Fitness Australia is determined to achieve a solution to the alarming outdoor training licencing terms being introduced by some local governments in Melbourne and Sydney.

Recent media reports have highlighted the implementation of unreasonable terms for licences and an increasing resentment among clientele and members of the public.

Many previous attempts by Fitness Australia to consult with local governments and achieve a sound outcome have unfortunately been mostly futile.

Fitness Australia acknowledges the need to maintain access for all to public space and the need to protect the asset and in light of this would be supportive of reasonable terms for licencing, however at the moment there is a lack of consistency among existing policies and many local governments are attempting to set specific terms around professional practice and insurance coverage – provisions that already exists through the association. In addition to this, considerations such as affordability of the licence, the need for most trainers to practice in multiple municipalities and the positive contribution that outdoor fitness training provides to many in the community are being overlooked.

‘If licence fees are to be charged, it would be sensible to set the fee and regulatory requirements at a level that encourages compliance rather than be inflammatory, impractical and ultimately ineffectual. It is Fitness Australia’s view that this issue will require a coordinated broad based approach to be truly effective, an outcome that will be vigorously pursued’ says Craig Knox, Fitness Australia General Manager - Industry Development.

Fitness Australia will release a specific update concerning this issue in forthcoming newsletters.