As part of our #WEAREAUSactive campaign, we continue to highlight the inspiring journeys of AUSactive members making a difference in the industry. 

This week, we are proud to feature Steven Halligan, a long-standing professional whose influence has spanned decades, shaped lives and contributed meaningfully to the growth and innovation of fitness in Australia. With a career rooted in purpose and sustained by passion, Steven’s journey reminds us what it means to evolve with integrity, adapt with resilience, and lead with heart. 

Meet Steven Halligan

How long have you been a member of AUSactive?

I’ve been a member since around 1992, originally joining when it was Fitness Australia. At that time, it was important for me to be registered professionally so I could operate with the proper insurance and stay connected to the standards of the industry. Over the years, my membership has been a constant throughout my career as the industry evolved. 

What motivated you to pursue a career in the exercise and active health industry?

Originally, like many teenagers, I started training to improve my own body shape and build confidence. But very quickly, I discovered how much I loved not just the physical side of fitness, but the way it positively changed people’s lives — their confidence, mental health, and overall wellbeing. That’s what inspired me to turn it into a career. 

What qualifications do you hold?

• Certificate III in Fitness 
• Certificate IV in Fitness 
• Fitness Leaders Certification 
• Zumba Instructor (including Zumba Gold) 
• Club Fiesta Instructor Certification 
• Chair Yoga Teacher Training 
• Senior Fitness Specialist Certifications 
• Mish Wright's Women's Health and Fitness Training 
• Jen Dugard’s Safe Return to Exercise Certification 
• Level 1 and Level 2 Female Fitness Specialist Certifications (FEO) 
• NDIS Registered Trainer — qualified to train clients with disabilities 
• CPR & First Aid 
• Diploma in Business Management 
• Early career Sports Psychology course (via adult education) 

In addition to my fitness qualifications, I’ve also had extensive real-world experience in business and leadership roles, corporate fitness partnerships, and business development positions that have greatly influenced my ability to run, grow, and scale a highly successful fitness business. 

What has your journey as an exercise professional looked like so far?

My journey in the exercise and active health industry has spanned over three decades and taken many forms, from hands-on personal training to corporate partnerships and now a thriving global online platform. I first entered the industry in 1990 after completing my initial Fitness Leaders course and began working in gyms across Coolangatta, Brisbane, and later in London, where I worked as an assistant gym manager, PT, and instructor (and even lived in the back room of the gym!). 

After returning to Australia, I worked for a fitness magazine called Oz Fitness Journal, which allowed me to stay deeply connected to the industry. I went back and fully updated my qualifications, completing Certificate III and IV again to make sure I was offering my clients the most current, highest-quality training. At that time, I started small — running outdoor sessions all over the Gold Coast, training people in parks, at the beach, and in their homes. Within just a couple of weeks I had 10 clients, and by the end of my first month I was up to 20, building a loyal client base from the ground up. 

Soon after, I opened my first personal training studio in the Oasis Shopping Centre, Broadbeach, which I successfully operated for five years. Life threw a few challenges my way, and after deciding to close the studio I moved the business back home, training clients from my purposely built home studio. While it felt like a step backward at the time, that period actually laid the foundation for what would later become the next major chapter of my business. 

As my reputation grew, I began to secure more high-profile corporate work, partnering with organisations like WeightWatchers, Suncorp, the Kokoda Challenge, AUSTAR, Foxtel, and Rebel Sport, where I was both their Business Development Manager and one of two of Australia's first-ever in-store personal trainers, piloting a completely new model of fitness delivery 

 I also built and ran my highly successful 12 Week Challenge, which became one of the Gold Coast’s most popular fitness programs, transforming hundreds of lives over eight years. Then, like many in the industry, COVID forced me to pivot again — this time fully online. What started as a necessity has since grown into a thriving global online fitness platform, where I now deliver over 70 live sessions a week for women aged 40+, across multiple countries. 

One of the most important and long-running parts of my career has been my work with Weight Watchers Australia and New Zealand. Over the past 20+ years, I’ve served as their go-to Trainer and during COVID became their national online trainer, helping thousands of women improve their health, fitness, and confidence. 

I have been recently approached by Fitness Education Online to collaborate with them to design and build an online course on how to successfully be an online trainer, I am currently working on and building this course. 

Today, I continue to build a strong, supportive, and inclusive online community where women of all ages, fitness levels, and locations can train safely, confidently, and consistently — even if they've never set foot in a gym. My journey has had its fair share of twists, setbacks, and reinventions, but every step has been driven by my passion for helping people improve their health and change their lives through fitness. 

What accomplishment are you most proud of, personally or professionally?

I’ve been fortunate to experience many proud moments across my career, and honestly, it’s hard to narrow it down to just one because they reflect different stages of my journey. 

Early on, opening my first studio in an exclusive area of the Gold Coast was a huge milestone. From there, launching and running the largest 12-Week Challenge on the Gold Coast — at one point hosting over 120 participants in a single round — was an incredibly rewarding experience, both professionally and personally. 

Later, transitioning online, I was honoured to run a live online session for Weight Watchers that reached 148 participants — a record that really demonstrated the power of virtual fitness and how many people we could reach and impact. Being appointed as Weight Watchers’ official trainer for Australia and New Zealand online was a career highlight and remains one of the most fulfilling roles I’ve had. 

Another huge moment was being asked by Rebel Sport to become their first-ever in-store personal trainer to pilot a new fitness concept for the company nationwide — a great example of how the business side of my career has allowed me to innovate and contribute in different ways to the industry. 

On the recognition side, being named AUSactive’s 2024 Group Exercise Instructor and Instructor of the Year, as well as winning the AUSactive 2023 Functional Fitness Trainer of the Year and People's Choice Small Business of the Year, has been a huge honour. But even before the wins, just being a finalist for multiple categories such as Personal Trainer of the Year and Group Exercise Instructor of the Year was an incredible privilege and acknowledgment of years of hard work. 

I am particularly proud of the long-term relationships I’ve built with my clients. Many of my clients have trained with me for over 20 years — including one client who’s a surgeon I’ve worked with for 21 years, and another who has trained with me for over 24 years. That kind of client loyalty and trust is something I’m extremely proud of, as it reflects not just good training, but strong relationships built on care, trust, and consistency. 

Each of these moments represents a different piece of the puzzle, but together they form a career I’m truly proud of — one where I’ve been able to help people, build a thriving business, and grow personally along the way. 

Perhaps the thing I’m most personally proud of though is my family – my wife and I have raised four incredible children into amazing young adults. 

What has been your biggest challenge as an exercise professional?

Like many in the fitness industry, one of the biggest ongoing challenges has always been income consistency. Especially in the early days, there were times when business fluctuated and financial pressures were real. But as I became more established and built stronger long-term relationships with clients, that stability gradually grew. Still, after more than 30 years, it’s a reality that fitness professionals often face — but one I’ve learned to navigate and adapt to. 

There have also been some very unique and extremely difficult moments. When I owned my studio at the Oasis Shopping Centre, a serious weather event caused water to leak into the ceiling, flooding my entire studio — quite unusual given it was on the second floor! That incident actually made the front page of the Gold Coast newspaper at the time. 

Also during the time I owned my studio, unfortunately, one of my clients was killed in the Bali bombing. It was extremely difficult to deal with emotionally at the time. 

But nothing compares to what happened during COVID. My business was hit very early on — in fact, I was told I was the first fitness facility in Australia to be directly impacted by a COVID outbreak. One of my clients returned from overseas and unknowingly spread the virus to 7 of my clients, including my wife, who ended up hospitalised alongside Tom Hanks on the Gold Coast during those first early cases. Seven of my clients were diagnosed, and at that time, there were only around 400 known cases across the entire country. It was absolutely devastating personally and professionally. 

However, I’ve always believed that every dark period has a silver lining if you're willing to adapt. Fortunately, the long-standing relationships I had built through my 17 years of volunteering with Weight Watchers — speaking at meetings and educating their members on exercise — opened a door. I was trialled and selected to become their national online trainer for Australia and New Zealand, which became one of the most important and fulfilling parts of my career. This opportunity allowed me to quickly transition my business fully online and continue serving my clients, even in the middle of a global crisis. 

The fitness industry can be challenging, unpredictable, and at times very tough — but when I look back at the people I’ve helped, the lives I’ve seen transform, and the relationships I’ve built, I wouldn’t trade it for anything else. The tough times have only made me stronger and more grateful for the incredible career I’ve been able to create. 

How did AUSactive help you overcome this challenge, if applicable?

One of the most valuable things AUSactive has done for me came when I first applied for their awards. I remember speaking with one of the staff, Billie, who told me that going through the awards process was not just about recognition — it was a chance for real reflection on my business. At the time, I didn’t fully understand the impact of that statement, but as I went through the application process, it forced me to step back and truly evaluate my business: where I was strong, where I could improve, and where there were gaps I had previously overlooked. 

That process was a turning point. Over the past few years, I’ve been able to identify and strengthen areas of my business that I probably wouldn’t have addressed otherwise. As a result, my business has grown stronger, more structured, and more resilient — and I credit the AUSactive awards process for prompting that level of honest self-assessment. 

Beyond that, the ongoing educational seminars, webinars, and resources provided by AUSactive have helped me expand my knowledge across different areas of the fitness industry that I hadn’t previously paid much attention to. I’ve enjoyed these opportunities to stay current and continue developing as a fitness professional, even after more than 30 years in the industry. 

One of the stand out AUSactive seminars was with Martine Dines for the Cancer Council talking about checking breasts for lumps. She said about wearing a Pink shirt once a month to remind clients to check their breasts, the next day I organised to get shirts made up and unfortunately since then I have had three women find lumps, one of my clients had to have a double mastectomy, however it has more than likely saved three women’s lives! 

The team at AUSactive have been phenomenal — always supportive, kind, and willing to help. I’ve truly enjoyed working with them more closely over the past few years and I feel extremely proud to be a member. AUSactive has not only helped me professionally but also given me a sense of belonging to an organisation that genuinely cares about supporting and uplifting fitness professionals. 

What would you advise for someone thinking about a career in the exercise and active health industry?

First and foremost: get qualified. The foundation of your career is proper education and certification. But once you're qualified, understand that you'll never know it all — you must keep learning, stay curious, and be open to growth throughout your entire career. Stay humble. Always be willing to listen to others, whether that’s your clients, peers, or other professionals. 

The fitness industry isn’t always easy — there will be ups and downs, and you will have setbacks. But if you truly want to build a long-lasting career, you need to develop the courage to get back up every time you're knocked down. Stay consistent, keep working hard, and above all, believe in what you're doing. 

Your clients are everything. They’re not just customers — they are real people who trust you with their health, their wellbeing, and often their confidence. Be kind, be supportive, and always put your clients first. The relationships you build will be one of the most rewarding parts of your career and will be the true foundation of your business. 

One piece of advice I feel very strongly about is the importance of building professional relationships with other health professionals — including physiotherapists, dietitians, and allied health practitioners. This is the direction our industry needs to go. We must build bridges between the fitness industry and other health sectors to ensure we are truly supporting our clients from every angle. By working together, we elevate the entire profession and help our industry grow stronger, more credible, and more respected. 

The fitness industry is not a side hustle. It's a real profession that can have an incredible impact on people's lives if you take it seriously, stay committed, and continue to evolve. 

What is the favourite part of your job?

Without a doubt, it’s the people. I absolutely love my clients — they’ve become not just clients, but true friends and, in many cases, like extended family. Over the years, I’ve been privileged to be part of their lives well beyond the gym or the training sessions. One client who first joined me as a single woman is now married with two children — she even asked me to be the MC at her wedding. We’ve celebrated milestone birthdays together, attended each other’s events, and shared many special moments outside of training. 

Another client has trained with me for 24 years. I’ve trained her husband and children as well, been part of her family’s weddings, and shared in so many important chapters of their lives. In fact, her husband waited seven years before starting to train with me — and now I’ve trained the entire family. 

These types of relationships are what make this job so incredibly rewarding. Many of my clients had never stepped into a gym before they started with me. They’re just everyday people doing extraordinary things, and watching their confidence, strength, and lives transform is something I’ll never take for granted. 

It’s very easy to get out of bed every morning when you truly love what you do. I love the challenge of running my business, I love seeing lives change through fitness, and most of all, I love the wonderful people I have the privilege of training every single day. 

The online direction of my business has given me freedom to train from literally anywhere. I’ve continued to train my clients while I’ve been in Cairns, Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle, Callala, Grafton, Sunshine Coast etc 

What has been your highlight of being an AUSactive member?

There have been some incredible highlights during my time with AUSactive that I’ll always be grateful for. In 2023, I was fortunate enough to be a finalist for Personal Trainer of the Year, Group Exercise Instructor of the Year, and Fitness Leader of the Year. That same year, I also won both the State and National People’s Choice Small Business Awards, along with being named Functional Fitness Trainer of the Year. 

In 2024, I was again honoured to be a finalist for Personal Trainer of the Year and People’s Choice Fitness Professional of the Year and ultimately won the National Group Exercise and Fitness Instructor of the Year Award. 

These have all been huge career highlights for me, but what’s made it even more special is the experience I’ve had working with AUSactive as an organisation. The entire team has always been kind, supportive, and genuinely invested in the success of its members. It’s wonderful to have a governing body that not only cares about its members but actively works to move the industry forward. 

I truly believe the fitness industry is stronger, more professional, and continuing to evolve in the right direction thanks to the work AUSactive is doing. I’m very proud to be a member and to be part of that growth. 

Check out Steven's AUSactive profile here.