New pathway to health and fitness industry

TAFE NSW has ushered in a new course for aspiring fitness professionals on the Central Coast to cater to surging demand in the health and fitness industry post-COVID.

For the first time ever, the Diploma of Sports, Aquatics and Recreation Management is being delivered virtually, aimed at arming those already in the fitness and recreation industries with the practical skills and knowledge to take their career to the next level.

According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the fitness and recreation industries have been in a steep growth phase since the end of the pandemic, with 152,300 people employed in the industries as of August this year.

The Diploma, which is enrolling now for semester one 2025, includes units in stakeholder communications, leading teams and planning major sport or recreation events.

TAFE NSW Fitness Teacher Jared Kahlefeldt said the course filled an important gap in the industry for those wanting to progress into leadership roles.

“A lot of entry level fitness jobs are very practically based so to have to step up into a management role and look at budgets and manage teams can be a bit foreign,” he said.

“We know fitness and recreation are growing industries and there’s still a bit of a skills gap in terms of finding people to manage facilities.”

Kahlefeldt said many of the course assessments were project-based, meaning students could base their studies on real-world workplace scenarios.

“It’s a great time to be in the industry because the everyday person is accessing health and recreation facilities more than ever before,” he said.

“Membership bases are expanding and facilities need qualified and skilled people.”

Central Coast Council duty lifeguard and former high-level rugby league player John Jewiss has recently enrolled in the new course.

He said it was giving him the real-world, practical skills to apply for more senior roles.

“It’s giving me an opportunity for me to move forward in my career,” Jewiss, 59, said.

“I’ve always thought my lack of project management and stakeholder communication experience was a stumbling block to promotion so this course is ideal for me.”

Barrie Elvish, CEO of the Australian fitness industry’s peak body AUSactive, recently said an exodus of fitness instructors from the industry during COVID, combined with a flurry of new gym memberships, had created a “perfect storm of opportunity” for those wanting to work in the industry.

“Demand for fitness instructors is growing rapidly and gyms are struggling to get qualified staff,” he said.

“We see TAFE NSW as an important part in getting quality graduates coming through.”