Kate is a qualified personal trainer based in Perth, Western Australia. Her business is called FiftyFitness, helping busy over 50s to feel relaxed, stronger and energised. Mainly through an outdoor group exercise community, but looking to expand her offering of individual personal training. 

Life before the fitness industry 

After a varied working life, Kate made the change into the fitness industry at the age of 53. At that time she had been a university chemistry lecturer for 15 years, but her working life started in nursing way back in the 1980s. Kate had a 15 year nursing career with the final four years overlapping her study of chemistry. She applies knowledge and skills from all her careers in the fitness industry. 

From avid exerciser to personal trainer 

Faced with the first world problem of enforced leave from her lecturing job and not being able to travel during the pandemic, Kate enrolled in the Cert III & IV in Fitness. Initially this was simply out of interest, to learn how to train herself as a fitness enthusiast, but she quickly realised that being a personal trainer aligns with her calling to education. She sees being a personal trainer as being an educator, which is what she was born to do. 

Studying Cert III & IV

The version of the course that Kate enrolled in was online with a 12 month timeframe for completion. She completed the course between June 2020 and April 2021. After some initial concerns and feeling out of place - the fitness industry seems to be for young people - Kate loved studying the course content and doing the written and video assessments. 

Fitness industry experience & the future 

Kate had a mentor with an outdoor group fitness business and did some casual sessions for him to get some valuable experience, but essentially launched straight into her own business which she continues to build. Looking to the future, Kate can see herself in some kind of educational role in line with her passion and skill in this area. 

Advice for over 50s considering a change to the fitness industry 

Go for it! Just start for personal interest and be open to where it could take you. That’s what Kate did. She has no regrets and loves her life. 

Want to hear Kate's story in more detail?

Listen to them share their story on the Masters Fitness Academy Podcast!

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PS: Are you interested in becoming a Qualified Personal Trainer? Check out our Certificate III and IV in Fitness.