Hi [[Salutation]],

Thank you for everyone who has supported our forum which was held on Tuesday 18th November, 2008.

We had a good representation from the fitness industry, industry bodies, employment agencies and members of the public.
Jodie Wilmer who chaired the meeting gave an invaluable insight into her previous work with the Tourism Alliance in implementing a sustainable permit structure for all Tour operators in Victoria.
 

 

What is next?

 

Attending the  City of Yarra's community consultation meeting at 6pm on Wednesday, 10th of December 2008 at the
Richmond Town Hall in Meeting room 1 and 2.

A follow up email will be sent on Monday 24th November which will include the  Guideline Matrix Form whereby fitness operators will have the opportunity to choose from check boxes for issues ranging from a code of behaviour to fee structures and add additional comments.

Don't forget those those who have not yet made a submission to the City of Yarra,
Emailing your written submission to:

Caitlin Ryan,
Sports Development Officer
caitlin.ryan@yarracity.vic.gov.au

Submissions must be received by Friday 28th November 2008

The City of Yarra fact sheet for personal training policy and Permit system
The City of Yarra draft for personal training policy and Permit system
 

Minutes of Meeting

Location : Travellers Aid , Level 3, 225 Bourke Street Melbourne
Time : Tues 18 Nov at 2pm-3:30pm

Attendees
Andrew Talati – Fitstyler
Jodie Arnot – Healthy Balance Fitness
Jodie Wilmer – Facilitator
Stuart Grant –City of Yarra
Lyn Duguid - Kinect Australia
Dennis Hosking - Healthy People
Will Faulkner - Will Power Personal Training
Lauren Kennedy- Australian Fitness Academy
Daniela Accary - Second Nature Fitness
Angelo Mungcal - Boot Box
Georgette Mungcal  - Boot Box
Brent Lavery - Paramount Health and Fitness Club
Steven Rogers- Step into Life
Jackie Arbuckle –Healthy Balance Fitness participant
Elle Tresidder -  Melbourne Personal Training

Apologies
Greg Anders: Yarra Council Director of Infra Structure
Geoff Barbour: City of Yarra Councillor
Amberlee Creese: Adminstration Officer, Arts & recreation Development
Craig Knox: General Manager Industry Development
Steven Hore: Fitnation
Joel Mautner: personal trainer
Stephanie Lee: Alive Personal training
Simon McKean: Fire up Fitness

Absentees from mailing list will be emailed Agenda, Guidelines, Permit System Matrix and Minutes

Proceedings

- Meeting called to order at 2pm by facilitator Jodie Willmer

- Willmer reminds attendees that the forum is to keep to issues regarding Draft policy only, not to address other park or council issues.

- Talati outlined purpose of forum is to establish a unified voice for fitness trainers, agree on recommendations for changes to City of Yarra Draft policy, and establish a code of conduct.

- Arnot asserts we need to clarify our stance.  We are not against permits or a code of conduct/guidelines, we are disagreeing with the restrictive nature of the City of Yarra proposed permit system.

- Duguid outlined Kinect’s meetings with Bayside Council, Hobson’s Bay, Maribyrnong and Warnambool over the past 6-12 months to have input into a new model for fitness in open spaces.  Attempting to balance needs of councils with the needs of business owners, so that the permit system is not overly restrictive.

- Duguid offered for Kinect to assist in advertising our forum meetings and outcomes through Kinect’s electronic newsletter which goes out to 3000 members.

- Grant asserted that City of Yarra has a commitment to community consultation.  Believes City of Yarra Draft policy has all the right ingredients, but the recipe is not exactly right yet.

- Willmer explained process behind the changes to permit system for tour operators on Crown Land.  Original permit system in 1989 charged commercial tour operators an annual fee and fee per head regardless of number of tours per year.  Commercial operators were upset that while they had to abide by guidelines and standards, individuals and private groups were not required to maintain standards nor pay fees.  Tourism Alliance and Outdoor Rec Centre joined forces to fight for change.  After a 3 year process, a new permit system was introduced to make the permits valid for 10 years, they are transferable, a set of standards has been established and enforcement improved.  Now there is consistent agreement between land managers and tour operators.  We can draw on this experience to assist with the City of Yarra draft policy.

- Arnot outlined Permit matrix, highlighting the areas with the largest variance between councils include:
Number of parks permitted for use by fitness groups
Number of permits issued per park
Length of permit
Number of sessions permitted per week
Maximum number of participants per group permitted
Cost of permit

- Arnot stresses that we focus on the most restrictive aspects of the City of Yarra Draft Policy and strive to convince council to bring these areas in line with other municipalities:
    Number of parks permitted for larger groups
Number of sessions per week permitted
Number of permits issued per park
Cost of permit

- Talati explained that in telephone conversations with City of Yarra council a handful of complaints re fitness groups in parks instigated the Draft Policy.

- All attendees agreed that there needs to be a code of conduct

- Duguid suggested that there are many fitness trainers who do not want a code of ethics nor to pay for use of parks.

-Talati read out Guidelines

- Kennedy raised issue of transferability of parks.  If a park is closed by council for maintenance or an event, can the permit allow transfer to an alternative park in the meantime?

- Willmer explained that Parks Victoria allow a change of parks for Tour operators in this situation with notification and permission

- Duguid suggested that the code of ethics should outline unacceptable exercise to disallow body contact boxing/fighting/martial arts and sparring.  Duguid argues that Pilates/Yoga/tai chi groups should also be required to gain a permit. 

- Lavery raised the issue of AFL clubs and whether they should gain a permit

- Grant reminded the group that AFL comes under the sporting groups policy not the personal training policy.

- Accary raised question of Fitness First and other Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and whether they need permits for teaching large groups of students in the parks.

- Grant explained that they are required to in City of Yarra.

- Willmer suggested that we need to pose the question – Which permits do these groups fall under?  Commercial education/RTO’s should they fall under personal training permit or School Groups?

- Kennedy explained that Australian Fitness Academy uses parks only a few times per year.  If AFA were to have to pay a 12 month permit for only 4 sessions it would not be affordable.  Kennedy suggested that there should be a low use permit scheme where parks can be paid for on a per use basis.

- Lavery suggested a low usage permit system for businesses that change locations regularly and only use each particular park once per quarter.  Perhaps a pay up front system?

- Grant reminded the group that in this current economic climate even non-profit sporting groups are not permitted to use City of Yarra parks for pre-season training.

-Talati suggested group sizes from definitions
    Personal training – 1-2 people
    Small group – 3 – 6
    Medium group – 7- 15
    Large group – 16+

-Group disagreed

- Talati suggested that definition of group sizes be changed to:
    Personal training – 1-3 people
    Small group – 4 – 10
    Medium group – 11- 20
    Large group – 20+

- Lavery explained that although his business has groups of up to 150 the ratio of trainer to client is still 1:15

- Talati suggested that the group maximum be 20, larger groups broken into groups of 20 each with their own trainer and spread out in the park.

- Lavery suggested that the permit application for larger group should be on a case by case basis, that there are only certain parks that can cope with larger group sizes

- Duguid stated that councils are unlikely to make group maximums more than 15.  Duguid asserts that trainer to client ratios should be stated in insurance policies.

- Duguid suggested that another meeting was necessary to discuss the permit fees

- Faulkner asked if we have paid for the hire of an area in the park, don’t we have a right to advertise in that space?

- Arnot suggested that it was possible if an advertising permit was sought through council

- Rogers raised issue of A-frame advertising.  If it is in a safe place is it permitted?

- Talati suggested with an A-frame permit from council only, subjected to same guidelines as any other advertising material on crown

- Tressider questioned whether small Step Reebok type steps can be used in parks.  (This equipment does fall under equipment transportable by one person by hand)

- Willmer highlighted that Tour operators with permits are listed as licensed operators on Parks Vic & Tourism Vic websites.  This can be a valuable selling tool.

- Duguid suggested that there needs to be a clarification of the guideline “Trainers will not distribute promotional materials in park”.  Does this include handing out a business card to an enquiry?

- Duguid suggested an injury log book for not only the business but one that is submitted to council after any incidents.

- Lavery raised the issue of paths.  Safer to move around the parks on paths rather than over the lawns.  Single file use of paths should be permitted for travelling on but not static work/circuits.

- Arnot asked the group if it would be useful to provide a detailed chart of permit conditions and guidelines with an area for all trainers to fill in their recommendations and whether they agree or disagree with the condition?

- Group agreed.

- Faulkner suggested that the document should be distributed through Kinect and Fitness Australia to all registered fitness trainers.

- Arnot confirmed that meeting minutes would be emailed by 5pm 19/11/08.  And a chart for suggestions/agreements/disagreements would be emailed ASAP. 

- Talati to email document and minutes to all on mail list and to Fitness Australia and Kinect for distribution.

- Meeting adjourned at 3:35pm
- Minutes submitted by Jodie Arnot

Cheers
Andrew








Fitstyler - 50 Cobden Street
North Melbourne Victoria 3051
0419 948 683
03 9329 3777
www.fitstyler.com.au