Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti
14 mins ago
Exercise consultant Kelsey Hart (left) and YMCA operations manager Janene Dixion Smith.
A job helping people achieve their goals has now been achieved by a former EIT Tairāwhiti student.
Kelsey Hart, 20, began her journey toward becoming an exercise consultant in 2016.
“I started with a Health and Fitness level three course at EIT for personal reasons – I wanted to learn about how I could be fit and healthy.”
With no other levels at EIT at that time, after the 17-week course she went to Australia.
“I went to the Sydney Fitness Show and everything just clicked with me and I decided that was where I wanted to be.”
Kelsey moved back home and by this time, in 2017, EIT Tairāwhiti had extended its exercise programme offerings to include the NZ Certificate in Exercise level four and five.
She was noticed at the YMCA, where EIT exercise students do practical work and assessments and soon was offered a voluntary position.
She recommends EIT’s exercise programme especially because once students have passed, they can be REPS (Registered Exercise Professionals) registered.
“This means people who are registered have insurance – it ensures people have confidence in my ability.”
Kelsey finished level five last year and now works about 25 hours a week doing various things at the YMCA and has just launched her own business – Kelsey Hart Training.
“EIT didn’t just give me the knowledge and science but also gave me experience and connections with so many different people to help on my journey.”
She loves training people.
“I have met the most amazing people. I love to be able to help them achieve what they want to achieve. Working with people at the YMCA has given me a huge amount of confidence.”
YMCA operations manager Janene Dixon-Smith says the partnership and memorandum of understanding has been running between the two organisations for a number of years. It really means students can use our facility to run the practical part of their course.
“The long-standing relationship is part of our mission here to meet the needs of the community.
“EIT doesn’t have these facilities onsite and it gives students real world situations – they get the opportunity to experience how to train in an actual facility.”
Students are actively involved and teamed up with members creating a genuine well-rounded experience.
“It also benefits us. As well as meeting the community need, we are building relationships with up and coming instructors and personal trainers.
“I notice the bright shining stars like Kelsey and that helps me with my staffing. It is difficult to get passionate staff and watching these students for six months to a year gives me plenty of opportunity. I seldom have to go out and get new staff.”
Sport and Exercise lecturer and programme coordinator Ashleigh Sheldrake always enjoys seeing her students achieve their goals.
The level four and five courses cover anatomy, physiology and how to design exercise programmes.
The study leads to a variety of work from personal training to health professional work.
“The fitness industry is definitely increasing in Gisborne. Also we have the highest rate of diabetes in New Zealand – so educators about health and fitness are needed here,” says Ashleigh.
As well as educating for a new career, some people attend the courses for their own benefit, or to help educate and promote health and exercise among employees in a business.
For more information about the NZ Certificate in Exercise level four and five, go to the EIT website or call into the main office of EIT Tairāwhiti in Palmerston Road.
