Fitness Australia introduce new Continuing Education pathways for professionals

Fitness Australia has expanded its Continuing Education System by introducing new ways for Australian Registered Exercise Professionals (AusREPs) to obtain Continuing Education Credits (CECs).

The change is part of an effort to inspire continuous upskilling through credible education which in turn keeps personal trainers and instructors up-to-date with the latest modes of training, develops career pathways and brings them up to scratch with industry standards.

Explaining the change, Fitness Australia Chief Executive, Barrie Elvish stated “we’re listening to our AusREPs and acknowledging the importance of safety standards by introducing CECs for CPR and First Aid credentials by all AusREPs, as well as adding several new relevant and cost-effective ways to gain CECs, including through affiliated learning that’s been undertaken.

“Having an experienced and robust workforce like ours means that many of our Level 2 & 3 AusREPs work and learn across related industries. These AusREPs can now claim CECs for upskilling with an appropriate education provider or association, outside of Fitness Australia, which complements their work as a Trainer or Instructor.”

AusREPs can now claim CECs for:

• Completing their First Aid (three CECs);
• Completing their CPR (one CEC);
• Reading journal articles and research-based publications (one CEC per article)#;
• Affiliated education* (one CEC per two-hours for Level 2 & 3 AusREPs)#
• Completing a Unit of Competency in the VET Fitness training package (5 CECs); and
• In-house training (one CEC per three-hours).

Elvish added “with many so-called fitness experts around, it’s even more critical that continuous education plays a role in the career of an exercise professional. And not just any education, but upskilling through a system that meets a benchmark set by industry experts should be the aim for professionals.

“We’re all working with the ultimate goal of helping to boost peoples’ health whilst keeping them safe.”

All AusREPs are committed to ongoing professional development by way of obtaining 20 CECs over a two year period, and based on feedback from exercise professionals, Fitness Australia recognises the need to expand the way AusREPs obtained their CECs. 

These new ways to get CECs are in addition to the existing 650 courses from over 200 different providers already available in the CEC Directory, which has a new ‘Book Now’ function, making it even easier for AusREPs to connect with an education provider.

*Affiliated Education is the ability to undertake a program or event from an appropriate education provider or association, outside of Fitness Australia. 
# A limit of CECs applies per registration period, please refer to the CEC Guidelines for more information www.fitness.org.au/cec-guidelines 

To see all of the ways to obtain CECs visit fitness.org.au/CECs