As part of our #WEAREAUSactive campaign, we continue to spotlight the remarkable stories of AUSactive members who are making a lasting impact in the exercise and active health industry.
This week, we are proud to feature Siona Fernandes, a Melbourne-based exercise professional whose journey spans continents, cultures and disciplines. From classical Indian dance to Olympic boxing, academic research to personalised coaching, Siona brings a deep, holistic understanding of movement and wellbeing to her work.
Her lived experience fuels her mission — showing that meaningful, individualised movement can transform both body and mind. As a migrant professional, she has built her practice from the ground up, balancing PhD research candidacy, client care and advocacy for culturally diverse communities.
Siona’s story reminds us that authenticity, resilience and curiosity are powerful tools for both personal growth and professional excellence. She continues to empower others not just to move better, but to live better.
Meet Siona Fernandes
How long have you been a member of AUSactive?
I’ve been a member of AUSactive since 2019, building on over ten years of service as a registered exercise professional in New Zealand’s exercise and fitness industry.
What motivated you to pursue a career in the exercise and active health industry?
My motivation continues to grow because it’s deeply rooted in lived experience. I’ve personally experienced how physical movement, when practised meaningfully, can transform both the body and the mind.
I began with classical Indian dance, Bharatanatyam, which I practised for nearly 17 years. It taught me early on the powerful connection between movement and holistic (mental, physical, cultural/traditional, spiritual) health. Later, after migrating to New Zealand, I took up competitive boxing. This challenged me physically and mentally, helping me understand high-performance training while pushing me to overcome fear and self-doubt.
Following my experience as an Olympic athlete, I pursued a Master’s in Sport and Exercise, which deepened my commitment to learning about exercise science and to advocate for physical movement as a vehicle for community health and wellbeing.
These experiences taught me that physical activity isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s about finding the right movement for each person, something meaningful, sustainable, and suited to their values, goals, and stage of life.
Now, I help channel that knowledge and passion into guiding others on their path to health and wellbeing supporting their measurable improvements. As an exercise professional and personal trainer, I design personalised sessions and programs tailored to meet client goals, whether helping youth develop lifelong mental skills and physical movement, or supporting adults to build functional strength, prevent injuries, and enhance their quality of life.
Seeing clients regain confidence, improve mobility, recover from, prevent, and stay injury-free, and achieve their active health, exercise, and sports performance goals fuels my commitment every day.
What qualifications do you hold?
My formal academic qualifications include:
- Master of Psychology
- Master of Sport and Exercise
- Bachelor of Performing Arts
- Doctoral Candidate (Sport, Exercise & Public Health)
Certifications (selected):
- Certificate in Personal Training
- Certificate in Fitness Instruction
What has your journey as an exercise professional looked like so far?
My journey as an exercise professional began in New Zealand. After enrolling in a Certificate of Personal Training and approaching the gym floor manager, I started as a gym instructor, and group fitness instructor, and eventually transitioned into personal training. During this time, I competed as an elite athlete balancing work and training followed by completing a Master’s in Sport and Exercise, which deepened my knowledge.
Now, as a registered exercise professional and personal trainer based in Melbourne, Australia, I offer cross-disciplinary insight to help adults achieve optimal fitness, health, and wellbeing through movement. I also mentor youth through tailored exercise sessions, encouraging not just physical activity, but also fostering resilience, confidence, and personal growth by sharing strategies and life lessons from my journey. Additionally, I advocate for community health through exercise and sport participation, a commitment informed by my PhD studies, which expands my contributions at the intersections of exercise, sport, and the public health sector in Australia.
What accomplishment are you most proud of, personally or professionally?
Personally:
- Starting and restarting despite numerous setbacks and failures.
- Conducting myself with honesty and diligence, guided by substance, not image.
- Living by the values of integrity and authentic expression, never compromising these in pursuit of achievements or the illusion of status and power.
- Remaining curious, avoiding shortcuts.
- Supporting and uplifting others along the way, even in small ways.
Professionally:
- A diverse professional journey across countries and cultures, spanning academic scholarships, Indian classical dance, Olympic-level sport, national level official, work as an exercise professional…
- Serving as an Olympic ambassador allowed me to witness and learn from the challenges and strengths of young people and offer strategies and support.
- Through personalised coaching sessions, I’ve helped people regain mobility, improve sports performance, and enhance their overall quality of life.
What has been your biggest challenge as an exercise professional?
As a migrant in a new country, I face the challenge of building a fitness practice without a local network or reputation. This was harder during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, I’ve been studying for a demanding PhD, balancing long hours of research with running personalised client sessions, all while managing limited income and work opportunities.
How did AUSactive help you overcome this challenge, if applicable?
AUSactive’s free, online, self-paced, and varied educational modules supported my ongoing professional development easing pressures during a time of academic commitments and restricted work capacity.
What would you advise for someone thinking about a career in the exercise and active health industry?
I’ve experienced that the real power of an exercise (and health) professional lies in the ability to make a lasting, positive impact, even if it’s with one person. That impact, when meaningful and sustainable, is invaluable.
To achieve this, both formal education and firsthand experience, as both a practitioner and an individual, are essential.
My advice:
- Begin with certificates and commit to a formal degree for deeper expertise and confidence.
- Combine study with real-world experience. Master what you learn, understand what works and why, before guiding others with authority.
- Prioritise genuine relationships and honesty over quick sales. Trust built over time delivers the strongest and most meaningful results.
“We're not just helping people move better;
we're empowering them to live better.”
What is the favourite part of your job?
What I value most is:
- The flexibility to create a sustainable work-life balance
- Witnessing real transformations in clients, from physical function and sports performance to overall health and wellbeing
- The ability to translate knowledge into personalised solutions, bringing deeper purpose and lasting fulfilment to my work.
What has been your highlight of being an AUSactive member?
Being invited to this spotlight has been a true highlight, acknowledging my journey in the exercise and active health industry. It’s both encouraging and empowering, especially as someone who has navigated new environments and cultures in making a new life in Australia. Many like me have left our home countries to build new lives here.
Such recognition by the industry fosters a sense of belonging, showing that our journey and contributions matter. AUSactive membership provides recognition that enhances credibility and sets a professional standard for how we operate in our industry. This is amplified by the warmth and support I’ve experienced from the AUSactive team – thank you.
📸 Snapshots from her journey:
- Performing as a classical Indian dancer
- Competing in Boxing at the 2012 Olympic Games
- An official national Australian Referee and Judge
- Inspiring youth through school visits as an Olympian
- Serving as a National Olympic Sport Ambassador
- Training and supporting her personal training clients
- Sharing knowledge as an academic speaker
- Celebrating her achievement as a Master of Sport and Exercise awardee and recently passing her doctoral candidacy examination
📷 Images © Siona Fernandes. Image #5 © Archivist Media.
Check out Siona's AUSactive profile here.
