The AUSactive National Awards recognise excellence across a diverse range of categories, celebrating those who are driving positive change, raising industry standards, fostering healthier communities, and delivering outstanding outcomes for Australians.
This year saw a record number of submissions received from across Australia, reflecting the continued growth, innovation, and impact of the industry. The quality of entries was exceptionally high, with finalists selected following a rigorous judging process conducted by an independent panel of industry experts.
Being named a national finalist is a significant achievement and a testament to the passion, professionalism, and dedication demonstrated by individuals and organisations across the sector.
Congratulations to Our 2026 Finalists
View the full list of finalists below.
2026 Individual Category Finalists:
2026 Aqua Exercise Professional of the Year Finalists
- Rhiannon Czajkowski-Hyde
- Sebastien Drothiere
- Marlee King
- Pete Levy
- Kellie Varlet
- Lisa Westlake
- Tilly Wong
2026 Educator of the Year Finalists
- Suz Baxter
- Carolyn Ennis
- Claudia Li
- Bex Lock
- Danielle Mondo
- Karl Palin
- Louise Taube
- Mish Wright
- Michael Zorz
2026 Group Exercise Instructor and/or Leader of the Year Finalists
- Amy Anderson
- Charell Berg
- Duane Berg
- Alicia von Brandenstein
- Benjamin Brown
- Margie Brown
- Catherine Christ
- Rosetta Ferraro
- Sarah Ford
- Corinne Grant
- Steven Halligan
- Stephanie McKay
- Tammie Rafferty
- Angus Richardson
2026 Manager of the Year Finalists
- Khalid Al Khatib
- Jordan Ashley
- Kate Corbett
- Roddy Faapito
- Cherie Huxley
- Jayne McKenzie
- Brooke Wilgrove
- Jack Zhang
2026 Personal Trainer of the Year Finalists
- Lauren Antonenko
- Caterina Bozzi
- Benjamin Brown
- Sharri Castellari
- Catherine Christ
- Belinda Fadl
- Peter Gardiner
- Anthony Gauci
- Steven Halligan
- Pete Levy
- Alanna Mauff
- Stephanie McKay
- Tammie Rafferty
- Kereshmeh Roodbari
- Natalie Terry-Bedwell
2026 Pilates Professional of the Year Finalists
- Lauren Antonenko
- Kath Banks
- Charell Berg
- Sarah Conte
- Andrea Creighton
- Ellesse Hawkins
- Jill Healy-Quintard
- Simon Ngo
2026 Sales Excellence Award Finalists
- Sally Anderson
- Tegan Bower
- Amanda Duckitt
- Kristy McDougall
2026 Student of the Year Finalists
- Sienna Austin
- Jody Golchert
- Gabrielle Angel Goco
- Mumin Gungordu
- Leah James
- Katrina Krongold
- Briana Learmont
- Chantal Llamas
- Amy Maguire
- Evelyn Moreno
- Laura Semple
- Naduni Wijethunga
- Gabby Wilson
2026 Yoga Professional of the Year Finalists
- Samantha Hewinson
- Lisa Randall
- Simon Ngo
- Karl Palin
- Jill Healy-Quintard
2026 Business Category Finalists:
2026 CPD Provider of the Year Finalists
- Australian Combat & Exercise
- Barre Body
- Cycle Collective
- Diabetes Qualified (the training arm of Diabetes Australia)
- Fitness Education Online
- Level Up Education – BFT
- Polestar Pilates Australia
- The Menopause Training Matrix
- Unite Health
- Upstate Studios
2026 Franchise Group/Brand of the Year Finalists
- 24fit
- Anytime Fitness Australia
- BFT (Body Fit Training)
- Club Pilates
- Fernwood Fitness
- Fitness Cartel Australia
- Fitness Enhancement Personal Training
- Genesis Health + Fitness
- Jetts Fitness
- KX Pilates
- Plus Fitness
- Snap Fitness Australia
- Stepz Fitness Australia
- Virgin Active
- World Gym Australia
2026 Franchisee of the Year Finalists
- Adam Kennedy, World Gym Chullora
- Brenton Williamson, Genesis Health + Fitness Lawnton
- Brooke Wilgrove, Club Pilates Fortitude Valley
- Danielle Francis, Fitness Enhancement Personal Training Springwood
- Damien Patrick, Genesis Redlynch
- John Pirlo, Genesis Health + Fitness Pirlo Group
- Kathie Long, Fernwood Fitness Toowoomba
- Kim Rimmer, Fernwood Fitness Woonona
- Larni Mailer, Fernwood Fitness North Lakes and Morayfield
- Michael James and Cliff Forster, Fitness Cartel Health Clubs Mackay
- Paul Panagiotidis & Kylie Reeves, Plus Fitness Corrimal
2026 Independent Business of the Year Finalists
- 5th Element Wellness
- All Aerobics Fitness
- Aquafit Health Fitness Wellbeing
- Aquatics and Recreation Victoria
- Chris Wilson Fitness Studio
- Cityfit Bathurst
- Core24 Health Clubs
- Deadlifts & Deathmetal
- Gym on King
- Halligan's Fitness
- Inna Essence Pilates and Yoga Studio
- Inner Soul Physical Rehabilitation
- Invictus 5
- Kangatraining Australia
- Lifestyle Pilates & Rehabilitation Studio Pty Ltd
- North Queensland Athlete Development
- One Big Heart
- Pace at Sleeman
- Vector Health and Performance
- Xcell Health & Fitness
2026 Leisure Centre of the Year Finalists
- Aquafit Health Fitness Wellbeing
- Aqualife and Leisurelife
- Aquamotion
- City of Armadale – Armadale Fitness and Aquatic Centre
- City of Canning Leisureplexes
- City of Melville LeisureFit
- City of Cockburn – Cockburn Aquatic & Recreation Centre
- Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre
- Macleod Recreation & Fitness Centre
- Northcote Aquatic & Recreation Centre
- Summit Aquatic and Leisure
- The Y WA – Serpentine Jarrahdale Community Recreation Centre
2026 Multiservice Business of the Year Finalists
- 5th Element Fitness
- Aquafit Health Fitness Wellbeing
- Ashburton Pool & Recreation Centre (The Y)
- City of Melville LeisureFit
- Fairfield City Leisure Centres
- Fernwood Fitness
- Fernwood Women's Health Clubs – Toowoomba
- Fitness Cartel Australia
- Genesis Health + Fitness Cooks Hill at The Parc
- Genesis Health and Fitness Melton
- Macquarie University Sport and Aquatic Centre
- The Parks Recreation & Sports Centre
- The Y WA – Serpentine Jarrahdale Community Recreation Centre
- World Gym Toowoomba
- Xcell Health & Fitness
2026 Pilates Business of the Year Finalists
- Awaken Pilates and Yoga
- Fleur Wellbeing
- Harmony Pilates Studio
- In Balance Education
- KX Pilates
- Soulful Pilates
- Village Pilates
2026 Quality Accredited Business of the Year Finalists
- Aqualink Nunawading
- Aqualink Box Hill
- Ashburton Pool and Recreation Centre
- Boroondara Sports Complex
- Brunswick Baths
- Fawkner Leisure Centre
- Hawthorn Aquatic & Leisure Centre
- Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre
- Monash Sport Fitness Centre Caulfield
- Monash Sport Fitness Centre Clayton
- Monash Sport Fitness Centre Peninsula
- Northcote Aquatic & Recreation Centre
- Pace at Sleeman
- Port Hedland Leisure
2026 Yoga Business of the Year Finalists
- CorePlus School of Movement
- Yoga Flow Teacher Training
2026 Community Category Finalists:
2026 Industry Innovation Award Finalists
- 3D Measure Me
- A State of Ride
- City of Kingston – Waves Leisure Centre
- Genesis Health + Fitness
- Halligan's Fitness
- In Balance Education
- Innovation Academy: Circular Economy (City of Boroondara & The Y)
- MASEPA MANAI – MANAI Wellness & Nutrition
- MumSafe
- Rainbow Roos AU
2026 Mental Health Awareness Award Finalists
- Charell Berg
- Kangatraining Australia
- Rainbow Roos AU
- Snap Fitness Plainland
- World Gym Chullora – ‘Everyone Deserves to Train’ Scholarship Program
2026 Most Inclusive and/or Diverse Program Finalists
- ActiveStrongerBetter
- Fit Your Ability
- Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre – The Y
- Halligan's Fitness
- Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre – Ukrainian Refugee Aquatic Program
- Rainbow Roos AU
- Small Goods Movement
- Snap Fitness Plainland
- Stay Steady: Gentle Exercise & Fall Prevention Program with Amy
2026 Social Value & Community Impact Award Finalists
- ActiveStrongerBetter
- BB Fit
- City of Wanneroo – Wanneroo Aquamotion
- Fernwood Fitness
- Halligan's Fitness
- Kamal Bhandari
- Kangatraining Australia
- One Big Heart
- Rainbow Roos AU Inc
- Redefine Fitness
- Small Goods Gym
- Snap Fitness Plainland
- Town of Port Hedland
- World Gym Toowoomba
- YMCA South Australia
2026 Industry Supplier Category Finalists:
2026 Best Commercial Cardio Equipment Supplier of the Year Finalists
- Drax Australia
- Dynamo Fitness Australia
- NovoFit
2026 Best Strength Equipment Supplier of the Year Finalists
- Drax Australia
- Dynamo Fitness Australia
- gym80 International
- Matrix Fitness
- NovoFit
2026 Best Wellness Equipment Supplier of the Year Finalists
- Brauer Swim
- Drax Australia
- Pilates Reformers Australia
- Refined Wellness
- Technogym
- WellnessSpace Brands
- Your Reformer
2026 Most Innovative & Best Technology Integration Supplier of the Year Finalists
- 3D Measure Me
- ABC Fitness
- Drax Australia
- Evolt
- HOOX Fitness Systems
- NovoFit
- Perfect Gym Solutions
- Technogym
- Your Reformer
2026 People’s Choice Category Finalists:
2026 People’s Choice Registered Professional of the Year Finalists
- Amy Anderson
- Emily Paton
- Kara Sleigh
- Kellie Varlet
- Emma Bunting
- Sharri Castellari
- Tammie Rafferty
- Tilly Wong
2026 People’s Choice Large Business of the Year Finalists
- City of Melville LeisureFit
- City of Cockburn – Cockburn Aquatic & Recreation Centre
- Fernwood Fitness Tuggeranong
- Fernwood Toowoomba
- Fitness Cartel Australia
- Macquarie University Sport and Aquatic Centre
- World Gym Toowoomba
2026 People’s Choice Medium Sized Business of the Year Finalists
- Fernwood Women's Health Clubs – Waurn Ponds
- Strive Motion Pty Limited
- The Y WA – Serpentine Jarrahdale Community Recreation Centre
2026 People’s Choice Small Business of the Year Finalists
- 3D Measure Me
- BFT Cranbourne
- Club Fiesta
- Halligan's Fitness
- Blue Phoenix Health and Fitness
- Soulful Pilates
- Tathra Beach Personal Training Studio
2026 Student’s Choice Education Provider of the Year Finalists
- FIT College
- Pilates International Training Centre
- Women's Fitness Education
Celebrate With Us at the Gala
Winners will be announced at the 2026 AUSactive National Awards Gala on Friday, 11 September 2026, at the iconic Sydney Town Hall.
The Gala is the premier celebration of Australia's active health and exercise industry, bringing together exercise professionals, business owners, educators, suppliers, partners, and industry leaders from across the country for an evening of recognition, networking, and celebration.
Tickets are now on sale: Purchase Gala Tickets
