Career Choice: Recreation and Fitness Worker

What do Recreation and Fitness Workers do?

Recreation workers plan and teach activities that people enjoy in their free time. This may include camping, sports, arts and crafts, dance, or drama. Recreation workers organize these activities for people of all ages.

Recreation workers hold a variety of jobs. Camp directors supervise camp counselors and plan the camp's activities. Camp counselors lead and teach children activities such as swimming, archery, hiking, horseback riding, and camping.

Fitness workers teach and help people with exercises such as weightlifting, yoga, aerobics, and karate. They help people train and meet their personal fitness goals. They also show people the proper way of doing various exercises. Aerobics instructors teach classes that help people improve their physical conditioning.

Recreation workers do their jobs in different places such as health clubs, cruise ships, and parks. Those who work outdoors sometimes must deal with bad weather.

Most fitness workers spend their time indoors at fitness centers and health clubs. Many workers work about 40 hours a week. Some work nights and weekends.

How do I prepare to become a Recreation and Fitness Worker?

Many full-time jobs require a university degree with a major in parks and recreation or leisure studies. Special training or experience in a particular field, such as art, music, drama, or athletics, is important for many jobs.

Some jobs require certification. One may be certified in a particular area of exercise such as personal training, strength training, and aerobics. Many fitness workers become personal trainers.

Recreation workers should like working with people. They need to have good health and be physically fit.

What are the earning potentials?

Weekly Earnings (full time and before tax)

• $500 - All Ages
• $496 - Ages 20-24

Source: ABS Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership, August 2003.

What are the Job prospects for Recreation and Fitness Workeres?

• Very Good
• Good < Recreation and Fitness Worker
• Average
• Below Average
• Limited