The HIIT Mum

Before I jump into the BIG announcements, I want to start with something personal.

I started The HIIT Factory in June 2013, just after the birth of my firstborn, Isla.

While pregnant, I made a very clear decision: I wanted to work for myself. I wanted freedom, flexibility, and the ability to build a life that allowed me to be present with a baby I had longed for and tried for.

I narrowed my future down to two things I loved with a crazy passion
(ok… three, if we include candle making 😂):

Cooking and training people.

Not just because I loved fitness — but because I have a deep, genuine love for helping people transform both their bodies and their minds. Anyone who has ever trained with me or spent time around me will tell you this has never waned. Ever.

Thirteen years later, I still take classes with the same passion I had on day one.

I completed my Cert III and IV in Fitness during pregnancy, finishing Cert IV just weeks after Isla was born. My mum came down to watch her while I attended in-person training at the wonderful PT Academy. Those early days were full of exhaustion, excitement, and a very strong sense that I was building something that mattered.

The food side? That ended up becoming a huge part of what we do.
Thousands of recipes, meal plans, fat-loss tools, tracking systems — training and nutrition go hand in hand, and that foundation has served our members incredibly well.

I still remember worrying whether I’d even get enough people to fill a small community hall in Yarraville for my first classes.

Then I walked into St Augustine’s — this stunning school with the most incredible gym hall. Full of history, character, and space. Probably six times the size of what I first had in mind. I knew instantly: this is where it starts.

The first few weeks were friends, flyers, posters.
Five people.
Ten people.
Twenty people.

Then suddenly — fifty plus people in classes.

It was absolutely WILD.

And for me, as a new mother constantly thinking about my baby, those 30 minutes delivering a session became what I call the absolute here and now. No distractions. Total presence. Fully focused on every single person in front of me.

Helping people push when I knew they had more.
Pulling them back when that’s what they needed.
Regressing, progressing, modifying, working around injuries — always finding a way.

I’m very proud of this skill. It comes from lived experience, years on the floor, constant learning, and a deep respect for the human body. (For the record — science podcasts are my number one listen… closely followed by humour.)

As classes continued to grow, it was time to move into a studio space.
In 2015, we opened our Hall Street Yarraville studio, where we still are today.

It’s not huge — but it’s Yarraville. One of the best suburbs in the country, full of incredible people, and right near the village. We’re lucky to call it home.

Around this time, I noticed many trainers beginning to copy what we were doing.
Honestly — flattering. I’ve never had an issue with that.

But I did want to protect the brand.

So in 2015, I began developing HIIT Factory workout formats, exclusive to us.

Today, we have 10 trademarked formats — what I often call businesses in a box — with more in production. Each format contains countless workouts. No two days are ever the same.

All sessions are 30 minutes.
Some are 100% bodyweight.
Others use minimal free weights.

This means sessions can be done in studios, gyms, halls — even at home — empowering people to truly learn how to use their bodies as machines.

I like to say we’re giving people a repertoire for how to train for life.

Each format includes:

Pre-programmed music

Marketing materials

Coaches notes

Demo videos

From there, we moved into licensing… then franchising.
And to be very honest — we were accidental franchisors.

Franchising requires a level of cut-throat enforcement, ensuring compliance from the franchisee end, overdue payments that simply isn’t aligned with who I am. (Thank you to the very special person who told me that — you were right.)

By early 2024, after growing to 7 locations — and bringing three more miracle babies into the world via IVF and fertility treatments — we made the decision to step away from franchising.

We offered early exits to all locations, with the final one finishing this September.

One of the biggest drivers behind this decision was creative freedom.

It allowed me to return fully to what I do best:
creating world-class workout formats.

And now — finally — bringing them to the masses.

BIG NEWS NUMBER ONE

In 2026, we officially launch HIIT Factory Formats as Instructor Training Programs.

This means gym owners, studio owners, PTs, community instructors — and even members who want to see our formats in their own gyms — will soon be able to access them.

This is my dream gig.

Training trainers to be the absolute best.

Our first workshops will launch February 2026 in Victoria, and spots will be limited. Registration will be first-come, first-served.

👉 Register your interest here:
https://bit.ly/INSTRUCT-OUR-FORMATS

(And yes — UK in person training is coming this year, with other markets to follow.)

BIG NEWS NUMBER TWO

We can now take The HIIT Factory Livestream to the masses.

We’ve just launched livestream memberships for $99 per month (normally $199), allowing you to train with me and my incredible coaching team from anywhere in the world.

We already have members across Australia, the UK, Northern Ireland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and more.

Livestream members get:

Unlimited live classes

On-Demand workouts (hundreds!)

Meal plans, recipes, trackers, and tools

We currently run around 30 livestream classes per week, with more coming as we grow.

This offer is ongoing — you’ll never pay more than $99 AUD per month (also NO lock in contracts, just 7 days notice to cancel anytime)
(£49 for my UK crew).

👉 Join us here:
https://bit.ly/NY26HIIT

Stepping away from franchising has also allowed us to work with major gym groups.

In 2024, we partnered with Fernwood Fitness — an icon of the female fitness industry. I now program their exclusive FIIT30 workouts, delivered across 80 locations Australia-wide.

We’re currently on Release 6, with over 130 workouts, and I absolutely love working with their teams and trainers.

So that’s where we’re headed.

Back to our OG studios, our babies!
Yarraville where I teach when I can, Geelong West where I teach often, and Bairnsdale which is ran by my sis. This is where we will be when you are streaming with us from anywhere!

And forward into an incredibly exciting future — training coaches, empowering instructors, and sharing these formats far and wide.

Thank you for being part of this journey

I’m always accessible — feel free to DM me or WhatsApp me on 0449 908 727.

I am so pumped to meet so many amazing instructors in 2026 and to upskill you to have one heck of an amazing fitness business with all these great formats! Oh also - if you want to check them out in detail, become a livestream member and that way you can try them all and be ready to pounce once certified!

Colette # # #

Hyrox doubles done!!! What a fun way to end the year! Did you take part in Melbourne this weekend? If so, well done! Let me know how you went! If not and you’ve been thinking about it, go for it! Lots of fun and having goals to train for is absolutely key to progress!

There are many things in need to improve on (hi ski erg lol) but overall really happy with how we went into it after just adding one specific session per week over the last 10 weeks and the rest being from my day to day consistent HIIT Factory and run training! My partner .white81 is a GUN at ski lol (and all the rest!) so we worked well together! Oh and we must be the only pair who genuinely love burpees 🤣🤣🤣

Seriously though, bodyweight training is such a superpower for this sport and running races. It’s incredible what it can do for you so get on those plyometrics, peeps! 🙌🙌🙌

I was lucky enough to sit down with the gorgeous Georgie Tunny to offer my take and insights on strength training for women. Why it should be non negotiable, and why there’s much more important things at play than building strength for just for aesthetics. Much bigger.
Adding time to your life and also giving yourself the best chance of being able to move well throughout the decades, and being able to fall well ❤️

I would really love you to have a listen and share with women in your life (and let me know what you think!) We’re stronger than we think, and we need to delve into that strength and use it and work on it daily. We also need to choose heavy! Not straight away, but work up to it. Our HIIT Factory members are fed up of me banging on about this every sesh lol so now I’m casting the net wider via 90,000 + Fernwood members & beyond! ☺️💪🏋️‍♀️

Listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts or via the link below ⬇️ and make sure to follow this awesome new pod! This was the very first episode of Fernwood Unfiltered from Fernwood Fitness, where I program the FIIT30 workouts (try them, they’re the bomb, you’ll get superfit and you’ll meet lovely people!).

There are so many great guests coming up in this exciting pod across all facets of women’s health, fitness and wellbeing and it’s an honour to be in beside them🥰

https://linktr.ee/fernwoodunfiltered

Fernwood Fitness Fernwood Unfiltered The HIIT Factory

One for the grid, stride by stride with my lil sis. Char is 10 years younger than me but has always had a very wise head on her shoulders. It was such a privilege to run with her on Sunday. She’s spend her life racing the fastest triathletes and runners in the world and paces lil ‘ole me! 😍 Follow her adventures at and for anyone interested in personal one on one run coaching drop her a message. You could be based anywhere too as programs come through in an App and are done week by week not too far in advance as things change and often need tweaked regularly for varying factors! She had taught me so much! And I’ve been a runner, fitness trainer and somewhat athlete my whole life! ☺️

I’m absolutely loving being back run strong and taking on races again, and I hope this post helps inspire if you, like me have had a big break from running! Anyone who has followed me for a long time will know I was really into my running and races and got quicker after Isla was born 13 years ago! I put that down to mum determination … and pram running plus starting my HIIT Factory business as this style of training is wild for improving run pace!

I had a big break from late 2019 until around 2023 so 4 years! Many reasons … health issues, also going through tortuous rounds pf IVF and losses and I was really sad for a long time. I lost the love for it. I also had to focus on saving our business and found myself instructing a gazillion livestream sessions which I still do now! In between starting again there’s been 3 babies all C section so not quick to come straight back into running.

But … I did it and found the love again after Amelie was born and went from finding 6:30 minute KM’s hard as heck even trying at a jogging pace … but kept at it and consistently built up speed and endurance.

At the beginning of this year after Elsie was born, I asked my little sister to coach me as she was taking on a small number of clients. She said YES and I’ve literally never missed a session in my plan. Charlotte’s knowledge is just insane and her experience is world class but she also understands the more everyday athletes like me and the constraints we may have, juggling babies, families, work, business, sleepless nights etc and the plans are always adjusted when they need to be.

It all came together yesterday when Char paced me at a really cool event on the Grand Prix track in melbourne. I was determined to go under 45 mins and we ran 44:08 and I even placed in my AG!!! It was such a brilliant experience even in windy conditions. We made a strategic plan to ensure I didn’t go off too fast, and stuck to it and I smashed my goal!
I had “given up” on running a few years back, given up on me, but something inside said find your love again! And I did! Never give up on yourself my friend. And find a great coach and a goal! X # #

Just hopped onto my Insta grid and realised my last post was more or less introducing Jimmy and Amelie and a little life update in early 2024 🫣

Last year really was wild for me as we welcomed bubba number 4 and I think I found out I was pregnant literally the week I wrote that last post where I talked about how lucky I feel and also the immense guilt that comes from knowing how hard it is to be on the other side. The longing for a baby, the IVF, the losses. I don’t think I will ever shake that, but I do hope I can shake some of our luck to others. Never give up hope. Baby Elsie joined us in October last year and it’s flown in. We don’t have many pics of us all together and this is the best most recent attempt I have when I was heading for a flight interstate for work last week. Almost all looking at the camera 😅. I let the side down! ☺️

Your life could end up like mine … a frazzled mum with 3 aged 3 and under right now 😅. Of course I say this in total jest, but let me tell you, I am frazzled 😂 … but I’m driven, and never ever have I felt as much focus to ensure I’m fit and strong enough to keep up with them!

I will share some more of what I’ve been up to over the last few years if anyone is listening and would like to hear? It’s been busy! Business, babies, barbells and bounding (aka running, jumping and sprinting!!)🏃‍♀️🏋️‍♀️🤸🏼‍♂️

Let me know, and what’s happening in your world too if you care to share ❤️❤️❤️

Colette x

There’s not a day that goes by where I don’t listen to a podcast (or 3!) … walking, running, cleaning, driving, cooking … always listening, always learning (hit me with your faves in the comments 👇)

Today I just finished Rich Roll’s most recent podcast with .mindypelz and it was AMAZING! I’ve done a good few fasts over the years as there are incredible benefits. I didn’t know about the importance of the timing of your cycle with your fasts though, so thank you Dr Mindy! You’re knowledge is 🤯

In fact, in the earlier days of writing meal plans for both HIIT Mum and I used to build in 2 light fast days 18/6 style with a lower calorie count on those days and still plenty of protein (a bit like the 800 fast). It always got me great fatloss results personally and also our members. Annnnnyway, I digress. I’m going to give a 36 hour one a go again next week.
Do you ever fast? When I’ve done them, my brain is sharper and energy levels end up going through the roof. Which is a bit wild as my energy levels are generally pretty high 🤣. Lookout 😜

❤️

“In a world where you can be anything, be kind” ❤️❤️❤️

Miss Isla, now 10. That means 10 years of The HIIT Factory (which began with me taking classes in school and church halls after moving away from advertising). I remember at the time thinking “am I taking a massive risk” leaving a solid salary to start from scratch, but I also knew it was now or never. I’ve never looked back. Although I’ve been broken many times, running a business from the ground up is incredibly hard. People mostly see the highlight reel (Although I do keep it real and have never said it’s easy) but not the hard graft in the background, the risks, some that are successful and many that fail.

One thing that I’m certain of is that I’ve never lost the passion. Ever. I’m still as passionate today as all those years ago. I still take some of our classes at (livestream as we don’t live close to our studio but I do get to know all of our members and they get my 💯 % or what I’m able to give all of the time).

I love that we have 5 other locations in Victoria all run by passionate amazing women and mums, all who started out as clients and fell in love with it and now have their own HIIT Factories with beautiful communities who I also try and get to know.

I’m getting a bit reflective right now heading into year 10 of business so expect a lot more this year and stay connected to my stories to see what I get up to. I’ve not posted much over the last few years as life has been very busy, navigating the business through the pandemic and 2 little babies ❤️❤️❤️ but I’m ready to give more if you’re ready to receive it.

Colette # # #

💯 % this 🙌🙌

Absolute food for thought ❤️