Australia’s demand for skilled personal trainers is booming, as more people seek expert support to stay active and healthy. If you’re passionate about health, fitness and helping people achieve their goals, personal training can be your perfect career.
At Chisholm, we make it easier to get started and to get job-ready sooner. Our fitness courses are designed to combine specialised knowledge and practical skills. And with plenty of real-world experience baked into our programs, you’ll know you’ll be ready to hit the ground running.
In this article, we look at what it’s like to be a personal trainer, what you could earn, and explore how to start your career with your best foot forward.
What does a personal trainer do?
Personal trainers help clients improve their fitness, strength and wellbeing through personalised, safe and sustainable programs.
Generally, personal trainers will work at a gym, online or in public outdoor spaces like local parks.
Day-to-day, your tasks might include:
- assessing fitness levels and setting realistic, personalised goals
- designing safe and effective exercise programs
- demonstrating correct techniques and providing guidance on form
- motivating and supporting clients to stay on track.
Personal training is a role that requires more than just technical knowledge. Soft skills like communication, empathy and motivation are just as important as knowing your way around exercise equipment.
Personal trainer career opportunities in Australia
The Australian fitness industry is strong and expected to grow over the next five years. And we're seeing many gyms, fitness centres, and wellness programs expand.
Fitness has become much more popular with younger generations, especially Gen Z and millennials. Their increased interest in health and wellbeing has helped the industry expand significantly. Many people combine online fitness with in-person training to fit their busy lifestyles.
Personal trainers are in demand across many settings. These can include small and large gyms, as well as online training programs. You can work part-time, full-time, or even start your own business. With the right qualifications, you can also move into management. You could even specialise in areas like injury recovery or sports coaching.
How much does a personal trainer earn?
It’s an important question. And personal training is one of those jobs that can have unlimited earning potential – depending on where you take it.
First of all, income will vary depending on experience, location and whether you're self-employed or working for a business.
In Melbourne, the average full-time salary for personal trainers is around $65k – $70k a year. There is a huge potential to earn more as you grow your client base or specialise. And many trainers combine employment with private clients to increase their salary.
How to become a personal trainer: step-by-step guide
A fast-tracked pathway to personal trainer is now available at Chisholm. Here’s how you can make the most of your time and get your career moving forward.
Step 1: Certificate III in Fitness (partial completion)
- Provides the foundation skills you need to work as a gym instructor.
- Covers key areas like fitness assessment, program design and client safety.
- Let's you complete the required units quickly to move on to the next stage.
Our Certificate III in Fitness SIS30321 (partial completion) provides the nine prerequisite units needed for entry into the Certificate IV in Fitness SIS4022. This means you can start your Certificate IV much sooner and get qualified faster.
This course is delivered online, with face-to-face elements held at Infinite Fitness Peninsula in Cranbourne West.
Step 2: Certificate IV in Fitness
- Qualifies you to work as a personal trainer.
- Expands your skills to include advanced programming, client management and business operations.
- Includes practical experience so you can graduate confidently and job ready.
The Certificate IV in Fitness SIS4022 at Chisholm advances your skills and gives you the qualifications needed to work as a personal trainer.
This course is delivered online, with face-to-face elements held at Infinite Fitness Peninsula in Cranbourne West.
“It’s great seeing our Cert IV students develop a high standard in delivering fitness solutions and begin their professional careers with a strong foundation.”NickChisholm Certificate IV in Fitness teacher
Step 3: Diploma of Sport (optional)
- Ideal if you want to broaden your career options into leadership, management or high-performance sport.
- Builds skills in athlete development, coaching and sports program coordination.
Our Diploma of Sport SIS50321 is a great option if you want to gain even more experience and advanced skills in the sport and fitness world. You’ll even delve into a bit of psychology and business studies.
Why study fitness at Chisholm?
Our focus is on giving you the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to make a real difference for your clients. And for your own future.
When you study at Chisholm, you're not just gaining a qualification – you're building a career with the backing of:
- accelerated study options so you can start working sooner
- strong employer connections that open doors for work placements and job opportunities
- flexible learning pathways to suit your life and career goals
- hands-on training in modern facilities, guided by experienced industry professionals.
Certificate III in Fitness student Ebony benefited from the support she got from her teachers: "Whether it's like a class that you're running and they're giving you feedback, or just even the assignments where you don't know how to go about it – the teachers are just so supportive."
Becoming a personal trainer is a clear, achievable pathway – and with the right support, you can get there sooner. If you're ready to turn your passion for fitness into a career, we're here to help you take the first step.
Discover fitness courses at Chisholm today.
