Hi from Australia

[cazzle]

Hi everyone, I'm a full time student studying fitness.

At this point in time, I have Cert III & IV in Fitness and next year I plan to study the Diploma in Fitness. In 2011 I will be doing added electives (at night time) such as group training & strength and conditioning.

Also I enjoy weight training and wish to become more toned - at the moment doing low weight and high reps.

Earlier this year I participated in 3 walk/fun runs and enjoyed them very much.

As I learn more practically rather than by theory, I'm enjoying going to different fitness classes and have found there are really good instructors out there but there are really bad ones as well.

[hardcore iv]

Welcome to VF.

I'm currently enjoying the benefits of having cert III and IV in fitness, unemployment.

[cazzle]

Hi hardcore iv, thanks for the good wishes.

I find employers ask where these qualifications are attained - myself, it's through the TAFE system. And also Fitness Australia registration is valued over Kinect.

Myself, I have been offered one job so far - it's an hour of light aerobics at the local retirement village. Oh well, it's a start I guess.

There was a job going at the new gym being built nearby - they wanted 2 years experience but my teacher suggested I apply - well
I managed to get a job interview so that was okay as I didn't really expect to get the job. I have been doing work experience whilst studying so that has been good.

Let's hope 2011 is good for you and I job wise!

[mabli]

welcome to vf

[hardcore iv]

I did my certificates through a TAFE and was pretty disappointed with the quality of the course and shocked at who they let pass. However, after seeing the quality of trainers at the average gym, I was not so shocked. My TAFE was recommending we register with kinect, but after some investigation into FA, I reckon they are both pretty mickey mouse organisations, but that is not much different from the rest of the world. You may have seen the episode of SBS's Insight last year, it gives a pretty good picture of the industry.

http://news.sbs.com.au/insight/episode/index/id/212#transcript

Best of luck with your job seeking. I've gotten to the final stages for a few jobs but always manage to just miss out. I like the 2 years experience prerequisite that so many gyms have. It seems the only way a new trainer can get experience is by throwing themselves straight into the deep end and training people on their own or pay thousands of dollars to fitness first and hope to get clients. The industry is doing nothing for new trainers except taking their money with registration, insurance fees and over-priced short courses. Their biggest concern seems to be about not having to pay bigger royalty fees for using pop music in their group exercise classes.

I'm sorry if I come across as bitter, but that's because I am However, I am optimistic about my prospects for next year as I will be studying exercise science. Good luck to you for next year.

Good luck with your training too.

[cazzle]

hardcore iv, as my interest lies in falls prevention and freestyle aerobics (low to medium), I plan to teach over 50's and am studying Steady Steps and Heartmoves next year as well. But I don't want to just study, I want to jump in there boots and all!

I also did a "Simply stretching" segment for Qld Health in Seniors Week this year and that was great - a bit nerve wracking but good!

I've also got a fitness mentor who has taken me under her wing and I have learned so much from her. Yesterday I took part in one of her classes and she had a circuit - where one of the stations had these round discs and a ball where you throw the ball and it sticks to the disc .... something I plan to use in my classes eventually.

I know what you mean about most people being able to pass the Fitness training and the amount of graduates outweigh the jobs going.

Anyway, Exercise science sounds great - good luck with it all!