What is the Personal Trainers Policy?
- The policy identifies and licences professional personal fitness trainers operating their businesses in the Royal Botanic Garden and the Domain.
- Trainers can conduct their business in the Domain but not the Royal Botanic Garden.
- To obtain a licence, personal trainers must demonstrate that they have completed an approved course and are registered with Fitness NSW or a relevant peak industry body.
- To obtain a licence, personal trainers must demonstrate that they have current workers compensation, public liability, senior first aid certificate and professional indemnity insurance.
- Maximum size of a training group will be 18 people.
- Organisations or personal trainers who have a number of staff employed must pay a fee for each staff member who conducts personal training programs on Trust lands.
- An organisation can apply to the Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust to transfer a licence from one individual to another within their organisation. An administrative fee of $40 will be charged for a licence transfer.
- An unauthorised fee of $130 will be charged for anyone running a session without a permit
Why introduce the licence system?
To help the Trust manage a growing number of trainers and their clients that at times interfere with other users of our lands. It is also a mechanism for these businesses to contribute to the upkeep of the lands and to contribute, like all other businesses using our lands (e.g. football and netball in the Domain, commercial filming and photography), to Trust programs.
What consultation and planning has taken place?
Trust staff regularly talk to trainers who use Trust lands, reviewing how local Councils around Sydney manage fitness trainers and their clients and consider feedback on trainers and their clients from visitors to the Royal Botanic Garden and the Domain.
Why has the maximum group size been set at 18?
Fitness NSW advised that 18 is an industry standard and most trainers currently using Trust land have 18 or less clients in the training group. Larger groups have greater negative impact on the living environment, infrastructure and other users of the Domain.
How was a fee set?
The Trust has set a price that we believe reflects the importance of this site, will cover the cost of managing the program, will contribute to repair of the impact on lawns and gardens, and is benchmarked with local Councils in the Sydney metropolitan area.
Comparison of Trust Policy and fees to those charged by local councils
- Waverley - $700 to $1,750
- Manly Council - $465 to $2,850
- Mosman Council - $500 to $1,000
- Wollongong Council - $1073 to $5000
- Leichardt - $819 to $1605
- Trust licence fee $1,144 per year - i.e. $20 per week.
Some Councils are not charging a fee, so why will the Trust be charging a fee?
The Trust is a premium site and we believe that businesses using our lands should contribute to their upkeep and to the Trust programs. A licence fee will also help us recoup costs involved in issuing a licence so we can manage better the numbers of trainer groups.
Why will trainers and their clients be shut out of the Royal Botanic Garden?
Botanic gardens are special sites managed for horticulture, botanical science and peaceful recreation. The Domain is grassed parkland, a site where more active recreation is encouraged.