lifestyle & exercise medicine sessions
FEATURED PRESENTERS
| prof. Garry Egger | Morwenna Kirwan, PhD | Robbie Parker, PhD | ||||
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 Garry has worked in public, corporate and clinical health for over four decades. He is the author of 30 books and over 150 peer-reviewed scientific and research articles. He is a professor of health and human sciences at Southern Cross University and an advisor to the World Health Organisation. In the 1990s Garry initiated the GutBusters men's 'waist loss' program, which developed into the Professor Trim's Weight Loss Program. He is also an initiator of the Australian Lifestyle Medicine Association (ALMA). |
 Morwenna is an exercise scientist focusing her research on behavioural health psychology. In addition to her PhD in diabetes management, she also holds bachelors and masters degrees in exercise science. Morwenna has over a decade of experience in the fitness industry as a high level gymnastics coach, personal trainer, group fitness instructor and lecturer of fitness courses at both university and TAFE level. She also manages her own yoga and Pilates studio. |
 Robbie is an exercise physiologist with a research background in exercise and weight loss. He is director of the Children's Hospital Institute of Sports Medicine (CHISM) at The Children's Hospital at Westmead, NSW and an independent board director of Fitness Australia. Robbie has presented at numerous national and international conventions, and is a previous recipient of Australian Fitness Network's Lifetime Achievement Award and Fitness NSW Outstanding Contribution to the Fitness Industry Award. |
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FRIDAY
10:30am – 12pm
The vital role of fitness professionals in exercise and lifestyle medicine 
A1L
Garry Egger 
Garry has worked in public, corporate and clinical health for over four decades. The author of 30 books and over 150 peer-reviewed articles, he is a professor of health and human sciences at Southern Cross University and an advisor to the World Health Organisation. In the 1990s Garry created the GutBusters program, which developed into the Professor Trim's Weight Loss Program. He is an initiator of the Australian Lifestyle Medicine Association (ALMA).
Lifestyle medicine is defined as 'the application of environmental, behavioural, medical and motivational principles to the management of lifestyle-related health problems in a clinical setting'. Exercise and nutrition are the 'penicillin' of lifestyle medicine, and fitness professionals play a vital part in combating the factors associated with modern chronic diseases. Garry discusses the causes and nature of such factors and highlights the role of the fitness industry in managing them. L
Working with menopausal clients A1M
Shira Kramer
Shira is a highly qualified physiotherapist and the founding director of BeActive, a well established clinic specialising in women's health and pre- and postnatal exercise. With postgraduate qualifications in physiotherapy for exercising women, she regularly presents at conferences and universities as well as to local community and ethnic groups.
Do you train female clients over the age of 40? Shira discusses the safety, medical, physical and psychological issues demanding consideration when working with women in their menopausal years, as well as those with osteoporosis. Featuring a variety of exercise examples, this session delivers the take-home skills to design programs or provide class modifications for women during this important life stage. L
Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats A1N
Jennifer Schembri-Portelli
For some, clocking up 22 years in the same job is a sobering milestone, but for business entrepreneur and highly respected trainer Jennifer, it's a cause for celebration! In addition to her experience as a lecturer, researcher and aqua instructor, JSP is the director of WETS (Water Exercise Training Service), an innovative company providing education, equipment and leadership in all things aquatic.
Exercising on a chair is finally gaining the recognition it truly deserves. Join JSP as she provides theoretical knowledge and practical exercise ideas using a ball, scarf and a chair to improve functional mobility, strength and fitness – while still having a lot of fun! Take away the skills to work with those most in need of exercise, in retirement homes, community facilities and local gyms. WS
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1:30 – 3pm
Fitness vs. fatness: what is best for the obese client? A2H
Dr Robbie Parker
Robbie is an exercise physiologist with a research background in exercise and weight loss. He is director of the Children's Hospital Institute of Sports Medicine (CHISM) at The Children's Hospital at Westmead, NSW and an independent board director of Fitness Australia. Robbie has presented at numerous conventions worldwide, and is a previous recipient of Australian Fitness Network's Lifetime Achievement Award and Fitness NSW Outstanding Contribution to the Fitness Industry Award.
Should physical activity programs focus on a client's fitness rather than fatness? Can aerobic exercise or resistance training influence the markers of inflammation associated with obesity, the development of cardiovascular disease and the onset or management of type II diabetes? Join Robbie as he examines current research looking at whether exercise can influence these elements, as well as metabolism, insulin levels, abdominal adiposity and hormonal activity that might be conducive to greater fat loss. L
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Older adults: the best is yet to come A2M
Thamsin Dunn
Thamsin is an exercise scientist with over seven years' experience training high risk older adults. She combines a scientific background with a love of communicating to excel as both an older adults exercise specialist and as Regional Master Coach, a fitness coach with the Australian Institute of Fitness, SA/NT.
There is no such thing as an average 65-year-old. Join Thamsin to gain an understanding of how biological and chronological age differ and influence the profile of the older adult PT client. Learn how to conduct functional fitness testing and how to monitor and measure improvements in order to achieve the common goals of independence and functionality, while reducing disease risk and symptoms. L
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3:30 – 5pm
Female training advantages A3E
Dr Len Kravitz
A researcher, exercise scientist and internationally acclaimed presenter, Len is the program coordinator of exercise science at the University of New Mexico where he has won the Outstanding Teacher of the Year award. He has previously been named Can-Fit-Pro's Specialty Presenter of the Year and the American Council on Exercise's Fitness Educator of the Year. He has also received the prestigious Can-Fit-Pro Lifetime Achievement Award and the Global Award for his research contributions to the Aquatic Exercise Association.
In this original lecture, Len reviews recently published research and technology documenting unique female training advantages. Gender differences in fat metabolism, muscle fibre changes, muscle strength, muscular endurance, body composition, hormones and other physiological factors are discussed, and resistance and aerobic training programs for women presented. A must-attend session for trainers with female clients striving to attain optimal benefits from their training. L
All stressed out: depression and the role of exercise A3N
Dr Morwenna Kirwan
Morwenna is an exercise scientist focusing her research on behavioural health psychology. In addition to her PhD in diabetes management, she holds bachelors and masters degrees in exercise science. Morwenna has over a decade of experience in the fitness industry as a high level gymnastics coach, personal trainer, group fitness instructor and lecturer of fitness courses. She also manages her own yoga and Pilates studio.
Anti-depressants are the most widely prescribed medication in Australia. Stress can be a precursor to anxiety, which in turn can precede depression. Join Morwenna as she outlines the physiological and behavioural links between stress, anxiety and depression and explores the key role that exercise plays in improving mood and quality of life. Take home scientifically validated strategies to help clients improve their mood, cope with stress and deal with depression. L
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5:30 – 6:45pm
STOTT PILATES®: programming for osteoporosis management A4K
Wayne Seeto
A STOTT PILATES® lead instructor trainer and rehab specialist, Wayne has worked in the fitness industry for over 15 years and is a recognised leader in his field. Based at the STOTT PILATES® Corporate Training Center in Toronto, Wayne is a featured performer in several award-winning workout videos and has presented and taught the STOTT PILATES® method internationally.
Clients with osteoporosis face unique challenges when exercising. Begin this session by learning the causes of osteoporosis, the different forms of the condition and how clients are affected. Then the biomechanical foundation of STOTT PILATES® will be used to create effective programs to cater to this population. Explore how balance and resistance props can assist clients and learn how to effectively modify a matwork routine for them. IL
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Pelvic floor three ways A4L
Shira Kramer, Marietta Mehanni & Michelle Wright
Shira is a highly qualified physiotherapist and the founding director of BeActive, a well established clinic specialising in women's health and pre- and postnatal exercise. With postgraduate qualifications in physiotherapy for exercising women, she regularly presents at conferences and universities as well as to local community and ethnic groups.
Marietta Mehanni
Marietta is an award winning Australian presenter and Australian Fitness Network Ambassador with over 20 years of teaching experience in both land- and water-based group exercise. Marietta is also the World Master Trainer and education coordinator for Gymstick International and a pelvic floor ambassador for Continence Foundation Australia.
Michelle Wright, BEd
Michelle is CEO of mishfit, a personal training company that specialises in working with pregnant and postnatal women and uses women's health physiotherapists to provide a holistic approach to health education. Michelle is a regular contributor to magazines and websites, and runs workshops educating women on pelvic floor awareness.
What happens when a physio, a personal trainer and a group exercise instructor get together and talk about the pelvic floor? You get a three dimensional view of how to integrate pelvic floor awareness into any fitness modality. The female fitness market – which includes many recent mothers and older women – is a large one, so join Shira, Marietta and Michelle to gain a better understanding of this important element of training. L
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SATURDAY
8 – 9:30am
The PT's guide to diabetes B1H
Dr Morwenna Kirwan
Morwenna is an exercise scientist focusing her research on behavioural health psychology. In addition to her PhD in diabetes management, she holds bachelors and masters degrees in exercise science. Morwenna has over a decade of experience in the fitness industry as a high level gymnastics coach, personal trainer, group fitness instructor and lecturer of fitness courses. She also manages her own yoga and Pilates studio.
Type II diabetes is the fastest growing chronic disease in Australia. Morwenna explains the best approach to training diabetic clients effectively and empowering them to better manage their condition. Develop a deeper understanding how exercise and nutrition affect glycaemic control, and learn what self-care behaviours your diabetic clients should be doing to reduce their risk of long-term complications and improve their quality of life. L
Find your inner mojo B1P
Dr Joanna McMillan
Joanna is one of Australia's best-known nutrition and healthy lifestyle experts. She holds a PhD in nutritional science and was a fitness leader for 15 years. She is a regular on the Nine Network, an author of numerous books, writes for Sunday Life and Essential Kids, and leads her company Dr Joanna Pty Ltd. Joanna is a firm favourite at FILEX and was named Presenter of the Year in 2006.
Do your clients ask 'how can I have more energy?' Modern life taxes us mentally, but not necessarily physically, and finding the motivation to move and eat well can be a challenge. Joanna identifies the five key areas that she has found impact on your 'inner mojo' – that state where you are firing on all cylinders and can tackle whatever life throws at you. Food, drink, fitness, philosophy and fun! L
10 – 11:30am
Build an effective health and medical referral network B2N
Max Martin
Max is an accredited exercise physiologist, a fitness professional, and a dynamic educator. An experienced practitioner in the musculo-skeletal rehabilitation field and the director of Corrective Exercise Australia, he has published internationally peer-reviewed papers in exercise physiology.
In 2011, Fitness Australia, ESSA and SMA released the Adult Pre-Exercise Screening Tool. To complement the processes outlined in this tool, and enable you to build better relationships with medical and allied health practitioners, Fitness Australia has developed strong referral pathways between the fitness industry and the health sector. Join Max as he provides a thorough outline of these exciting developments and how they can benefit your business. L
Presented by 
Stagger, swagger and strut: improving senior movement through functional training B2O
Alisha Smith
Alisha is Australian Fitness Network's highly skilled education manager and an Indoor Cycling Experience (I.C.E) Master Trainer. With extensive fitness industry experience as a personal trainer, group exercise instructor and fitness manager, she is dedicated to, and passionate about, fitness education, training and development.
They're in your classes, your PT sessions and your gyms. They're older and bolder than ever before. Yet while we're helping them get fitter, are we helping them live better? Join Alisha as she shows you how to assess and train your older adult participants so they can strut through their senior years! WS
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Diets and weight loss: why they all work but none of them work B2P
Garry Egger
Garry has worked in public, corporate and clinical health for over four decades. The author of 30 books and over 150 peer-reviewed articles, he is a professor of health and human sciences at Southern Cross University and an advisor to the World Health Organisation. In the 1990s Garry created the GutBusters program, which developed into the Professor Trim's Weight Loss Program. He is an initiator of the Australian Lifestyle Medicine Association (ALMA).
To positively impact obesity we need to consider two aspects of weight control. The first is at the individual level, and involves understanding the vast options related to diet and exercise programs. The second is the environmental drivers of obesity at the population level. Join Garry to learn how focusing on the former and neglecting the latter will lead to weight loss failure in the long term. L
1 – 2:30pm
The science of inactivity physiology B3M
Dr William Sukala
Bill is a clinical exercise physiologist with two decades experience in both clinical and preventive health care settings. He currently lectures in clinical exercise physiology at Southern Cross University. Bill is an international presenter, author, and industry consultant, and holds a PhD in the area of diabetes and obesity research. In 2011 he was named Australian Fitness Network's Author of the Year.
Government health recommendations promote 30 minutes of activity per day – but what about the other 23½ hours? In this hard-hitting lecture William blows the lid wide open on the emerging science of 'inactivity physiology' and discusses recent advances in our understanding of the health risks associated with prolonged sitting. L
Exercising for two B3P
Lisa Westlake
Lisa is a physiotherapist, fitness instructor, author and highly regarded national and international presenter. She was named Australian Fitness Network's Presenter of the Year in 2003 and Author of the Year in 2009. Lisa passionately spreads the word about health and fitness through her writing, fitness DVDs, convention appearances, lectures and her media work. Her sessions are always fun, innovative and inspirational.
Drawing on over 20 years of working with mums-to-be, Lisa identifies the key physical and emotional considerations affecting prenatal women and their all-important exercise implications. Develop a sound understanding of exercise programming for pregnant women and take home a repertoire of appropriate exercises to suit different women and different stages of pregnancy. L
3 – 4:30pm
Exercise for anxiety, depression and mood B4N
Lisa Champion
Lisa is a multi-talented educator, trainer and author with a passion for inspiring others to move with ease and integrity. She is co-creator of the PERFECT PRACTICE™ Training System and specialises in helping exercisers and athletes get their movement foundations right. As a director of Australian Fitness Network, and more recently as the founder of Fit for Good – the fitness industry's charitable foundation, she has positively influenced the fitness industry in Australia for more than 24 years.
Join Lisa to learn about the latest research into the effectiveness of exercise to combat anxiety, depression and low mood disorders. Whether it's to benefit those with diagnosed mood disorders, or simply to help manage the moodiness and stress that are a part of everyday life, you will come away with proven strategies to help your clients use exercise as a tool to manage mood. L
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Fun and effective group fitness for older adults B4Q
Paula Todd
A fitness professional for over 16 years, Paula brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her educational presentations. She is a group exercise instructor, gym instructor and personal trainer with a passion for working with older adults. Paula has also worked as a professional counsellor and social worker.
If you are looking for ideas to inspire and entertain your older adults whilst delivering first-class fitness training, this master class will tick all the boxes for you. Paula will take you through a 60 minute class and then discuss the class design and choreography, so you will understand not just the how, but also the WHY of what you are teaching in your classes. Loads of take-home value for instructors who work with 'fit active' clients. MC
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SUNDAY
8 – 9:30am
Equal, but not the same: considerations for training female clients C1H
Donal Carr & Cameron Nell
A personal trainer for 20 years, Donal is a C.H.E.K Faculty, Level 4, Holistic Lifestyle Coach 3 and director of Place of CHI, the Sydney-based international affiliate for the C.H.E.K Institute in Australia. Place of CHI runs advanced training programs and stocks all C.H.E.K products. Donal has been presenting internationally for over ten years.
Cameron Nell
A corrective high performance exercise kinesiologist and holistic lifestyle coach trained at the C.H.E.K Institute, Cameron also has extensive experience in neuro linguistic programming and Bowen therapy. He takes a holistic view to teaching, incorporating a range of modalities into an effective protocol to help his clients attain optimal health and vitality.
With an average 60% female clientele, it is essential for personal trainers to understand female clients' postural and biomechanical differences, as well as hormonal and nutritional requirements, in order to help them achieve their goals. Join Donal and Cameron for this exclusively female-focused session as they explore postural considerations; orthopaedic concerns; hormonal and nutritional considerations; and program design strategies. L
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The holy grail: how to influence client behaviour change C1N
Chad Timmermans
Chad's expertise is in the area of applied exercise psychology. Using his unique expertise, along with his background working as a personal trainer, he consults to gyms and personal training businesses in Australia, New Zealand and the US, helping fitness professionals understand the psychology of retention. He also works as a sport psychologist with professional teams and Olympic athletes.
Getting clients to do their homework is the ultimate challenge, and can make the difference between goals being reached or missed. Learn the fundamentals needed for client motivation; discover what to do when clients have discrepancies between what they want and how they behave; and explore the 'disconnected values' model of behaviour change. Empower clients by bringing motivation out of them, rather than forcing it upon them. L
Maximising fitness for teenage boys C1O
Toni Reinikainen
The Master Coach for the Australian Institute of Fitness in VIC and TAS, Toni has worked in the fitness industry for the past eight years. A strength coach and the director of TDR Fitness, he has worked with many regional and state sporting teams. Toni is currently completing postgraduate research in developing junior fitness qualities with the Brisbane Lions Football Academy.
Join Toni for this research-driven session examining the physical, cognitive and emotional development of boys between the ages of 10 and 16. Discover why chronological age is not a good factor on which to base programming for children and adolescents. Learn how to develop fitness programs to accommodate the wide variety of development levels within this age group, while maximising results. L
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1 – 2:30pm
Obesity: the brain hypothesis C2G
Paul Taylor
Paul is the creator of BioAge software, and the director of The Body-Brain Performance Institute, where he provides Peak Performance programs to executives in leading international companies. He is also the joint founder/owner of Acumotum, a Melbourne-based studio focusing on body and brain fitness. Paul has masters degrees in exercise science and in human nutrition and is completing a third masters in neuroscience.
Discover the latest scientific findings from the world of neuroscience, which demonstrate that not only is obesity a brain-based issue, but that it has much wider implications than we ever imagined. Paul presents research from his own clinical trial, proposing a solution to a wider problem that is important to every fitness professional. This session will truly open your mind to the critical role of the brain in combating obesity and improving fitness. L
Cardiovascular disease, blood pressure and exercise C2H
Suzanne Cox
Suzanne is an accredited exercise physiologist who works with a wide range clients in both clinical and gym environments. She is also a senior presenter at the Australian Institute of Fitness in NSW, and the founder of Absolute Conditioning. Suzanne is currently studying for a masters in exercise science (rehabilitation).
Cardiovascular disease is a prominent condition in today's society, and is often accompanied by other co-morbidities such as high blood pressure. Discover how you can play a key role in prevention and treatment. Suzanne investigates how cardiovascular disease influences exercise prescription and practical considerations for programming. Take home concepts to implement immediately with your clients. L
Fit for two: training for a healthy pregnancy C2N
Liz Dene
Liz is a nutritionist and exercise specialist with over 17 years' industry experience. She regularly presents for Byron Yoga and is a senior presenter for the Australian Institute of Fitness, NSW. She has worked with numerous organisations, from Australian Fitness Network to the Australian Rugby Union Wallabies team. Liz has also been a guest nutritionist on Channel 7's Morning Show and is currently pursuing a masters degree in human nutrition.
Join Liz to learn the latest research on training during pregnancy. Explore the physiology and mechanics of gestation and learn the best exercise choices from Pilates to resistance training and cardio conditioning. Walk away with an easy-to-follow exercise and nutrition program for each trimester. If you train this special group you can't afford to miss this session. L
| PLENARY SESSION SUNDAY • 3 – 4:30PM |
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| Change clients' thinking to change their world C3B Amanda Gore
Amanda Gore
With a degree in physical therapy, a major in psychology and expertise in group dynamics, neuro linguistics and occupational health, Amanda is a speaker like no other! Her thoughtful assessment of what it takes to lead, coach and inspire teams to outstanding results has made her one of the world's most sought-after experts in the field. Amanda blends her expertise in body, mind and spirit to show people how to become more effective and more joyful. By changing the way clients think, we can stimulate real and long lasting behaviour change. If all parties can agree on what needs to be done to reach a goal, why do these actions so often fail to materialise? Join Amanda as she discusses: drills for mind change; changing the way clients think about nutrition, exercise and themselves; self sabotage; and fear of failure and success. L P |
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