Hi, my name is Carlos, and I’m a student from Fitness Institute’s Class 41 face-to-face course for 2025.
Originally from Melbourne, I relocated to Townsville at the start of 2024. I grew up participating in various sports, including Aussie Rules, cricket, skateboarding, surfing, and running. For the past seven years, I’ve been learning proper strength training techniques from a close mentor, my brother, who has been instrumental in shaping my approach to fitness.
When I moved to Townsville in 2024, I began working with a Personal Trainer named Theo Papazis to continue building strength. Theo, a qualified personal trainer who also completed his certification through Fitness Institute, played a big role in my progression. His guidance reinforced my decision to take the next step and formally enter the fitness industry.
I decided to enrol with Fitness Institute because of my passion for health and fitness and the belief that I have skills and knowledge I want to share with people who need it most.
At 19, I suffered a serious neck injury (C7 fracture) playing Aussie Rules. I underwent surgery and was told I could no longer play contact sports due to the risk. Later, around age 26, I dislocated my shoulder in a dirt bike accident and required surgery again. I’m now 34, and after years of focused strength training and rehab, I’ve built up the surrounding muscle and strength. I now have no pain or limitations in either area.
These days, I focus on gym training and love surfing whenever I head down the east coast or return to Melbourne to visit family and friends.
Course Highlights
Some of my favourite parts of the course were:
- Learning practical techniques from Phil, especially his demonstrations using different gym equipment.
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The hands on experience of training three real clients over 13 sessions, which gave me real insight into coaching and program design.
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Gaining knowledge in business building and sales, which will help me as I step into the fitness industry professionally.
Tips for Future Students
Here are a few tips I’d offer to new students:
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Contact the Fitness Institute early and book a meeting with Phil. He’ll give you all the details on the course structure, fees, and what to expect.
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Sign up early and, if possible, begin studying before the official start date. It takes a huge load off during the course.
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Try to find your practical clients early, talk to them about their goals, and begin designing programs ahead of time.
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Reach out to Phil with any questions, he always gets back to you quickly and provides solid support throughout the course.
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Even after graduating, Phil is the kind of mentor who will help you if you reach out.
Acknowledgments
A heartfelt thank you to the mentors who supported me during this journey:
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Peter Wadsworth – for one of the classes he took, teaching sales while Phil was away.
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Peter Brandt – for first aid, helping me implement the 520 Bronco and beep test on the treadmill, and always checking in to see how I was going.
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Jacob Miles – for sharing his knowledge and mentoring during practical’s.
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Stevie-Lee Rowe – for her support and teaching throughout the course. Also teaching a fun competitive circuit.
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Monica Peirano – for being super helpful in answering my questions over the phone whenever Phil was unavailable.
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Shay Castillo– for providing clear and valuable feedback while marking my work.
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Jordan Murray – for the excellent video lectures and for marking my work also.
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And lastly, a massive thank you to Philip Sheriff, the owner of the Fitness Institute. Your leadership, mentorship, and support made a huge impact on my ability to complete this course and helped me take the first big step toward my future in personal training.
