Recently two untrained people were featured in the national Press. They took PT classes they learned from the Internet.
This issue should be of immense concern to all fitness professionals because
it calls into question the value of undertaking training and the role the national body, Fitness Australia, should play in protecting members.
Disturbingly, the article received saturation coverage across all Fairfax and
News Limited papers.
By featuring two untrained people conducting fitness classes it is saying: "you don't have to be qualified to provide PT", or
"see, anyone can do it".
Because they're not getting paid, there's probably little that be done
legally to stop them. But if someone is injured doing a class, there's a good
chance the local council will be sued.
However, the problem is that once again it demonstrates how easy it is to
diminish the role of PTs. This was recently highlighted when it was shown some
organisations provide Cert IVs in a few weeks (endorsed by celebrity trainers,
no less). This also diminishes the stature of proper training.
Incidents like this have made me question why I bothered to study for 18
months, despite having 30 years' involvement in sport to international
level.
Fitness Australia really has to get on to this, because it damages my (all PT's reputation) and reputation is at the core of everything anyone does.