There has never been a better time to start a career in professional health coaching. The landscape of healthcare is evolving and professional Health Coaches are playing an increasingly vital role in this new world of preventative, lifestyle-driven health. The coach approach is leading to better and more sustainable health outcomes and offers a real alternative to the reactive medicine-first model. The career paths and opportunities available to PREKURE Professional Health Coach graduates continue to grow. This guide outlines the vast array of opportunities to leverage your expertise as a Certified Professional Health Coach and find your perfect career balance of freedom, fulfilment and flexibility.
Start Your Own Thriving Health Coaching Business
Many PREKURE Health Coaches establish their own thriving private coaching practices, offering services to clients seeking to improve their health and wellbeing, either in person or via online platforms. A unique strength of private practice lies in niche specialisation. PREKURE graduates often leverage their passions and lived experiences to develop a specific coaching focus. Examples include:- Amanda Balcombe (Still Wellness): An ex-Finance Advisor turned Mental Wellness and Burnout Coach.
- Katherine Froggatt: A cancer survivor who transitioned from Corporate Leadership into a Mental Fitness & Cancer Coach.
- Kent Johns: A former Sports Broadcaster and Radio Producer who now runs a thriving Corporate Wellness Coaching business.
- Shelley Smith (Santosha Health Coaching): A former Advertising Manager who found her passion as a Holistic Health Coach.
“Choosing to become a Health Coach and getting certified through PREKURE has been the best investment I have made. I am thrilled to work alongside so many Health and Mental Health Coaches at PREKURE…it is such an honour to be able to work with clients to inspire them to live a rich and fulfilling life” – Katherine Froggatt, PREKURE Certified Mental Health Coach
How to Expand Your Private Health Coaching Practice
For PREKURE Coach graduates establishing their own private practices, PREKURE has a growing network of opportunities to gain client referrals:- FLAX: Founded by PREKURE Coach Graduates Ashlee Sturme and Ree George, FLAX supports PREKURE Certified Mental Health Coaches in delivering quality coaching, workshops, and resources in schools to improve mental fitness and resilience.
- ReCalibrate NZ: A collaborative of PREKURE coaches working across healthcare, insurance, education, and finance industries, employing anywhere from 5 to 15 Health Coaches per programme to implement corporate health coaching initiatives.
“At ReCalibrate NZ we’re passionate about improving employee wellness and enabling and employing quality PREKURE-only Health Coaches. Our coaches deliver our proven intervention programmes using scientific data, lifestyle medicine, coaching mindsets and insights to deliver sustainable wellbeing outcomes for employees and the businesses they work for. Ultimately, we want to transform the lives of employees across Aotearoa and grow the health coaching practice in New Zealand.” – Ree George, ReCalibrate Director and Lead Coach
Shaping the Future of Primary Healthcare in NZ
PREKURE graduates are well-positioned to contribute to the new workforce of Health Coaches and Health Improvement Practitioners (HIPs) being integrated into GP clinics across New Zealand. These roles provide opportunities to serve the community, gain clinical exposure, and develop coaching skills while building private practices.- Primary Care Health Coach: Supporting patients in lifestyle changes and self-management, these coaches work within primary care teams, often under Te Tumu Waiora.
- Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP): Typically a registered health professional with training in talking therapies, working with clients experiencing mental distress or addiction issues.
“In the busy GP clinic I work in, I meet people from all walks of life with a variety of long-term health conditions. I use my PREKURE coaching skills daily, which gives depth to my coaching.” – Roni Taylor, Health Coach at ProCare
Community Organisations and Nonprofits
PREKURE graduates work with organisations like The Fono, Etu Pasifika, Kahungunu Executive, and Mahitahi Hauora to support health and wellbeing initiatives within Pasifika and Māori communities.- Jared Cannons: A Māori Health Coach helping individuals manage and reverse type 2 diabetes.
- Telesia Fauonuku: A Pasifika Health Coach blending bodybuilding expertise with cultural heritage to inspire wellbeing.
Holistic Health and Lifestyle Clinics
Professional Health Coaches collaborate with doctors, nurses, and other clinical staff to provide wraparound care in private clinics, supporting chronic disease management and lifestyle changes. Examples include:- Reversal NZ (Taupo): A lifestyle clinic specialising in diabetes reversal.
- Well+Being (Dunedin): A holistic wellbeing clinic.
- Low Carb Keto Health (Adelaide): A nutrition-focused medical clinic.
- Bloomers Psychology (Online): A teletherapy service integrating health coaching.
“Reversing diabetes is only half the job. Maintaining the change long-term is the real challenge. As a GP I am good at giving the information but the Health Coach is the expert in behavioural change. Long-term success is optimised when GPs and Health Coaches are working together, on the client’s agenda, to bring about lasting changes.” – Dr Glen Davies, Reversal NZ
Other industries adopting Health Coaches to empower better health outcomes
The demand for professional Health Coaches continues to grow, opening doors to new and exciting career paths centred around positive impact. Insurance companies: Health Coaches are partnering with insurance companies to deliver preventive health programs and disease management initiatives. By guiding policyholders towards healthier lifestyles, coaches are helping to reduce healthcare costs and improve overall well-being.“I’ve been able to work alongside insurance clients as part of my coaching business, Metabolic Switch, to empower them to take control of their type 2 diabetes. It’s been so rewarding to have clients report increased energy, clear thinking, and stable eating patterns, alongside improvements in their blood glucose.” – Sarah Ahern, Owner Metabolic SwitchCorporate Wellness: In today’s competitive job market, companies are seeking strategic corporate wellness programs that address mental wellbeing, stress management, and healthy habits as a crucial tool to attract and retain top talent. As a Corporate Wellness Coach, like Kirsten Rose of Evexia Health & Performance, or the ReCalibrate NZ collaborative of PREKURE Coaches, you can design and deliver customised programs that support leaders, address employee needs, reduce stress, and foster positive people and business outcomes. Wellness Retreats: People are increasingly seeking immersive experiences to prioritise their wellbeing. Innovative wellness retreats, like PREKURE Coach Carl Muir’s The Provider and PREKURE Coach Sophie Falk’s Scandi Wellness Retreat, provide the perfect environment for Health Coaches to lead transformative programs, fostering healthy habits and personal growth in a supportive setting. Schools & Universities: Initiatives like FLAX are seeing PREKURE Health Coaches partnering with schools to educate teachers and students on healthy habits, build resilience, and promote emotional wellbeing. Universities like AUT and Otago are recognising the important role of Health Coaches to support the wellbeing of students, with students able to utilise the services of a Health Coach on campus. And teachers themselves are also finding incredible value in developing and utilising health coaching skills in their teaching roles, like Health and PE teacher Christa Jellyman.
“As a Health and Physical Education teacher, my role has always been to enhance the wellbeing of my students. Since completing my certificate in health coaching, I have been able to change my approach in the way I teach, which has helped to gain a better rapport with my students, but also help guide them to have a better understanding of how they can develop action plans that promote sustainable health behaviours. I believe that through my knowledge as a Health Coach I have been able to develop a student-centered approach that is empowering my students to take ownership of their own health. In one term, I have already made huge gains with many students and my goal is to take this work further to help young individuals to find the joy in being active.” – Christa Jellyman, Health and PE TeacherGyms and Personal Trainers: Gyms and personal trainers are transforming their services, and moving beyond just physical exercise, as they recognise the power of taking a whole-person approach to wellbeing. PREKURE-trained coaches, like Health and Strength Coach Alice Rosier of Live Stronger, are elevating their client experience, and achieving greater personal fulfilment, by providing personalised coaching support that helps empower clients to achieve their health goals. Lifestyle Villages: Retirement communities are embracing preventative health initiatives. As a Health Coach in a Lifestyle Village, you can support residents in maintaining an active and fulfilling lifestyle, fostering a sense of community and wellbeing in their later years.
