Help Ensure Australia's Exercise and Active Health Workforce is Counted Correctly in the 2026 Census
On Tuesday 11 August 2026, Australians will participate in the national Census conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
To help members prepare for the 2026 Census, AUSactive encourages all exercise and active health professionals to review the 2026 Census Occupational Classification Guide. Developed in consultation with exercise and active health industry representatives, the guide helps professionals identify the occupation that best reflects their primary role when completing the Census.
Importantly, the Census provides a comprehensive snapshot of Australia's population. It also informs government planning, workforce development, policy decisions, skills funding, infrastructure investment and community services.
For the exercise and active health industry, the Census is a valuable opportunity to improve understanding of the size, diversity and composition of our national workforce. As a result, accurate occupation data helps strengthen industry representation and supports future planning.
Important: Use this guide as a reference and select the occupation that best reflects your primary professional role.
Why Has This Guide Been Developed?
Across the industry, employers, facilities, studios, franchises and organisations often use different job titles for similar roles.
For example, professionals may identify as:
- Personal Trainer
- Fitness Coach
- Fitness Trainer
Although these job titles are different, many professionals perform similar duties after completing a Certificate IV in Fitness.
However, if people use different occupation classifications in the Census, the data becomes less consistent. Consequently, governments and industry leaders may find it more difficult to understand the true size and characteristics of Australia's exercise and active health workforce.
This inconsistency can affect:
- Workforce planning
- Government policy
- Skills funding
- Industry advocacy
- Future workforce initiatives
For this reason, AUSactive developed the 2026 Census Occupational Classification Guide in consultation with exercise and active health industry representatives. Furthermore, the guide aligns recommended occupations with the Australian Bureau of Statistics' Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA).
Recommended Occupation Classifications
When completing the occupation section of the Census, select the occupation that best reflects the work you primarily perform.
| OSCA Code | OSCA Occupation Title | Common Workplace Job Titles |
|---|---|---|
| 462131 | Personal Trainer | Personal Trainer, Fitness Coach, Fitness Trainer, Mobile Trainer |
| 462131 | Gym Instructor | Gym Instructor, Fitness Instructor, Gym Floor Instructor |
| 462131 | Fitness Instructor | Group Fitness Instructor, Group Exercise Instructor, Barre Instructor, Tai Chi Instructor, Circuit Instructor, Group Exercise Leader, Boxing for Fitness Instructor |
| 462131 | Fitness Instructor | Aqua Exercise Instructor, Aqua Fitness Instructor, Water Exercise Instructor |
| 462131 | Fitness Instructor | Older Adult Exercise Instructor, Active Ageing Instructor, Seniors Fitness Instructor |
| 462131 | Fitness Instructor | Children's Activity Instructor, Kids Fitness Instructor, Children's Movement Instructor |
| 462131 | Fitness Instructor | Strength and Conditioning Coach / Trainer (with VET Fitness qualification) |
| 462231 | Pilates Instructor | Pilates Instructor, Clinical Pilates Instructor, Reformer Pilates Instructor, Pilates Teacher, Pilates Professional, Pilates Practitioner |
| 462232 | Yoga Teacher | Yoga Teacher, Yoga Instructor, Yoga Professional, Yoga Therapist |
| 262231 | Exercise Physiologist | Exercise Physiologist |
| 262232 | Exercise and Sports Scientist | Exercise Scientist, Sport Scientist, Sports Scientist |
| 161334 | Fitness Centre Manager | Fitness Centre Manager, Club Manager, Gym Manager, Studio Manager, Centre Manager, Area Manager |
Important Notes
Before completing your Census, keep these points in mind:
- Select the occupation that best reflects your primary professional role.
- Choose the role that represents most of your work if you perform multiple roles.
- Base your selection on your actual duties rather than your job title alone.
- Do not select business ownership unless it represents your primary role.
- Always use consistent occupation classifications to improve workforce data accuracy.
Why Accurate Classification Matters
Accurate workforce data benefits the entire exercise and active health industry.
In particular, it helps to:
- Improve understanding of the size and diversity of the workforce.
- Support industry advocacy and recognition.
- Inform workforce planning and future skills development.
- Strengthen evidence used in government funding and policy discussions.
- Demonstrate the contribution of exercise and active health professionals to Australia's health and wellbeing.
Ultimately, every Census response contributes to a stronger evidence base for the industry.
Therefore, by using the 2026 Census Occupational Classification Guide, you can help ensure that national statistics accurately represent Australia's exercise and active health workforce. In turn, this supports future policy decisions and strengthens advocacy for the industry.
Before You Complete Your Census
Before submitting your Census, review the 2026 Census Occupational Classification Guide and select the occupation that best reflects your primary professional role.
Together, we can build a more accurate picture of Australia's exercise and active health workforce.
