From personal passion to fitness powerhouse

For Illawarra local Peter Chayna, UOW College was the perfect bridge between his lifelong interest in fitness and a meaningful career helping people live healthier, happier lives.

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Peter’s love of health and fitness was nurtured by his mother, a fit and active physiotherapist who taught him the value of balance in all areas of life. When she sadly passed away from cancer when he was just 15, he was already helping others hit their own goals at the gym.  

“My friends would often come to me to go to the gym together, and I’d find myself encouraging them, training them and doing my own research so we could all improve,” Peter says.

“That’s when I found my passion for coaching and decided to pursue it as a career. UOW College has a great industry reputation, so I chose to study my fitness qualifications there”.

From Theory to Practice

The fitness programs proved to be exactly what Peter was looking for: a hands-on, face-to-face approach to learning. Practical classes at UOW UniActive quickly became the highlight of his week.

“I was never much of an online person; I loved having the professionals there with me, and we had a really close cohort. It was an environment where I thrived,” he says.

“It was great learning theory in the classroom, but being able to do practical sessions in person, coaching other students and having our tutors guide us at every step was incredibly valuable.”

Work experience placements were pivotal, allowing Peter to apply his learning in real-world settings while building connections that have supercharged his career. His first placement at an F45 gym led to a job there while studying. His second placement, with a local personal trainer (PT), completely changed the game.

“He went above and beyond to help me apply what I was learning. I could see how courses like anatomy played out in real life, and I even trained with him to learn his coaching methods and gained so much experience.”

Building a business

Peter started his first personal training business while completing the SIS40221 Certificate IV in Fitness, working out of Anytime Fitness a local gym. He set up his own personal training studio after graduating, then spent two years in Queensland as head coach at performance-based, functional training gym, Fitstop. Returning home to the Illawarra, he became the proud new owner of Fitstop Wollongong in September 2025.

It’s been a steep learning curve, but the foundation he built during his time at UOW College put him on track for success – not just in fitness training, but in how to work with clients and build a business.

“We’ve already increased numbers in our first two months, but our primary focus is on making sure members are happy and want to stay, and the growth will follow,” he says.

Peter has introduced branded merchandise, new equipment and a recovery sauna, and plans to grow Fitstop’s presence through involvement in community-based fitness events, including as an official affiliate of Spartan and representing at the 2025 Wollongong Spartan Stadion.

Lifting a new generation of fitness leaders

Now a mentor to UOW College fitness students, Peter is paying forward the career-transforming guidance he once received. He puts extra time and energy into extending their knowledge and empowers them to get hands-on with coaching, building practical skills and confidence. 

“Work placement was such a valuable part of the course, and without the incredible experience I had, I might not be where I am today,” he says.

“You have to really lean into it. Don’t think of it as hours you’ve got to tick off to graduate – see it as an investment in yourself and get everything you can out of it.” 
 
In providing a safe space to test and grow their skills, he hopes to help them avoid feelings of imposter syndrome that plagued his earlier career. 
 
“Starting out as a PT can be tough; if you don’t believe in your value, no one else will. That’s something that Kelly (Fitness Program Manager) always drilled into us, and it just clicked,” Peter recalls.

“All the tutors are industry professionals who’ve done it themselves. The best thing you can do is tap into their expertise – you’ll learn so much.” 

Learn more about studying Fitness at UOW College