COMMENTS

Posted by: Andrew | 19-May-2010 01:17 PM |

I agree that the record companies are not doing their cause any good. I have bought a fair bit of music as result of enjoying it at the gym but that is now in the past it seems. It is a real shame that a lot of original music will not be seen or heard at the gym but the royalty fee is unrealistic.

Posted by: Anonymous | 19-May-2010 01:35 PM |

just wondering, this whole PPCA debarcle is now going to put even more stress on the stetched budgets of Group Fitness Instructors, who as we all know are pushed to the limit when it comes to paying out money just to continue to do what we are so passionate about. I've taught GF for 24years and over all have paid out much more than what I have ever got back monetry wise. (you can't put a price on job satisfaction !!) But now I have to discard my substantial music collection (many cds from Trax) and start over again.

Posted by: Anonymous | 19-May-2010 02:16 PM |

I'm resigned to the situation now. There is plenty of great license-free music to use in classes- we just have to do the research and find it. I don't believe that TRAX or any other aerobics music providers could ever have forseen this- it's not their fault but they are trying to source music for us. If we whinge less about it, our members won't find it a negative thing. Wonder what the next thing to capture our attention will be? I predict that it'll be business as usual within a year, meaning that we'll either pay the fees and deal with it, or we'll stick to license-free music and deal with that, too.

Posted by: Lynne | 22-Jun-2010 04:49 PM |

Unbelievable! I used to buy a lot of music because i'd heard it in a fitness class and liked it. No more! It's just plain greed and I reckon many more will boycott buying music because of it.

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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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Posted by: Anonymous | 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 | 10-Jun-2009 11:41 AM |

Well written Ryan and i agree that it can be an area that baffles many trainers and they tend to leave it to late to renew in time.
My concern with this blog is that many of our trainers in Australia are still behind the times and do not even know they exist. As you can see by the amount of comments posted.
Very soon i will have a very affordable option for all trainers across Australia to get up to speed with this latest internet marketing tool (a very good one at that).
Stay tuned to www.succeed.com.au for more info very soon.
Great idea from Australian Fitness Network keep blogging and the rest will catch up.

Posted by: Roland Schuller | 28-Jun-2009 09:44 AM |

Good to know how it works now.
Could it be a coincidence, that compulsory recognized eCECs are linked to a fee and optional accredited not?

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Posted by: Lis, Curves | 11-Mar-2009 02:29 PM |

We belong to Curves and Curves International, through the owner Gary Heavin has pledged to fight this, not only with our contributions but also his personal money because it is ridiculous - and he has been fighting this sort of stupidity for over 15 years. As you rightly say, they are just looking for easy targets - but they are not going to find one here. With 11,000 sites, Curves is not going to allow this to happen anywhere in the world, but needs everyone else to be equally proactive

Posted by: Ian | 11-Mar-2009 02:35 PM |

For general purposes can’t everyone just use a radio? As for classes can we get some generic music written for us?

Music can be produced by "cover" artists that are not represented by PPCA but it is not nearly as good a quality or inspiring as original artist music. You can visit any of the American music companies that produce cover artist music for Group Fitness to get an idea what it is like - Network.

Posted by: Julie | 11-Mar-2009 02:43 PM |

If this happens the Industry will finish – Fitness Centres around the country will have to close their doors!!

Posted by: Gordon | 11-Mar-2009 04:04 PM |

I have always taught my kids never to copy music or movies because piracy is straight out theft. I am so disillusioned by these people who have turned out to be the real pirates. Of course I have stopped lecturing to the kids about the subject as my credibility is in tatters.
I got into this industry as a PT because I wanted to help people. I really had a very rude shock that such a greedy organisation could stoop so low as to as to rip off an industry that is trying to help people, many of whom seriously need it.
I wonder if some of the artists they represent really have thought about the damage they are going to do to a lot of people. They are happy to be seen in public helping Bush Fire victims but then hide behind the Evil Empire doing a lot of harm.

Posted by: Anonymous | 11-Mar-2009 04:26 PM |

The funny thing is that many members only visit the Gym once a week, others once a fortnight, and in some cases half a dozen times a year. However the copyright tribunal want to charge our centres the same rate for each member on a month to moth basis. There is absolutely no way I will be paying them 2-3 thousand dollars a week. I would prefer to turn the music off completely or use music not represented by the PPCA. My business and many other small to medium sized businesses would close down within the 1st year. How much money do these idiots think Fitness Centres actually Nett?

Posted by: Teresa | 11-Mar-2009 09:35 PM |

i work in a small countryside gym , and i pay for the CD's I use , I buy at least 3 to 6 every 2 months . if the charge is passed on to my clients to hear this music I will soon be out of business as my clientele is not like some of the bigger city gyms. as I already pay to buy and listen to these I am outraged to think I will be charged again indirectly, I would be likely to encourage client to use their i Pods with their own downloads on and switch off the CD player, Artists do very well out of their industry and some use their monies not for the better, but for drugs alcohol and other seedy habits while I try to help people with health issues like Cancer Obesity, Depression and Osteoporosis etc.
Where has the helping hand of compassion for our fellow man gone ? Have we turned into a greedy uncaring world if so I don't wish to be associated with it .The PPCA should reconsider and think of the damage they would cause.

Posted by: Ivan | 12-Mar-2009 09:38 AM |

I'm very sorry to hear about the nature of the record industry.
I wonder if you would be interested in passing on the same sentiments about Melbourne City Council driving out Personal Trainers from public parks by imposing a permit without any consultation then not granting any permits to Trainers.
I feel this posses a great risk to our industry and makes a very powerful negative statement about how health and fitness is viewed by Government. I am happy to give your more details if you require as the more people that get behind pushing for change in our decision makers minds the better for our entire community.

Great discussion topic Ivan, and we are actually working on some research on that very issue. We have also started a discussion in our online forums about it. Feel free to contribute your thoughts there! - Network

Posted by: Simon | 12-Mar-2009 09:39 AM |

Wow,
That's a joke. But what will be the effect on PT's? will that mean we have to pay more rent? If so. sign me up and put me down for whatever you need. i will help in whatever way possible. (With in reason)
Please keep me updated as to the upcoming outcome.

Simon: for a better idea of what could happen here is an excerpt from the above blog: "Picture the scenario: The record industry wins its claim and fees increase exorbitantly; club owners’ financial resources disappear or music disappears from their facility; group exercise classes disappear from club timetables, and along with them go the jobs for instructors; members disappear from clubs; personal trainers’ client pools disappear. In an age of increasing obesity levels, this is a potentially devastating outcome for our industry, our members and the fitness of the nation." Does that help put it in perspective? - Network

Posted by: Debbie | 12-Mar-2009 09:40 AM |

Shouldn't the Government step in for a healthy Australia!!!

Posted by: Sandra | 12-Mar-2009 09:40 AM |

This is obviously ridiculous, completely unreasonable for our organisations that strive to enhance people's lives with the benefits of improved health to be put out of business through the greed of others.

Posted by: Thomas Hoffman | 12-Mar-2009 10:01 AM |

Exactly right: "record industry bosses are looking for easy targets to plug the gap left by declining CD sales"
The record companies are not being imaginative enough!! This is an OPPORTUNITY for them to get FREE marketing! How many times have you heard a track at the gym, in a group fitness class and fell in love with the artist/album and gone to purchase it as soon as your finished your workout? I know I've bought at least 5 cds this way over the last year. Out of the 7 or so cds i bought in the year!!!!
Come on guys, work smarter- not harder! This COULD be a win win for clubs and the music industry. Work on cross promotion, make the music easier to source, keep the fees low, get free marketing....

Posted by: Anonymous | 12-Mar-2009 10:31 AM |

i hope all the smaller operators have done the maths on this before they get too concerned about the impact this will have. No, you will NOT go out of business, you will change to cover artist music. Think about it, the biggest fitness operator has the most to lose by this and will pass on the cost to the punters. You in response will keep fees reasonable and the playing field will almost be level again. Improvise, adapt, overcome & get on with it.

Posted by: Anonymous | 13-Mar-2009 08:34 AM |

I think this really stinks!

Posted by: Rebecca | 13-Mar-2009 04:56 PM |

With regards to using covers(Posted by: Ian | 11-Mar-2009 02:35 PM |), that would be perfect for our small club, how do you know if it is registered with the PPCA or not? Perhaps there are some solutions using royalty free music and covers. We would be happy to do this, but how would we know that we are using music that does not attract fee's? Also, does this include the use of Free to air TV's and radio? Another question too... if we had a treadmill that a client could plug in an ipod with music videos they bought themselves, and they play it on the treadmill screen, would that stop the club attracting a fee? We could do that instead of running our own plasmas I guess. So many questions, so much fear about what is going to happen. Help????????

Rebecca, one of the other considerations is that if the PPCA case goes through, then it is very like that APRA (another body that represents recording artists) will pass as well. As APRA represents about 99.9% of artists in Australia, that would increase the fees substantially, even for non original artist (covers). Fitness Australia has recently written about the dangers of APRA. Check it out on their website www.fitness.org.au - Network

Posted by: | 16-Mar-2009 06:23 PM |

Thank you for your response, i am wondering if anyone is then working on a solution for this problem. It seems everyone is so scared about the outcome of this, and everyone is injecting money to fight it, do we know of anyone working on a solution? I have an awesome idea but lack the funds to get it going. Perhaps i should get it going. Regards, Rebecca.

Posted by: Wendy | 31-Mar-2009 09:48 AM |

Fitness centres already struggle to keep going at the best of times.
They need to keep their membership and class costs down to encourage new members and keep the ones they have. Only a small percentage of the population regularly commit to exercise.
With the world economic crisis, more people will be losing their jobs which means even less people will be able to afford gym memberships. These enormous fee increases would have to be passed on to members making memberships even less affordable.
Governments are concerned about how obesity , poor eating habits and lack of exercise are going to put an enormous strain on the health systems. Fees such as these and the resultant increase in class and membership costs are certainly not going to encourage people to attend fitness classes. It will affect the livelihood of all who work in the fitness industry. It must not happen!

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