Regulation needed for booming Gold Coast fitness industry say experts

A PERSONAL trainer has warned the booming fitness industry has become a complete circus riddled with uninsured and undertrained ‘cowboy operators.’

GYM GOERS should be checking out more than abs when signing on to a personal trainer, a Gold Coast fitness veteran warns.

Mark Mathie, owner of Wicked Bodz at Surfers Paradise, said the industry had become a “complete circus” and was in dire need of regulation.

Though industry peak bodies like Fitness Australia exist, all three levels of government have only limited standards when it comes to the fitness industry, he said.

Many of these only relate to zoning and fair trading codes of practice.

The level of self regulation in the fitness industry has deteriorated says Fitness Australia CEO Bill Moore.

Federal government body Sport Australia last year committed to a national accreditation scheme for sports scientists, and strength and conditioning coaches.

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However, it did not include personal trainers or gym operators.

Mr Mathie, who has spent over three decades working in health and fitness, said there had been an explosion in the number of uninsured, undertrained “cowboy operators”.

“The first word that comes to mind when talking about the industry is saturation. The second is under-regulated. It is dangerous.

“We now have insta fitness gurus that don’t even have qualifications selling programs and diets to look like them. Chances are they don’t even look like that.

Mark Mathie of Wicked Bodz during a training session to promote healthy living and social engagement for men with physical and mental disabilities, Gold Coast. Picture: Regi Varghese

“It’s just so easy with next to zero qualifications or licenses to open a small gym or studio. It’s a mad house out there.

“To take someone’s health and wellbeing in their hands without the right training, it’s crazy,” he said.

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Mr Mathie said qualifications need to be standardised across all gyms so consumers knew they were in safe hands.

“We need compulsory traineeships for at least a six to 12 months.

“You need a four-year apprenticeship to cut someone’s hair or cook their food, but you can make decisions on someone’s body with a qualification you received in a few weeks.”

Bill Moore, CEO of peak body Fitness Australia, said the industry was self-regulated.

“There is no consistent standard in any various state and council bodies,” Mr Moore said.

Fitness Australia CEO Bill Moore with fitness star Michelle Bridges.

“Those that register with Fitness Australia have annual training commitments and standards but it’s not mandatory for those who aren’t affiliated with us.

“I think the level of self-regulation has deteriorated. When I say that, I feel there are more exercise professionals working outside system than in the past.

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Fitness Australia is however attempting to establish a code of practice for all councils and states to adopt, which would include a need for insurance, CPR training and minimum qualifications.

Mark Stitt, the founder of international fitness training organisation Fit College, said the industry needed help.

“Unfortunately, sometimes the only reason people seek quick training is so they can be insured to be a PT,” he said.

“But I don’t believe they survive too long into the market place, trainers don’t just need to have fitness experience but have training to run a business, and look after their client’s needs.

Mr Stitt, who has been on the board of Fitness Australia and Fitness Queensland, said there was an overabundance of unqualified trainers.

“When you talk about regulation, you also need to start regulating how many gyms operate in the same areas.

“Insurance companies have also made it too easy for those who are unqualified to get insurance.

Smaller operators make up 20.6 per cent of the 3356 gyms in Australia. About

16 per cent of Australians are gym members.