Australian fitness professionals have been urged to contribute to a survey seeking best practices for legal and safety risk management in their industry.

Dr Betul Sekendiz, from the Exercise and Sport Sciences Program at CQUniversity Australia, is one of the investigators, in collaboration with Bond University, University of Ballarat and University of South Australia, on the Australian Fitness Industry Risk Management project, an Australian Research Council-funded project in conjunction with Fitness Australia and Sports Medicine Australia.

Dr Betul Sekendiz from the Exercise and Sport Sciences Program

Earlier this year, the project team conducted focus group sessions with fitness industry professionals across Australia, including Central Queensland, to develop the online nationwide AFIRM-Survey to investigate views on risk management practices implemented by fitness service providers. 

The AFIRM-Survey is at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/legalriskmanagement

"The anonymous survey can be completed by fitness professionals who are either casual, part-time, full-time, managers, self-employed and/or owners," Dr Sekendiz said.

"It is very important that we can collect information not only from the capitals, but also regional cities like Rockhampton, Mackay and Bundaberg in Central Queensland, so as to provide the best advice in regard to the legal and safety risk management practices for the health and fitness services across Australia."

"Thanks in advance for your interest and contribution to the Australian Fitness Industry for a healthy and risk free future!"

Fitness industry professionals completing the survey go into the draw to win a return airfare, accommodation and ticket to Fitness Australia's industry breakfast and forum in Sydney in October. The second place prize in the draw is an iPad. 

The survey will be available until June 21.