Fitness suppliers and services

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The Fair Trading (Fitness Industry Code of Practice) Regulations 2020 (WA) (the Fitness Code) applies to all fitness suppliers who are carrying on the business of supplying fitness services. It is very important that members of the fitness industry in Western Australia understand and comply with the Fitness Code. 

This mandatory code specifies standards to:

  • ensure there are appropriate standards of service in the fitness industry
  • encourage and maintain consumer confidence in the fitness industry
  • support and promote the fitness industry.

What is a fitness supplier?

A fitness supplier is a business or individual that provides a fitness service. 

For example, a fitness supplier may be:

  • an owner of a gym
  • a franchisee of a fitness centre
  • a person operating a business as a personal trainer
  • a fitness instructor.

Suppliers of a fitness service do not include:

  • registered doctors
  • physiotherapists
  • services provided by an educational institution exclusively for students or staff
  • businesses that provide the hire of sporting facilities such as basketball courts
  • martial arts schools
  • dance schools
  • swimming facilities that provide a swimming pool only and no other fitness service.

What is a fitness service?

A fitness service can include:

  • an exercise screening
  • an individual exercise program
  • group exercise
  • the provision of exercise equipment for use by clients.

Examples of a fitness service include a 24/7 gym, an outdoor boot camp, a personal trainer or a yoga class. 

Membership agreements for fitness services

If you offer your clients a membership agreement for a fitness service, it must meet the requirements outlined in the Fitness Code. 

Membership agreement summary

A membership agreement must start with an agreement summary. This will help consumers understand the key terms and cost of the membership at a glance.

An agreement summary must include:

  • a description of the fitness services you will supply
  • the length of the agreement
  • if the agreement is for a fixed term, when it ends
  • if the agreement is an ongoing agreement, when any initial term for the agreement ends
  • all fees and charges that are payable under the agreement including
    • the total amount of fees and charges payable
    • when each fee or charge is payable
    • the service or good that each fee or charge relates to
  • a statement that there is a seven-day cooling-off period during which the agreement may be cancelled
  • any exclusions, limitations or restrictions on the supply of the fitness services.

Required membership agreement details

Membership agreements should be written in plain English and be easy for consumers to understand.

Agreements must include:

  • the supplier’s name and address
  • the supplier’s Australian Company Number (if applicable)
  • the supplier’s and client’s rights and obligations
  • how payments are made under the agreement
  • the service, or services, you will provide under the agreement
  • if the agreement is ongoing, a statement that it will continue until it is cancelled
  • the date the supplier will contact the member to let them know the initial term of an ongoing agreement has ended
  • details of any third party payment agreement
  • the client's right to cancel, including in the cooling-off period, or for permanent illness or incapacity
  • procedures for cancelling the agreement including how to do it electronically
  • the date and time on which the cooling-off period starts
  • the circumstances when you may terminate the agreement
  • for minors (people under the age of 18), that the membership agreement must be signed by a parent or guardian.

All fees must be clearly stated and any termination fees must be fair and proportionate to the actual cost incurred by the business. 

Other membership agreement details

Other information can be included in the membership agreement as long as it does not conflict with the requirements in the Fitness Code.

For example, you could include a standard clause enabling a client to suspend their membership agreement when they take a holiday. 

Further information

All fitness suppliers should also know their obligations under Australian Consumer Law.  See our Business rights and obligations in Western Australia page for helpful information.

Also see the following consumer pages:

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