He may be nearly 60 but one Hawkesbury local is shunning the idea of retirement by forging a new career in Australia’s booming fitness industry.

Nick Fowler retired from his job as an electrical engineer to pursue his passion for sport with TAFE NSW. He was also a contracted cricket umpire with Cricket Australia for four years and decided to relaunch his fitness career to his fellow retired cricket umpires, retired people and others looking to live a healthier lifestyle.

Nick turned to TAFE NSW Nepean for hands on training and completed a Certificate III in Fitness and is now studying a Certificate IV and has just launched a business, Nick’s Life Fitness based in Hawkesbury.

“I haven’t looked back at my decision to relaunch my career and go back to studying at the age of 60.

I’ve loved every minute of my time at TAFE NSW, which was made even better through the fantastic support I received from my teachers and the state of the art gym I get to call my classroom,” Nick said.

“I want to work with people and help improve their lives through fitness; so many people are scared of going to the gym because they don’t know how to use the equipment or they think they are too old so my aim is to motivate people and change that perception,” he said.

It comes as research reveals there has been a 39 per cent rise in the number of people over 65 looking for full-time work, but only an 11 per cent jump in those finding it, which means there has never been a better time to up-skill or relaunch your career.

Growth in the fitness sector has been driven by a rising health consciousness in Australia, high obesity rates and growth in discretionary incomes. Over the last 12 months, there have been over 1,220 online job postings for fitness instructors in Australia. [1]

TAFE NSW Head of Health, Well-being & Community Services, Anne Goonetilleke, said the Certificate IV in Fitness has provided Nick with the practical skills needed to tackle the industry.

“TAFE NSW maintains relationships with medical and allied health professionals to afford fitness students the opportunity to gain the practical skills they need to eventually provide health and fitness programs to clients and plan, manage and market a successful small business,” Ms Goonetilleke said.

“Through TAFE NSW, Nick now has the skills he needs to launch his own business and make an impact on the lives of others.”

To find out more about studying fitness at TAFE NSW, visit www.tafensw.edu.au, or call 131 601.

Media contact: Jessica Cortis, Media and Communications Business Partner, 0456 170 211.