Personal trainers’ plea to be considered as allied health workers for mental and physical benefits
A radical proposal has been drafted in a bid to have personal trainers reclassified as allied health workers. Here’s why the fitness industry is calling for the change.
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Personal trainers want to be classified as allied health workers in Victoria so they can return to work and improve their clients’ physical and mental wellbeing.
The radical proposal has been drawn up because indoor training sessions are excluded from the latest restriction regulations but say they should be considered in the same category as physiotherapists and osteopaths which offer one-on-one physical services.
Personal trainer Mark Ottobre, of Enterprise Fitness in Richmond, penned an open letter to Premier Daniel Andrews, urging the reclassification of his profession.
Mr Ottobre called for one-to-one, appointment-based personal training.
“Where every aspect can be tightly regulated and controlled; (and) be reclassified as an essential service under the same category as physiotherapy, myotherapy, osteopathic care and other allied health professionals,’’ Mr Ottobre wrote.
@DanielAndrewsMP, given the lack of transmission in most of regional Victoria, why can’t gyms open now?
— Fitness Australia (@fitnessausltd) October 19, 2020
Read our full statement here: https://t.co/LPfainYCJQ#FitnessIndustry #FitnessAustralia #Vic #GymsAreSafe #Gyms #DanAndrews
Melbourne’s unpredictable weather made if difficult to conduct one-on-one personal training, he said.
“As personal trainers, we are the front line of mental health. For tens of thousands of Victorians, personal training and physical fitness is their outlet, and now in a time of hardship, we are needed more than ever.
He said the industry needed some way of staying afloat and it could be done with safe hygiene practices.
“Already two gyms have gone bankrupt in regional Victoria and there will be more to come,’’ he said.
The move has the support of peak body Fitness Australia while Vic Active spokesman Tim Schleiger said he backed the proposal because of the overriding benefits.
“We are in the midst of a physical and mental health catastrophe so if a PT needs to be deemed as essential I’d back it all day long,’’ Mr Schleiger said.
“Regional gyms are closed but up to 40 people can to the pub for a drink.’’
Industry leaders have been outspoken over the continuing pandemic restrictions, especially now when case numbers are so low.
Fitness Australia chief executive Barry Elvish has said that the fitness sector had been the subject of a few “disingenuous statements” by the Premier.
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