Personal Trainer Course Australia

[jockeywilson]

Hi,

I am currently living and working in Japan teaching English and have decided to go to Australia by March 2010 to enrol on a Personal Trainers course at one of the institutions over there, in either Brisbane or Sydney.

I have narrowed down the search for the most thorough and reputable institution to 3. Either, Australian Institute of Fitness(AIF), Technical and Further EducationCollege(TAFE), or Fitness Institute Australia (FIA).

Does anyone have any opinions or information relating to their experiences or knowledge of these companies? As well as how well these companies are percieved globally. I would like to get a qualification that is internationally recognised as I might like to work outside of Aus after a year or so.

I have heard positive and negative things about each of them, especially FIA. Their course is the most expensive yet you can complete the course in 8 weeks on the full time basis. This seems a little too quick to then be fully qualified as a personal trainer. I have heard good things about the course at TAFE. People have said it is a lot more thorough and also respected in the fitness industry.

Counld anyone shed any light on this matter as I would like to have as much information from knowledgable people I can.

Thanks a lot,
Jockey

 

[jockeywilson]

Anyone got any info?

 

[Jennsfitness]

Sorry bro. American certs only for me.

 

[VeeTee]

I'd recommend the Australian Institute of Fitness for an awesome experience.
They are all over the country and are even on line now with courses.
Good luck!

 

[elcrisp76]

Awesome experience? To be told that you will have your hand held the whole way, and that you literally CANNOT fail to pass? I'm sure kindergarten was fun too, but it hardly prepares people for a real career.

I did the AIF cert 3 and 4 course a few years ago, I have to be honest, I wasn't that impressed. I think unless you are considering doing a human movement degree at a university, honestly all of those relatively short courses are peas in a pod. Their aim is to make money based on the current fitness craze. There is a reason all of the managers and directors of the AIF drive fleet Maserati's (Saloon-ish versions of Ferraris). They specialise in taking kids with ambitions to be in the "glamorous" fitness industry, taking their money (those courses aren't cheap) and filling their heads with three months of info, then letting them loose on the industry.

A vast majority of those kids never make it past their first year in the fitness industry. They are all taught the same spoonfed auto-line procedures, and whilst some of the information is useful, there is no way known that I would consider someone with only a cert 3/4 from the AIF to be a competent industry professional. It will only get your foot in the door. Do the course if you must (well obviously you have to if you want to certify), but do yourself and the industry a favour, and find a good gym (stay away from Fitness First or Genesis clones) and spend a LOT of time hanging around and watching the older trainers do their thing. You will learn 1000 times more useful information, rather that just the bare minimum that is accepted for the qual.

I've been training for years (in my mid thirties now).. Trained heavily in martial arts since the age of 13, trained under the Victorian Institute of Sport for quite a few years, trained in the gym for at least 8 years, then I did the AIF course. Only now, about three years later, would I honestly say that I'm a competent trainer. (And I spend at least 3 hours a day in a very professional gym, constantly watching and learning)

It's your money. you need the qualification to work, but don't go fooling yourself that clients are going to flock to you. The AIF industry placement followup is IMHO extremely poor, my first interview saw me get offered a job with Fitness First Platinum in the Melbourne CBD, and I did some rough mental math whilst I was there. There were less than a dozen people training, and over 30 young "personal trainers" standing around, looking bored, and doing nothing. The basic course definately doesn't guarantee you success, you need a hell of a lot of drive and commitment if you intent to stay in the industry long-term. You see so many kids walking around with a ganeric "brand name" trainer t-shirt on, trying hard to look cool. I just shake my head and wonder what industry they'll be cool in, in a year's time.

 

[Inspector]

Anyone else notice that the post "I'd recommend the Australian Institute of Fitness for an awesome experience.
They are all over the country and are even on line now with courses.
Good luck!"

came from someone with no former forum posts, most probably an AIF member coming in for a quick promo.

The personal trainer industry is booming in aus, but most likely many of these companies will fade away in the future.
Heaps of quick money being made producing trainer monkeys to help the public,

and keeping in mind these courses are done in 2-3 months, chances are the trainers arent leading by example.
Im not taking any advice from someone who is 40lbs overweight