Despite what you might think, the Sport, Health and Fitness industry is not reserved for the elite athletes, the future Olympians, and the supercoaches. There is a wealth of different careers possible in this industry for anyone who loves staying fit, is interested in learning about the human body, or is simply obsessed with sports. 

WILL IT SUIT ME?

To work in sport, health and fitness you’ve gotta be passionate about living a healthy, active life. You’re the one who never forgets to stretch before and after a job, the one who loves looking into all the stats after a big game, and the one who actually reads the ingredients on the back of a packet of Doritos. And while you might not be competing on the World Tour, this industry is still very competitive. Whether you’re wanting to become a top personal trainer, referee, or sports journalist, you’re going to need to have a tonne of self-motivation. However, the hard work and dedication required to succeed is made worth it by the incredibly rewarding nature of this industry. 

HOW CAN I GET THERE?

Because there’s so much variability within the industry, there’s a lot of different pathways to take. If you’re looking to head into the medical side (think physios, nutritionists and dieticians) you’ll be hitting the books and working towards a university degree. Same goes for transferring other skills onto the sporting field, like psychology. Coaching and officiating - even at the grassroots level - need some accreditation, usually in the form of a local course that you build upon as your progress. Areas such as personal training or gym management usually require a Certificate in fitness, which you can get through a TAFE course.

WHAT SKILLS WILL I LEARN?

As the types of careers available in this industry are so varied, so are the types of skills you can learn. Some of these skills could include:

• Communication and safety policies.
• Fundamental skills and techniques for physical development.
• Providing instructions on using equipment.
• Provide efficient health services to improve the health and wellbeing of clients.

While you may have to accept that you’ll never score that World Cup winning goal in front of the nation as your mother tears up on the sideline, you could still settle for the next best thing - helping someone else achieve their own personal best!

Who knows, you might be the one tearing up as you watch the next Harry Kewell score a match-winning goal with the very same leg you helped to heal only six months earlier!