrees, but I have 20 years experience.....it should count. There will always be the dodgy personal trainers/instructors, it happens in every profession. Its up to the client to obtain authenticity. Don't make it hard for the genuinely dedicated trainers/instructors, weedle out the men from the boys.

Posted by: Anonymous | 04-Dec-2009 07:04 PM |

It seems to me like another FA money grab, to put people who have done an 8 week course on the same level as people who have a degree is a joke. I don't believe the general public will care I have been a trainer for four years and have never once been asked my qualifications by a client. I moved from overseas and Fitness Australia has already down graded my qualification to the equivilant of a cert 4 which is a joke but all they care about is the money and the money they get from the large fitness chains. Apart from insurance I don't believe FA does much for the average trainer except take our money. The cec system is so flawed anyway you could become an advanced trainer by doing cecs on the business of PT how does that help your skills with clients? cecs should be based on science related advances in our industry that are specific to our specialities. If you don't own a large or medium sized gym what has Fitness Australia done for you lately?

Posted by: Clayton | 06-Dec-2009 07:07 PM |

Some good points here and they all have merit. One thing I don't particularly like however, is writing off any change as hopeless and the attitude that "they are just in it for the money". To me that reeks of a poverty mindset and doesn't contribute value to anyone. The changes to the CEC's are maintained has to be flexible as so many trainers do their own reading, study, attend courses which aren't necessarily approved by FA but are still very worthy of recognition as it develops the trainer into a better and more knowledgable one. My experiences with FA have all been good, sure its not perfect but show me a system that is. Great article and will be interesting to see further outcomes. Kind Regards, Clayton. Adelaide Personal Trainers http://www.adelaidepersonaltrainers.com.au

Posted by: Michael Alder | 08-Dec-2009 12:27 PM |

CECs are a complete waste of time. Experience is a much more important indicator, even more so than qualifications. I do not need someone to check on me to see how many workshops I have attended and how many magazines I have read. I have been teaching Yoga and Pilates for over 12 years and never bother with such a ridiculous and unneccesary system but this has in no way affected my practice.

Posted by: Anonymous | 08-Dec-2009 01:10 PM |

Yes, I have comments. The new registration rules even more than before penalise against aqua instructors, who work solely as own traders for various health organisations in hydrotherapy pools. The amount of CEC points has been virtually impossible to attain, and there appears no acknowledgement of years of experience and/or of amount of weekly courses presented. I am a holder of CertIII and CertIV Aqua for Older Adults and have 12 years experience in this field, while presenting 15 regular weekly classes, with ca. 120-150 participants in total. But I have a hard time to qualify for re-registration next April. There are virtually no workshops or courses which enhance my knowledge in my special field and also give me bonus points. The new rules do nothing about this situation as far as I can see.

Posted by: Wayne Wilson | 08-Dec-2009 01:27 PM |

This industry has serious issues, Its all about marketing and making money out of trainers , CECS WTF , ok i went to school i learned the alphabet ,i know how to construct sentences, do i now have to go repeat this every 2 years ? what we get taught is the same old, same old with a new name label and price tag, much of whats taugh is not truth anyways,the myths and dogma and misinformation just keep getting passed on,i do not see a change when the answers are in front of us and are so simple, so what are the cec courses about if not generating money for a small minority, Granted many pts now days do not now the alphabet , competency based learning NO ONE FAILS , whats that, The average trainer is well under equiped to be dealing with a human being period !! i remain staggered at the level of this incompetance, When the cert 4 was first bough in and i needed to get it to continue to do what i alwys have , i rang the appropriate organisation, oh i can get it competancy based as i have EXPERIANCE ! then a fool at the other end of the phone say oh you need some more knowledge in the area of postural assesmaent and rehabilitaive exercise prescription mmm i bors my friggin neck at a building site and was told i may never walk again and i have gone on the win over a dozen bodybuildoing titles ! needless to say once i enlogtened this gentleman and verbally gave some insight on how to do this, he sent me a cert 4 , whith a bill fo it !! jesus these clowns are running the show ? I am a very competent knowledgable trainer and have not found the righ place to work , since rellocating from the golcoast to melbourne,i worked for fitness first for years , they are a sales company period ,thats all they are interested in, I contantly learn and purchase huge amount of information from the states as i love what a good trainer can do for a fellow human being, but ooh its not fitness australia acredited , pfft, I if any one is interested in what i am saying or perhaps having a trainer on board that cares about peolpe over money you are welocome to contact me , I have been in the industry training since before it had a name, 25 years , by the way the changes i have seen have not lifted the standards in fact they have gone back wards !! Regards Wayne wilson http://waynewilson.com.au/home/

Posted by: Jack | 09-Dec-2009 08:38 AM |

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Posted by: Anonymous | 11-Jan-2010 06:38 PM |

It will all end up as corrupt as the N.Z. Reps crowd, which is just full of marketers trying to suck a living out of hard working personal trainers. While giving nothing back.

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COMMENTS

Posted by: Gill Australia | 03-Dec-2009 01:18 PM |

A National Sarcopaenia Week is truly valid in the face of our increasing longevity and the need to have a functional body for the additional decades we want to live independently. The programmes we have introduced to combat sarcopaenia have a 95% adherence/attendance in the 50-85 year demographic. Done in small, supervised groups with a professional trainer at set times and using equipment that provides both concentric/eccentric phases, the activity is seen as fun and the results are impressive. Posture, global movement, ability to do daily living tasks well and general strength all measurably improved. Same programme used for diabetics and pre-diabetics addresses the body fat/vital tissue compositon balance that influences carbohydrate metabolism and insulin sensitivity. So, yes to a special week to recognise the need to hang onto every bit of muscle we can. Victoria

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Posted by: Williams Australia | 16-Nov-2009 12:39 PM |

As the owner of Australia's 2008 & 2009 Personal Training Business of the Year and one of Australia's leading fitness experts, I feel it necessary to respond to this article. One thing you failed to ask all the people that were surveyed was how many of them that watch the show have actually made some form of effort to either exercise more or eat a little bit healthier from watching the show?? I agree that the name of the show is perhaps not ideal as it is putting a negative sub conscious thought process into people's mind (are they thinking they are a loser just from the the name of the show?) but it does attract people to watch it... They do deliver a very easy message for the Aust community to yes move more eat better, which I believe is a huge positive for the country. Everytime the show goes live to air, here in Canberra we really notice an increase in numbers to our Group Personal Training or Boot Camp programs. At last years show we had an average rise of 15% of participants to ur classes. We actually now time our program launches to match the shows. I believe some of the people in our country are missing the message of just how dangerous this is becoming, we are now the FATTEST country in the world yet people are still laughing at that fact... Agreed both trainers have their own style and method for training but both do a wonderful good in getting results and assisting to change people's lives for the better. We cannot forget the un mentioned fact that some of the people that have been on the show over the years, may not actually be with us now if it wasn't for the show, Shannon & Michelle and the combined effort to teach these individuals how to lose 50+ kg. I would rather see someone lose 50kg rapidly than not all!!! One thing we do not see is the behind efforts of the show and the fact that they are taught how to cook properly, what is the difference between good and bad foods etc, they also have Dr's & physicaians on hand for the participants so as to ensure that they are safe at all times whilst on the show. The show does let people know that it is possible and anyone can do it. These people are all just average Joe's like the rest of yet they can do it!! There are many great and accessible and affordable programs available across Australia for people to attend who are a bit conscious about their appearance. They may just need to look a bit closer at their community. Here in Canberra we offer small groups at a greatly discounted rate the opportunity to come to sessions with like minded people. Now we mix these sessions up from fitness, to working with the mind to going to the grocery store and showing healthier options. In 2010 we are also going to incorporate cooking classes as well to show how easy it is to cook. Now these classes are only around $10 per session. At the end of the day I am not sure what price people can put on their life? I agree totally that the show has really raised the awareness nationally of the challenges people face everyday and I say keep up the great work!!! Scott Williams Succeed Personal Development www.succeed.com.au

Posted by: Anonymous | 03-Dec-2009 09:50 AM |

Being a Personal Trainer i can only be attracted to this kind of program wether positive or negative vibes are experienced. We must remember that the show is there for the ratings 1st and foremost of the TV station, and if the ratings drop so does the program. Everything about TV like this has to be dramatic or excessive to survive and if the show was called "How to Lose Weight" or "Get Thinner and Fitter" how attractive would that be amidst all the other weight loss programs. Its a great name formulated to attract attention either way. The TV show is excessive but it is for TV. Great show, if they take offense then they need to toughen up as the road to permanent control of our health and fitness is long and hard. Get from the show what u can and remember. you are watching tele and not a seminar.

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