AUSActive announces Victorian and Queensland 2023 National Awards finalists

The Queensland and Victorian Finalists in this year’s AUSactive National Awards 2023 have been named, showcasing the best fitness professionals, business owners and industry experts from right across the state.

This year, the State and National Winners across all categories will be announced at a Gala Event to be held on 15th September 2023.

The Victorian Finalists, announced at a networking event in Melbourne, on Tuesday are:

Accredited Exercise Professional of the Year
 o Kara Sleigh
Aqua Professional of the Year
 o Jeffery Pearce
CEC provider of the Year
 o BFT - Level Up Education, Inner Athlete, Unite Health
Educator of the Year
 o Hilary Foulds, Lisa-Marie Gleeson, Ziad Zakharia
Exercise Instructor of the Year
 o Sharon Farrugia
Group Exercise Leader of the Year
 o Carol Andrews
 o Caterina Moscatello Kuchmar
 o Lisa-Marie Gleeson
 o Marianne Saada
 o Paula Kontelj
Healthy Council Award
 o Aquamoves - Greater Shepparton City Council
Industry Innovation Award
 o Chisholm & IFP Partnership
Franchise Group of the Year
 o KX Pilates, Strong Pilates
Franchisee of the Year
 o Anthony Dickens - Fernwood Cairnlea, Chirnside Park, Craigieburn, Sydenham, Tullamarine
 o Emma and Mark McDowall - Bendigo and Epsom Snap Fitness
 o Guneet Cheema - Fernwood Narre Warren, Clayton & Cranbourne
Independent Business of the Year
 o Deadlifts and Deathmetal, Fitness Energy
Accredited Business of the Year
 o Ashburton Pool and Recreation Centre
 o Boroondara Sports Complex
 o Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre
 o Hawthorn Aquatic & Leisure Centre
 o Monash Sport Fitness Centre Peninsula
 o Monash Sport Fitness Centre Caulfield
 o Monash Sport Fitness Centre Clayton
Leisure Centre of The Year
 o Belgravia Leisure, Yawa Aquatic Centre
 o Casey Stadium, YMCA
 o Collingwood Leisure Centre
Mental Health Awareness Award
 o Fernwood Fitness / Mental Health First Aid, Project: Caring Connections
Finalist for Most Inclusive and/or Diverse Program
 o Every Body Active, QFit
Multiservice Business of the Year
 o 5th Element Wellness
 o Fernwood Fitness Woonona 
 o Genesis Health and Fitness Melton
Personal Trainer of the Year
 o Caterina Bozzi
 o Caterina Moscatello Kuchmar
 o George Tenwolde Jr
 o Leonie Tilley
 o Linda Terlikar-Legras
Pilates Professional of the Year
 o Heather Jenkinson
 o Katrina Edwards
 o Marena Digby
Pilates Business of the Year
 o Aligned for Life Pilates
 o National Pilates Training
Yoga Professional of the Year
 o Aaron Joyner
 o Heather Jenkinson
Social Value & Community Impact Award
 o Active Communities - Fadima Aden
People’s Choice – Registered Professional
 o Caterina Moscatello-Kuchmar
 o Kirsten Aisbett
People’s Choice Medium Sized Business
 o Body and Soul Ballarat now known as Genesis
 o Fernwood Cairnlea 
 o Fernwood Chirnside Park
 o Fernwood St Kilda
Finalist for People’s Choice Small Business
 o Deadlifts & Deathmetal, Kate Macki

The Queensland Finalists, announced at a networking event in Brisbane on Thursday, are:

Accredited Exercise Professional of the Year
 o Robyn Jane, Simone Ka
Aqua Professional of the Year
 o Amy Price-Wilson
CEC provider of the Year
 o Australian Institute of Fitness
 o Tensegrity Training
Educator of the Year
 o Dundee Kim
 o Giovanni Capello
 o Richard Toutounji
 o Tracey Nicholson
Exercise Instructor of the Year
 o Amy Anderson
 o Ellen Graham
 o Lauren Antonenko
 o Steven Halligan
 o Tammie Rafferty
Group Exercise Leader of the Year
 o Carly Burr
 o Steven Halligan
Industry Innovation Award
 o Cérge
 o Belgravia Leisure and Belgravia Foundation
 o Coach Welly
Franchise Group of the Year
 o Fitness Enhancement Personal Training
 o Jetts Fitness
 o Snap Fitness
 o World Gym Australia
Franchisee of the Year
 o Kathie Long - Fernwood Toowoomba
 o Ben Bergmeier - World Gym Burleigh
 o Carly Burr - World Gym Toowoomba
Independent Business of the Year
 o Fitness Forever
 o Paradise Fitness Clubs
 o Vector Health & Performance
Leisure Centre of The Year
 o Mount Warren Sports Centre - Logan City Council
Mental Health Awareness Award
 o Lina Life Fitness - Halina Williams
 o Safe postnatal exercise program - Kangatraining Australia
 o ‘Move your mood for good' campaign - Snap Fitness Australia
Finalist for Most Inclusive and/or Diverse Program
 o Clem Jones Centre – Special Populations in Fitness
 o Fit Your Ability
 o Corporate Wellness program – WellCorp Health and Wellness
Multiservice Business of the Year
 o AJ's Sports Centre
 o Fernwood Toowoomba
Personal Trainer of the Year
 o Lauren 'Loz' Antonenko
 o Steven Halligan
 o Suanne Lowery
Pilates Professional of the Year
 o Kathie Long
 o Renee Hambly
Pilates Business of the Year
 o Inna Essence - Morning Light Studio
Yoga Professional of the Year
 o Lisa Randall
 o Sharon Neish
Yoga Business of the Year
 o Morning Light Studio
 o Yoga Flow
Functional Fitness Trainer of the Year
 o Amy Anderson
 o Sharni Lee, Steven Halligan
Functional Fitness Business of the Year
 o Paradise Fitness Clubs
Student of the Year
 o Matthew Mina
Social Value & Community Impact Award
 o Clem Jones Centre -Special Populations in Fitness
 o inSports Health & Fitness – Logan City Council
 o Move It NQ
People’s Choice – Registered Professional
 o Amy Anderson
 o Aurelio Henrique Machado
 o Stacey Eddy
People’s Choice Large Sized Business
 o Fernwood Toowoomba
 o Belgravia Leisure
People’s Choice Medium Sized Business
 o Clem Jones Centre
People’s Choice Small Business
 o Steven Halligan, Inner Strength Training & Nutrition

AUSactive Chief Executive Barrie Elvish said this year’s judges were impressed by the passion and dedication of this year’s award entries, including a number of first timers to the Awards Program.

He commented “congratulations to the Victorian Finalists! Recognising the shining individuals and businesses in our growing industry is one of the most important roles AUSactive does as the industry’s leading membership association.

“The range of categories we now have on offer means there is greater scope for rewarding and celebrating the passion and commitment put into the role of fitness professional, business owner or community leader.”

Click here for more information on this year’s Award Finalists and the National Gala Event being held in Melbourne in September.

Image: Hawthorn Aquatic and Leisure Centre, a finalist in the Accredited Business of the Year category.