Personal Trainers

Benefits Payable for Personal Trainers

1. Bupa pays Benefits for personal training services outlined below (Recognised Services) at a Bupa Recognised Provider for eligible Bupa Customers under the Health Management category on selected Extras products.
2. Recognised Services must be required by the Bupa Customer to address or improve a diagnosed health or medical condition or conditions.
3. Bupa Customers must provide a signed Health Management Gym and PT Medical form from their doctor or approved allied health provider (e.g. Exercise Physiologist, Physiotherapist or Chiropractor) confirming their need to undertake exercise.
4. Benefits are payable in accordance with Bupa’s eligibility criteria, fund and policy rules. Any enquiries should be directed to Bupa.
5. Benefits do not apply for trial periods, joining fees, casual attendances or bundled passes from a Personal Trainer.

Recognised Services

The Personal Trainer must provide the Recognised Services, namely:

1. Screen and assess health, movement, exercise and performance capacity;
2. Design and deliver physical activity and exercise-based interventions to: prevent injury, return to activity, manage risk factors for chronic conditions, promote participation and improve fitness and performance;
3. Support goal setting and sustainable behaviour change to help people achieve their health, wellbeing, fitness and performance goals;
4. Provide health, physical activity and exercise education, advice and support;
5. Use coaching skills to teach and improve movement and performance.

All of the aforementioned services are designed to address and assist with the management of the Bupa Customer’s desired health outcome (to address or improve a diagnosed health condition or conditions), and must be provided at an appropriate premises in accordance with the Provider Terms.

Recognised Services exclude interventions that are solely Pilates, Yoga or self-defence.

Private practice requirement

The personal training provider is in private practice as defined in the Bupa Fund Rules, namely a business operating on an independent and self-supporting basis either as a sole trader, partnership, corporate or group practice but is not subsidised by another party such as any type of publicly funded facility for the provision of accommodation, facilities or other services or practitioners. The provision of treatment at a public hospital or any other type of publicly funded facility is not treatment provided in Private Practice.

Required Qualifications

The Personal Trainer must have graduated from an Australian University with an Exercise Science Degree or completed Certificate IV or Diploma in Fitness with a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), or demonstrate equivalence (see below).

The following courses meet Bupa’s minimum requirements:

1. SIS40215 – Certificate IV in Fitness (or equivalent validated by professional Association)
2. SIS50215 – Diploma in Fitness
3. Incomplete Bachelor degree in the field of Exercise Science mapped by Professional Association that qualifies for registration.
4. Bachelor degree in the field of Exercise Science*
5. Post Graduate degree in the field of Exercise Science*

*The course must meet the requirements for Fitness Australia Registered Exercise Professional registration.

Demonstrating equivalence

Applicants without the Required Qualifications, including providers who have received training overseas, must undertake a Bupa approved process for demonstrating equivalence.

Personal Trainers who wish to apply for registration as a Bupa Recognised Provider using a Bupa approved process for demonstrating equivalence must:

1. have their qualifications assessed by one of the following:
   
   
   • current competencies assessed and endorsed by an RTO; or
   
   • overseas qualifications assessed and endorsed by a member of International Confederation of Registers for Exercise Professionals (ICREPS) or Professional Association equivalent.
   
   
2. forward evidence of their qualification assessment or competency assessment to their Professional Association.

Recognition criteria

In order to attain recognition as a Bupa Recognised Provider, the applicant must meet and continue to satisfy all aspects of the Recognition Criteria, as follows:

1. Provide the Recognised Services (above);
2. Obtain and maintain a current full membership with a Professional Association (see below);
3. Hold and maintain qualifications that meet Bupa’s Required Qualifications or demonstrate equivalence (as above);
4. Comply with the relevant Professional Association and industry standards, including the National Fitness Industry Code of Practice, where relevant;
5. Comply with the Provider Terms;
6. Ensure there are adequate procedures including supervision in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the Personal Trainer’s clients and ensure a timely response in an emergency;
7. Hold and maintain current professional indemnity insurance and public liability insurances for a minimum $5million per claim and $20million aggregate.

Conditions

1. Bupa may use its absolute discretion in granting Bupa Recognised Provider registration. Meeting the criteria above does not guarantee that a Personal Trainer is registered as a Bupa Recognised Provider.
2. Bupa reserves the right to audit Bupa Recognised Providers to ensure ongoing compliance with the Recognition Criteria, and on request (giving at least 10 business days’ notice) requires reasonable access to the facility or membership/financial records to validate compliance with the Recognition Criteria and/or to validate claims. Bupa audit requests may be made by letter, email or telephone and audits may be undertaken by Bupa or a Bupa authorised representative.
3. Personal training providers that, in Bupa’s reasonable opinion, do not comply with the Recognition Criteria (including the Provider Terms) or who have not provided Bupa access to audit or have not provided requested audit records within 10 business days of the receipt of an audit request may have their Bupa recognition immediately suspended or terminated.
4. Bupa may suspend or terminate a Bupa Recognised Provider registration in its absolute discretion. Notification of suspension or termination will be provided in most instances to the Bupa recognised Professional Association, however, Bupa may use its discretion to write to Bupa Recognised Providers directly. Bupa may also suspend or terminate registration as a Bupa Recognised Provider where there have been no customer claims processed by Bupa for a period of 2 or more years.
5. Bupa Customers are unable to claim for Benefits while a Personal Trainer’s registration as a Bupa Recognised Provider is suspended or terminated, and Bupa may at its discretion write to Bupa Customers who have claimed for the Personal Trainer’s services following suspension or termination.
6. If the Personal Trainer seeks to be re-registered as a Bupa Recognised Provider following a suspension or termination, they must contact their Professional Association.
7. The Personal Trainer may choose to cease participating as a Bupa Recognised Provider at any time by providing 60 days’ notice to their Professional Association.

How to apply to register as a Bupa Recognised Provider

Personal trainers who have full membership with a Professional Association listed below must contact their Professional Association to become recognised as a Bupa Recognised Provider.

Professional Associations

The following associations meet the requirements set out in Bupa’s Accreditation Requirements for Professional Associations:

Industry associations who meet Bupa’s Accreditation Requirements for Professional Associations and wish to express interest in being listed above may contact Bupa at provopsancillary@bupa.com.au

Changes to recognition criteria

Bupa will publish any changes to its Recognition Criteria on its website and will also notify Professional Associations of any changes to the Recognition Criteria.

Provider Terms for Gyms and Personal Trainers

1. Continuing Education Credits (CEC) / Continuing Professional Education (CPE) / Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
   
   All fitness personnel including Gymnasium staff and Personal Trainers must participate in continuing professional education, including courses, seminars or other educational events that contribute to up to date knowledge in their area of practice. They are required to meet the CPD/CEC point quota required for membership by their Professional Association.
   
   
2. Provide First Aid (also known as Senior First Aid, Workplace Level 2 or Apply First Aid)
   
   Gymnasiums: During staffed hours, at least one staff member must be present who holds a current Senior/Workplace First Aid Certificate (or equivalent) and the Gymnasium must ensure it has a current emergency response procedure, a fully stocked First Aid kit and working First Aid equipment that has been checked and maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
   
   Personal Trainers: Personal Trainers must hold a current Senior/Workplace First Aid Certificate (or equivalent) and ensure access to a fully stocked First Aid kit and working First Aid equipment that has been checked and maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
   
   
3. Bupa requirements for Gyms and Personal Trainers
   
   Gymnasium businesses and Personal Trainers must not:
   
   
   a) Allow their Bupa provider number to be used by another person or business
   
   b) Advertise or promote that they are a Bupa Recognised Provider without Bupa’s prior written consent
   
   c) Advertise or promote that their services are claimable under a Bupa health insurance policy, without Bupa’s prior written consent
   
   d) Use Bupa’s logo or trade mark in any advertising or promotions
   
   e) Discriminate against or disadvantage Bupa Customers, such as by charging them a fee for holding Health Insurance or a fee for processing a health insurance claim
   
   f) Alter, amend, falsify or omit information on a Bupa Customer’s invoice or receipt (enabling, for example, a Bupa Customer to falsely claim a Benefit).
   
   
   Gymnasiums and Personal Trainers must obtain pre-approval from Bupa for any advertising, promotional material, communications or otherwise referencing their status as a Bupa Recognised Provider or Bupa’s products and services.
   
   
4. Bupa Recognised Providers
   
   As a Bupa Recognised Provider, Bupa will pay Benefits for the Recognised Services in accordance with the Bupa Fund Rules and Recognition Criteria . As a Bupa Recognised Provider, the Gymnasium’s or Personal Trainer’s obligations are to:
   
   
   a) Ensure that they comply with the Recognition Criteria and these Provider Terms;
   
   b) Maintain a current Bupa issued provider number, ensuring that their relevant details as maintained by their Professional Association are current;
   
   c) Provide their services with due care and skill and with the level of expertise reasonably expected of a member of their profession;
   
   d) Only provide the Recognised Services to Bupa Customers directly and in person at the location to which their Provider Number applies;
   
   e) If requested by Bupa, supply Bupa with evidence that you meet the current Recognition Criteria and comply with these Provider Terms;
   
   f) Comply with all professional standards;
   
   g) Comply with all relevant Australian laws and/or state laws;
   
   h) Ensure their conduct or the conduct of their business, business associates or representatives does not negatively impact customer care and safety or bring Bupa’s brand to disrepute.
   
   
5. Health, safety and wellbeing
   
   Ensure that suitable and appropriate measures are undertaken to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of Gymnasium members and clients of Personal Trainers, including (but not limited to):
   
   
   a) Gymnasium staff or Personal Trainers working with children hold a current and valid working with children check; b) Gymnasium staff or Personal Trainers have not been convicted of a crime; c) Gymnasium staff or Personal Trainers have not been expelled from a professional association; d) equipment is well maintained, safe and hygiene protocols are adhered to; e) The Gymnasium must have appropriate policies and procedures in place to ensure health and safety of staff and members; and f) Adherence to Australian national or state laws and industry standards.
   
   
   The premises must in Bupa’s reasonable opinion be:
   
   
   a) Appropriate for the delivery of the Recognised Services;
   
   b) Designed to promote good hygiene practices as expected of their industry;
   
   c) Not used for a primary purpose (as indicated by the appearance of the premises, the floor space used by the premises, or the revenue of the premises) that is not directly related to the Recognised Services. This would be the case where, for example, the main or a substantial part of the premises (by appearance, floor space, or revenues) is dedicated to the provision of other health care services such as (but not limited to) physiotherapy or other health care modalities, the provision of good(s) or service(s) that do not attract a Private Health Insurance Rebate according to the PHI Act, the sale of shoes, clothing, sporting goods, health foods or supplements, sports store;
   
   d) Compliant with all applicable Australian National or State law including any approvals relating to the Gymnasium or Personal Trainer’s premises and the services they provide;
   
   e) Maintain the physical aspects of their premises to a satisfactory level.
   
   
6. Ensure confidentiality and privacy
   
   
   a) The Gymnasium or Personal Trainer must comply, and assist Bupa to comply with any applicable privacy legislation (including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)) and industry codes related to the handling of Personal Information (including Sensitive Information).
   
   b) Keep confidential any of Bupa’s financial details Bupa discloses to them.
   
   c) If the Gymnasium or Personal Trainer believes that they have breached any part of this clause 6, they must immediately notify Bupa of the nature and extent of the breach and promptly make all reasonable endeavours to rectify the breach.
   
   
7. Record Keeping Requirements
   
   The Gymnasium or Personal Trainer must meet the following record keeping requirements as well as any others imposed by their Professional Association (such as any applicable professional standards) or required by law:
   
   
   a) They must ensure that their records include sufficient information concerning a Bupa Customer’s membership or personal training agreement, including personal details, health / training status and history, goals, cost, payment method and consent.
   
   b) In addition, Personal Trainers must also record dates of attendance, exercise plans and progress.
   
   c) They must keep any hard copies of records that contain sensitive information or personal information in a secure, lockable, fire-proof storage cabinet or area when not in use. They must not store or leave records in a public area.
   
   d) They must keep digital copies of records containing sensitive information or personal information in an environment and on an electronic system that is only accessible by them and persons authorised by them whom have a need to access such records, where the given electronic system:
   
   

   i. May be audited by Bupa;
   
   ii. Is protected by up-to-date, industry standard user-authentication (i.e. username and password), firewall and anti-virus technology; and
   
   iii. Is regularly and securely backed up.
   
   

   e) They must make and keep a record of each good and service provided to a Bupa Customer.
   
   f) Attendance or training records relating to each individual Bupa Customer must be kept together and each record entered must be made in chronological order and allow for an audit trail if any changes are made.
   
   g) Each Bupa Customer’s record must be accurate, legible and easily readable by a third party, concise, written in English and clearly indicated as applying to that customer;
   
   h) Bupa Customer records must be promptly retrievable when required.
   
   i) Any changes or corrections to the original customer record must not remove the original information.
   
   j) Personal Trainers must not delegate responsibility for the accuracy of Bupa Customer records or information they keep about a customer to another person.
   
   k) Personal Trainers must separately record the details of each training session and any goods or services provided to a Bupa Customer with each recording, including but not limited to:
   
   

   i. Date of attendance;
   
   ii. Details of personal training session;
   
   

   1. Training plan;
   
   2. Advice or instructions given.
   
   

   l) Parental or guardian consent for the Recognised Services are provided to children / minors.
   
   m) Any other details as recommended either by their Professional Association.
   
   
8. Claims Verification
   
   
   a) From time to time, Bupa may seek to confirm the validity of a claim for services provided to a Bupa Customer by a Gymnasium or Personal Trainer. Accordingly, Bupa may at Bupa’s cost, conduct an investigation using any or all of the following:
   
   

   i. Bupa’s records;
   
   ii. The relevant Gymnasium or Personal Trainer’s records or, if applicable, the records of any entity which services or manages their business; and
   
   iii. An investigator and/or clinical advisor appointed by us.
   
   

   b) If Bupa asks the Gymnasium or Personal Trainer to make their records available to Bupa (or an investigator and/or clinical advisor appointed by us):
   
   

   iv. Bupa will give them at least two (2) days’ notice;
   
   v. They will provide reasonable assistance at no charge to Bupa – including providing access to relevant employees, agents and contractors as nominated and required by Bupa – to all records pertaining to services provided to Bupa Customers (wherever such records are stored); and
   
   vi. They must promptly make those records available to Bupa or procure prompt provision of these records to us; and
   
   vii. If, contrary to these requirements, their records are not in English, they will prove at their cost, a translation from an interpreter service that is, in Bupa’s reasonable opinion, reputable and suitably accredited. They must provide this translation in addition to their records.
   
   
9. Customer Accounts and Receipting Record Requirements
   
   
   a) Gymnasiums and Personal Trainers must keep:
   
   

   i. Accurate, legible, contemporaneous, English-written accounting records of each good and/or service provided to a Bupa Customer; ii. records that are clear, accurate and not misleading; and
   
   iii. records that are made as soon as practicable after the service has been delivered or goods have been provided.
   
   

   b) Each accounting record must be labelled with the Bupa Customer’s identifying details and include the:
   
   

   i. Date of training for Personal Trainers or for Gymnasiums, the date period that Bupa Customers are able to access the Gymnasium for training;
   
   ii. The name of the Gymnasium or Personal Trainer who provided the service;
   
   iii. Details of the service provided, including the itemised fee for each service;
   
   iv. Details of all payments, including the date of the payment.
   
   

   c) An itemised receipt issued for each payment indicating:
   
   

   i. The date of payment;
   
   ii. Personal Trainer’s name or Gymnasium business name;
   
   iii. Provider’s ABN and business name;
   
   iv. Address where the provider performed the service;
   
   v. The provider’s contact telephone number;
   
   vi. Name of the Bupa Customer;
   
   vii. Date of the service/payment;
   
   viii. Services provided and the individual charge for each item service;
   
   ix. Individual invoice or receipt number on each receipt;
   
   

   d) There can only be one fully itemised original account / receipt. All duplicated accounts / receipts must be endorsed as “duplicate”.
   
   e) All Bupa Customer invoices and receipts must be:
   
   

   i. Separately invoiced for each date on which services are provided;
   
   ii. Issued on their official stationery denoted by their business logo;
   
   iii. Bear an invoice / receipt number and issued in sequential order; and
   
   

   f) Where a quote is itemised, the Bupa Customer Account/receipt must be endorsed with “quote” or “estimate”
   
   
10. Bupa Customers
    
    Gymnasiums and Personal Trainers must ensure that:
    
    
    a) Before they deliver a service to a Bupa Customer they obtain both their informed consent and their informed financial consent;
    
    b) When delivering a service to a minor, they obtain parental or legal guardian consent before providing their intended service;
    
    c) At all times treat clients with respect;
    
    d) Deliver care with high level of professional confidence and conduct;
    
    e) Personal Trainers must work within the limits of their competence and scope of practice;
    
    f) They do not keep or store digital or physical Bupa Customer cards or Bupa Customer card numbers or details by any means;
    
    g) They do not directly or indirectly promote unnecessary or indiscriminate use of their services or goods;
    
    h) They refer any Bupa Customer enquiries about their policies, including a Bupa Customer’s eligibility to claim for the Recognised Services, to Bupa.