What's happening in 2013

Happy New Year to everyone. It's great to be back on deck after a short break and I am looking forward to the year ahead. We have lots of great things planned at Fitness Australia in 2013, all designed to support the fitness industry to continue to grow and prosper. Here are some examples:

1. Priority strategic initiatives

• This year we are undertaking a world's first major research project into risk management and regulation in the fitness industry in collaboration with Bond and Monash Universities and Sports Medicine Australia. This research will assist us to thoroughly understand the regulatory environment that influences the fitness industry and to develop recommendations to improve and strengthen it. In addition, the research will provide us with an industry-wide overview of risk issues and risk management practices and help us to develop tools and systems that improve risk management and minimise client injury. An industry with effective regulatory systems and risk management will have a good reputation, so this will be a very positive and constructive project.
• We will continue to move ahead with our work in relation to enhancement of the professional registration and continuing education systems. This work has several aims, including; (i) to create and promote improved career pathways and opportunities for those fitness professionals who are interested in pursuing a longer-term career in the fitness industry and, in particular, those that wish to work collaboratively with others in the health care sector to improve population health; (ii) to improve professional standards and the quality of service delivery particularly in relation to new entrants to the profession; (iii) improving the recognition of more experienced exercise professionals and those that have undertaken higher learning and/or specialisations (iv) improving access to high quality continuing education opportunities for all registered professionals.
• Developing policies, tools, systems and protocols to generate more health-related referrals into exercise programs and working collaboratively with health and medical service providers and peak bodies to facilitate this.
• Continue to build relationships with health funders and profile the fitness industry as an important service provider in preventive health.
• Continue to lobby government at all levels on issues that are important to the fitness industry.
• Continue the development of the industry quality framework and associated systems and protocols that will set national and contemporary standards for professionalism, safety, customer care and business practice.

2. Industry engagement

Supporting and assisting registered businesses and professionals will continue to be a key priority for Fitness Australia and we will continue to offer this support through a range of channels, including face-to-face, online and over the telephone. We will continue to pursue innovation in the area of communications so that we can maximise engagement with the industry. We believe that this is one of the most effective ways of understanding and addressing the needs of the industry.

2013 will be Year 2 for the Quality Awards and we are planning an exciting gala event in Sydney in October! I will also be ramping up my industry engagement activities so that we can continue to get our messages out to more and more people. Here are just some of the events that I'm looking forward to being part of in support of the industry:

• Women in Fitness Forum (Feb)
• CEO Symposium for Association Executives (Feb)
• Cairns Fitness Industry Forum panel discussion (Feb)
• IHRSA Convention (Mar)
• FILEX Convention (Apr)
• Council of Small Business Conference (Jul)
• Fitness Australia Industry Forum and Quality Awards gala (Oct)

On a personal front, I intend to participate in four short-course triathlons this year, so my Personal Trainer is being kept very busy and I am staying very focused on my health and fitness goals!

I wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2013.