Statement from Mr Robert Hornsey

CEO Sage Institute of Education

3 March 2016
At Sage we pride ourselves on providing a high quality education across fitness, massage, aged care and child care,
preparing our students for a successful career post-graduation. Our group of companies have been training fitness
professionals for over 20 years.
The VET Accredited Course 10067NAT Diploma of Fitness Coaching was accredited by ASQA on 1 July 2015.
Accredited courses are developed to address skill requirements for industry, enterprise, education, legislative or
community needs where these are not covered in nationally endorsed training packages. There are more than 80
endorsed training packages. Together, these contain in excess of 1500 qualifications, 17,000 units of competency and
1200 skill sets (the National Register training.gov.au contains a list of all training package products). A course
cannot be accredited if it aims to address outcomes already covered by a qualification, a skill set, or units of
competency from an endorsed training package. In this case, an RTO should apply to add the relevant qualification,
skill set or units of competency to its scope of registration to enable it to meet these outcomes. If a course aims to
address outcomes that are not covered by a qualification, a skill set or units of competency from an endorsed training
package, it may be appropriate to apply to accredit a new course.
In relation to the VET Accredited Course 10067NAT Diploma of Fitness Coaching in light of the release of a new
Fitness Industry Training Package late in 2015 ASQA has written to the course developers asking them review the
VET Accredited Course. This course was accredited by ASQA on 1 July 2015 and is current until 30 June 2017. At the
time of accreditation, the course owner was advised a review of the course was required upon the endorsement of
the Diploma of Fitness qualification in the revised Fitness Industry Training Package. This review is still underway and
the course owner is working with ASQA presently. This is a normal process when a revised industry training package is
released that could have an impact on a VET Accredited Course. Sage Institute of Fitness is a Registered Training
Organisation (RTO) that delivers this VET Accredited Course. After the VET Accredited Course appeared on the
National Register, Sage made an application to ASQA to have the accredited course added to its scope, which was
approved by ASQA on 21 July 2015.
Sage Institute of Fitness delivers its Fitness Diploma program on-campus, face-to-face over a period of at least 12
months. Our Sydney campus provides access to all required equipment during the duration of its training courses. As
stated in the student handbook, Sage is committed to providing facilities and learning resources appropriate to the
learning and assessment needs of students. Where equipment is not located within the training premises, it is made
available via arrangement with commercial fitness centres in the immediate vicinity of training classrooms.
We also require our students to undertake a minimum of 120 hours of workplace experience and assist students to
locate suitable work placement. Such training is high cost in comparison to short course delivery and online offerings
common in the vocational sector which is reflected in the fees.
We have an open and honest communication system within Sage for both staff and students and are always happy to
discuss any concerns or issues. As part of every business, you will always unfortunately encounter staff and students
that will be negative, but the overwhelming response from our staff and students nationally is that we provide both a
positive working environment and a great, safe place for students to learn.

sage INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION

Level 22, 120 Spencer Street, Melbourne Victoria, 3000
t: 1300 833 855 f: 03 8561 7795

The success of our students speaks for itself. The founders of Sage have completed in excess of 15,000 students over
the last 20 years under the brands Lifestyle Fitness; Australian Institute of Fitness (AIF) via short, accelerated,
blended training and Australian Institute of Massage (AIM), in Victoria and Tasmania; and Sage Institute of Fitness,
Sage Institute of Child Care, Sage Institute of Massage and Sage Institute of Aged Care, that deliver fully on-campus,
face-to-face training with extensive work placement requirements. This has resulted in thousands of job placements
across the country. As part of our course offerings, we work with students to assist with job placement postgraduation and our courses are unquestionably recognised in the industry. Some fitness organisations, such as Fitness
First have a preference for students who have graduated from one particular RTO, which they have partnered with
interstate.
Sage Institute of Fitness is currently graduating students from the Diploma of Fitness (SIS50213). The leading fitness
industry registering body is Fitness Australia. Upon graduation, holders of this qualification are eligible to register to
become a Registered Exercise Professional (REP) with Fitness Australia. This can be confirmed by visiting the Fitness
Australia website (fitness.org.au) or contacting them by telephone (1300 211 311).
The VET Accredited Course 10067NAT Diploma of Fitness Coaching is a new qualification. Sage will not be graduating
any students with this qualification until later this year, as this program runs for a minimum of 12 months, face-toface learning. Students are required to complete a minimum of 120 hours of work placement; as opposed to other
fitness providers who are delivering a Certificate III in Fitness plus a Certificate IV in Fitness in as little as 10 weeks
(FIAFitnation) and 14 weeks (AIF).
In respect of registration, Sage has been working with Fitness Australia as they plan how they register graduates of
non-training package courses like the Diploma of Fitness Coaching.
Sage Institute of Fitness delivers fitness qualifications both training package and accredited nationally. We are a
proven, established vocational education provider, committed to delivering on-campus, face-to-face training courses
that meet the requirements of industry employers. Sage Institute of Fitness has no plans to cease delivering fitness
qualifications. The qualification of Sage students is not in doubt. Sage students can rest assured that Sage is
committed to delivering its fitness courses into the future.
In relation to the court case, there were three proceedings commenced in the New South Wales Supreme Court and
heard concurrently, being proceedings 2014/85141; 2014/299981 and 2014/300068. Two of the proceedings
principally related to a dispute in relation to varied licence fees for the Australian Institute of Fitness and whether
those fees were levied properly or in breach of agreements were oppressive. The court found that the varied licence
fees were properly levied and were not oppressive.
The third proceeding concerned claims against Sage Institute of Fitness by the AIF National body for breaches of
trademark in relation to establishing Sage Institute of Fitness and against myself and Vicki Tuchtan in relation to
claims that we had breached duties to AIF as Directors (Vicki Tuchtan as an alternate director) in establishing a
competing Sage Institute of Fitness business. In the Sage proceeding, the breach of trademark claims failed and the
passing off claims were abandoned during the hearing. There was a limited finding that establishment Sage Institute
of Fitness was a breach of duty to AIF, and as a result that Sage Institute of Fitness as the recipient of the benefit of
the breach was also liable. The claim failed against Mrs Tuchtan. The relief against Sage Institute of Fitness and myself
requires an account of profits of Sage Institute of Fitness for a limited period from commencement up to November
2015.
A notice of intention to appeal the judgment in all three cases has been filed. It is expected the appeal will be heard in
the second half of 2016.
sage INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION
Level 22, 120 Spencer Street, Melbourne Victoria, 3000
t: 1300 833 855 f: 03 8561 7795