Luke Maddan - Diploma of fitness - Specialist

Luke Maddan: My name is Luke Maddan. We're currently sitting in the group exercise studio of Loftus TAFE where I completed my Diploma of Recreation Fitness. This was the foundation of my tertiary education where I went from here into university studies where I completed a Bachelor and Masters of Osteopathy. Osteopathy is a hands-on approach to any musculoskeletal condition. We will treat any person with any musculoskeletal injury of any age. The role TAFE played in my career path was developing a foundation of my anatomy and physiology training. This training also allowed me to receive credits in my university degrees. It's created the network that I have now of personal trainers who I refer to and who refer to me, and it was my stepping stone into the field of rehabilitation, which then guided me towards osteopathy. I think the difference between TAFE and university and the role it plays in further education and your career path is really the hands-on learning aspect. TAFE gives you hands-on skills that you can utilise from the day you step out of the tertiary learning environment. The qualifications I received at TAFE that are now perceived within the fitness industry are up there with the best. There are a lot of fitness courses that are offering a qualification within two months, within eight weeks, within six weekends, a short time for a lot of money but you're losing a lot of the information and clinical skills and clinical reasoning and experience that you would gain from a TAFE education. If you are considering a career in the health and fitness industry, TAFE is the ideal place to start. It is hands-on learning, it teaches you what you will need in the real world and you can enrol now.