Meet the highly qualified and experienced trainers who make up the Australian College of Sport & Fitness teaching team.
This team is made up of highly skilled, qualified and passionate trainers who bring with them years of experience. In addition, most of this team still actively work in the fitness industry on a day to day basis. This ensures the latest knowledge, trends and know-how is delivered to you as a student.
We often say our trainers are more like ‘coaches’ than teachers, as they all see their role as coaching each student toward their goal of a new career in fitness.
Check out our online tutor team below!
Rob Lyon
- Bachelor of Exercise Science Degree
- Strength and Conditioning Coach and Cardiovascular Technician
- 17 years Fitness Industry experience
- 9 years teaching with ACSF
My message for aspiring students wanting to get into the Fitness Industry:
“Be prepared to be a sponge and seek out mentors, get a broad range of experience across all disciplines in the first couple of years before finding your passion and niche – and fall in love with early mornings and late nights!”
Rob is an exercise physiologist with over 17 years’ experience in the industry. He is a partner in ATLETA (www.atleta.com.au) – providing exclusive mobile training services in the eastern suburbs of Sydney.
Rob’s experience has led him throughout many areas in the field of health and fitness, from small scale gyms, strength and conditioning coaching and team sport training to large scale corporate fitness centres in a management capacity, as well as living and working in the medical field in the US in Arizona performing cardiovascular stress tests on the Phoenix Suns NBA team in 2009.
Rob’s believes his greatest achievement during his time in the Fitness Industry is lasting 17 years without getting burnt out. He has a diversified company focusing on corporate health, personal training and fitness education which really helps as it never gets stale.
Rob also contributes as a fitness writer for publications such as AskMen and CLEO. Rob brings a wealth of knowledge, passion, experience and desire to the role of an online fitness mentor and tutor.
Ange Le Scala
Certificate III/IV in Fitness, Diploma of Fitness
Group Fitness and Personal Trainer, Pilates, Lifeguard
Over 35 years experience in Group and Personal Training
20 years Fitness Teaching experience
My message for aspiring students wanting to get into the Fitness Industry:
“Be clear about your goals and focus on them”
Ange is a vastly experienced fitness professional, with over 35 years experience within the Group and Personal Training field and over 20 years experience as a fitness teacher.
Ange’s interest in fitness started at the age of 17 while attending Group Fitness classes at her local gym. Since then, Ange has attained both her Certificate III and IV in Fitness, as well as her Diploma of Fitness. Ange attends the gym 7 days a week and decided she could do what she loved and get paid for it as well.
Ange’s highlight of her time in the Fitness Industry is becoming the Group Fitness Coordinator of Melbourne University Sports. Her greatest achievement is presenting 2 sessions at Filex, our Fitness Industry Convention in Sydney, and presenting at the University of Melbourne Professional Staff conference.
Ange has a keen passion for Aqua and Pilates associated disciplines, and has previously worked as a Pool Lifeguard and First Aid facilitator.
Chris Shaw
- Bachelor of Science (Honours) Sports Therapy
- 4 years teaching experience
- Qualified Personal Trainer for 12 years
- Post Graduate Diploma of Education
My message for aspiring students wanting to get into the Fitness Industry:
“I believe that you are your own unique selling point and you should utilize that. Remain true to yourself and why you wanted to be a trainer in the first place. The right clientele will gravitate to you.“
Chris has a countless amount of experience in the fitness industry. He has completed his Honours in Bachelor of Science Sports Therapy, Post Graduate Diploma of Education and Certificate III and IV in Fitness among many other qualifications. He has previously lectured on two degrees in England and has taught Cert III, Cert IV and Diploma in Fitness, alongside Cert IV in Massage and Diploma of Remedial Massage here in Australia.
At age 27 Chris underwent several brain surgeries and came close to losing his life. He was told that he wouldn’t be able to lift more than a bag of sugar for 18 months and should choose another career. He returned to University to study teaching and developed a passion for it. It has many similarities to coaching which is why he found it an easy transition. Despite defying the medical expectations of medical professionals and making a full recovery, teaching remains his passion. Chris enjoys helping the next generation of trainers learn from his mistakes and start with a greater knowledge base than he did.
Melissa Wilkinson
- Certificate III/Certificate IV Fitness
- 5 years experience as a personal trainer
- 3 years fitness teaching experience
- Health coach and mind-body practitioner
My message for aspiring students wanting to get into the Fitness Industry:
“Never stop learning and try every form of training no matter what your interests are”
Melissa started out in the Fitness Industry as a health coach and mind-body practitioner helping other to achieve their goals and dreams. After many years of strength and conditioning training, Melissa was able to connect body re-composition training to functional strength where her clients would not only learn to lift but also improve their body and mind for true lifestyle change.
Melissa has achieved her Certificate III and Certificate IV in Fitness along with a number of other degrees. She began working in the Fitness Industry as she has a passion for training and wanted to help others achieve their personal goals.
Melissa’s greatest achievement during her time working in the Fitness industry is helping mothers and women who never thought a dead-lift or overhead press is an exercise for them due to mobility restrictions or lack of self confidence. These women ended up lifting more than their body weight in core lifts whilst achieving the health and physique they desired.
Renee McCance
- Over 9 years teaching experience
- Master of Human Nutrition
- Bachelor of Education (Physical Education)
- Certificate III & Certificate IV in Fitness
My message for aspiring students wanting to get into the Fitness Industry:
“Have a point of difference to everyone else in the industry to stand out from others, and don’t forget the importance of the basics when delivering programs for clients – this is what makes them feel like they are receiving a more specialised/personalised service”
Renee has owned a PT business since 2011, has worked as a gym instructor at gyms in both Victoria and Queensland, as taught face to face fitness courses for a number of years and has worked as a PE/Health Teacher. Renee has completed a Master of Human Nutrition, a Bachelor of Education (Physical Education), and her Certificate III and Certificate IV in Fitness.
Renee was introduced to the Fitness Industry at a young age as her mother was a Fitness Instructor and used to attend her classes with her. She has also been involved in sports at many levels from a young age, and therefore grew an interest in understanding more about how to become better through more specific knowledge.
Sarah Gulyamova
Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise & Sports Science)
Lead Trainer and Assessor (Fitness), Level 2 Weightlifting Coach
Over 15 years experience in Group and Personal Training
Over 10 years Fitness Teaching experience
Sarah is an enthusiastic and passionate fitness professional with over 10 years fitness teaching experience.
Sarah’s passion lies in Professional Weightlifting and strength and conditioning, with over 15 years experience as a personal trainer and coach.
Sarah and her partner own and run the Atletika Weightlifting gym in Redfern Sydney, specializing in Olympic Weightlifting, strength and conditioning and personal training. Sarah enjoys working with older populations to achieve lifestyle and well-being goals.
