AUSactive Awards 2023 celebrate the fitness and wellbeing industry’s highest achievements

A spectacular sold-out Gala Event at Federation Square in Melbourne last night has seen the presentation of AUSactive’s 2023 National Awards - acknowledging the fitness and wellbeing industry’s highest achievements across 31 individual, business and community categories.

Marking the biggest and most successful annual awards program for the Australian health and wellbeing industry in recent years, the Awards showcased talent from right across Australia celebrating professionals, business owners and industry experts who demonstrate passion, care and dedication day-in, day-out helping others to be more physically active.

Advising that this year’s Awards Program celebrated the increased scope of the Australian health, fitness and wellbeing industry, AUSactive Chief Executive, Barrie Elvish congratulatied national and state winners and shared “last night was all about you and I’m immensely proud of your achievements. This year we had more entries from the increasing number of modalities AUSactive supports than ever before and I can only see this continuing to grow in years to come.

“The growth of our industry in the wake of COVID has been phenomenal. Embracing physical activity for our mind and body is vital to leading healthier lives and to see the passion in a room of more than 400 people who dedicate their lives and careers to ensuring people get the best out of their fitness or physical activity is unbelievable.”

AUSactive National Awards 2023 National Winners
Accredited Exercise Professional of the Year - Jo-Anne Starkie

Aqua Professional of the Year - Marlee King

CEC provider of the Year - Polestar Pilates Australia

CEC provider of the Year - Australian Institute of Fitness

Educator of the Year - Kimberley Garlick

LesMills Exercise Instructor of the Year - Joel Costello

Franchise Group of the Year - Fitness Enhancement Personal Training

Franchisee of the Year - Adam Kennedy, World Gym Chullora

Functional Fitness Business of the Year - Gunnedah Health & Fitness Co

Functional Fitness Trainer of the Year - Steven Halligan

LesMills Group Exercise Leader of the Year - Lisa-Marie Gleeson

Active Xchange Healthy Council Award - City of Kwinana - Healthy Lifestyles in Kwinana Project

MyZone Independent Business of the Year - Deadlifts and Deathmetal

Technogym Industry Innovation Award - Cérge, Belgravia Leisure and Belgravia Foundation

Leisure Centre of The Year - Armadale Fitness and Aquatic Centre

Mental Health Awareness Award - Fernwood Fitness - Mental Health First Aid

Most Inclusive and/or Diverse Program - Confit Pathways

OneMusic Multiservice Business of the Year - 5th Element Wellness

OneMusic Personal Trainer of the Year - Korin Koutsomihalis

Pilates Journal Pilates Business of the Year - Strong Pilates Somerton Park

Pilates Journal Pilates Professional of the Year - Catherine Giannitto

Active Xchange Social Value & Community Impact Award - Good Energy Run Club

OnePlayground Student of the Year - Patrick Mitchell

Yoga Business of the Year - One Big Heart

Yoga Professional of the Year - Ellen Nash

People’s Choice - Registered Professional - Dorothy Gaunt

People’s Choice Large Business - Armadale Fitness and Aquatic Centre

People’s Choice Medium Sized Business - Fernwood St Kilda

People’s Choice Small Business - Halligan's Fitness

Guild Insurance Quality Accredited Business of the Year - Goldfields Oasis

Special Awards
Roll of Honour inductees - Chris Hicks, Korin Koutsomihalis, Marietta Mehanni, Paul Brown

Chairs Award - Justin McDonell

State category winners were also announced at this year’s National Gala for the first time, with Elvish noting “we wanted to elevate the recognition our state winners also received this year. This saw a further 46 state awards presented last night.

“In all, 81 individuals, business, community groups and special award recipients were honoured in this year’s AUSactive National Awards 2023.”

Elvish went on to say “finally, I would like to thank our sponsors, supporting businesses and our AUSactive Awards Judging Panel and team awards team. We really cannot do this without all your hard work and support.”

10 Thousand Feet Awards
The Awards also featured the 10 Thousand Feet Awards which focus on how members and staff are recognised.

The Awards were present in Member Love and Employer of Choice categories.

Images: Scott Hunt of Franchise Group of the Year (Winner in the Franchise Group of the Year category), Award winners William Harlow and Ben Brown of Paradise Fitness Clubs (Winner Queensland Independent Fitness Business of the Year), Roll of Honour inductee Paul Brown, judge Amanda Bracks and Mike Beeney and Emmett Williams of Myzone (top) and Barrie Elvish addresses the AUSactive Senior Management Summit earlier in the day (below).