The Australian Institute of Fitness is a privately owned, registered training organisation, and the largest fitness training organisation in Australia. Beginning operations as the Health Studio Attendants course in Perth in 1979, the Institute became Australia's first national fitness training provider in 2000, with the merger of five state-based fitness training programs.
History
In 1979, sports educator and author Nigel Champion began running a Health Studio Attendants course in Perth, the first of its kind in Australia. In 1981, Champion partnered with Australian academic Dr Garry Egger to establish the ACHPER Fitness Leader group of courses in Sydney; before joining, in 1986, with fitness entrepreneur Greg Hurst to establish the Australian Fitness Network. In 2000, Hurst & Champion together with Russell Creagh, Monty Dortkamp, Dr Grant Pavia and Kerry McEvoy, merged five existing fitness training programs – ACHPER Fitness Leader; Australian Fitness Network; Institute for Fitness Professionals; National College of Fitness; and the Australian Institute of Fitness – to create the national Australian Institute of Fitness. Russell Creagh served as the first CEO of the consolidated Institute, from 2001 to 2006, followed by Greg Hurst and Dyanne Ward. In December 2016, Steve Pettit, the Institute's CEO Queensland, was appointed as its National Chief Executive on the retirement of Dyanne Ward. Since inception, the founding entities provided a variety of fitness industry-specific certification and training courses. Following the Federal Government's 1996 training reform agenda, these courses were incorporated into the Australian Qualifications Framework. Since 1996, the Institute has delivered nationally recognised qualifications in fitness, massage and business, in compliance with the regulatory standards of the AQF.
The Institute is an Australian Registered Training Organisation delivering vocational education and training courses at Certificate III, Certificate IV and Diploma level. Auditing and registration of Australian RTOs is managed by the Australian Skills Quality Authority, as such the Institute's programs must meet guidelines set out by State and Federal Governments and associated training bodies.
Registered training organisation
Australian Institute of Fitness is approved to deliver the following qualifications under the Australian Qualifications Framework:
The Monty Dortkamp Scholarship Program awards four scholarships annually covering tuition costs of a Master Trainer certification. The scholarship was established by The Institute in memory of Monty Dortkamp, to assist people from disadvantaged backgrounds and communities.
Awards and recognition
Notable students and graduates
Michelle Bridges – Australian personal trainer, author and TV personality
