The Perantau

COVID-19 Impact:

The Struggles of a Personal Trainer

This audio package was recorded and produced on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri People and I extend my respect to elders past, present, and emerging.

August 21, 2022

2–3 minutes

Transcript

BILLY:  You never know when disaster might hit. The things you took years to build, all gone in an instant. As a personal trainer, that’s how Charles Shweta feels when faced with the seemingly never ending COVID 19 lockdowns. His profession that involves face to face clients has left Charles with nothing much to fall back on, where his 15 years as a personal trainer suddenly took a sharp turn.

CHARLES: So I don’t have a full time job or a part time job. I am self employed. I predominantly work out of the gym, and with the gyms being closed, plus with the restrictions coming into play, that’s gotten rid of almost 90-100% of my business.

BILLY: The Victorian government has made an effort to support individuals and businesses through cash support initiatives, funded by a 400 million package jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Victorian governments.

BILLY: But what of people like Charles? He says that even though he understands the government’s efforts to help, more can still be done.

CHARLES: Yes, they give out a small grant. Like for example, they’re currently giving out $2000 a week, but majority of my clients are business owners and $2000 does not even equate to one full day of their outgoing expenses.

CHARLES: So does that help? Not really. I think they’re all flying blind. Generally, that’s how I feel about the situation. They don’t share what science they’re looking at. And when we have, at best, conflicting data, I would like to see professionals from both sides of the debate coming together and showing the public what’s actually going on.

CHARLES: But here, everything is done behind closed doors. And we are just told to respect their decision. Even though a lot of people that I know cannot put food on the table. So, I think there needs to be more transparency.

BILLY: With a call to greater transparency of COVID 19 data and better government support through Victoria’s successive lockdowns, the future remains bleak and uncertain of the welfare of the people.

BILLY: This has been Billy Adison Aditijanto, reporting for the University of Melbourne.

Originally submitted as coursework for the Bachelor of Arts, University of Melbourne