Fitness First launched a brand new concept club in Melbourne, Australia, in 11 May. Progress-driven, science-based and results-focused, the High Performance Club (HPC) will teach members how to train like an athlete to get superior results.

A AUS$1m (€701,000, $802,000, £510,000) refurbishment and rebrand of an existing club, the ethos behind it is that you don’t have to be genetically gifted to have the body of an athlete – you just have to train like one. Fitness First says this approach to fitness is a game changer and it has invested heavily in research, technology and gym floor staff to deliver the concept.

The company has drawn on the expertise of a team of physiologists, sports scientists, strength and conditioning coaches and some of the best trainers in the fitness industry – as well as using the latest research, innovation and behavioural psychology – to inform its approach.

Members will be encouraged to train for performance improvements – an approach designed to lead to faster improvements, as well as greater strength, speed and leanness.

Members can choose to train on their own, with a coach or in a group. They can also join a pro-league team and compete in a six-week season. All members will be given a highly tailored programme which will be reassessed every 12 weeks.

Another first for the club is the MoveLab, which uses the latest video technology to allow members to test their athletic performance, analyse their movements and gain the knowledge to perfect their technique. For example, if they squat with slightly more pressure on one leg, MoveLab will identify this.

A range of group exercise classes are on offer in line with the global Fitness First philosophy of dynamic movement training, but this is being taken to a new level at the HPC with its 'train like an athlete' concept.

Given the level of expertise, feedback and technology on offer, the club has a high-end price point – membership starts at A$52 (£26, $42, €36) per fortnight on an 18-month contract. However, despite the focus on getting results, Fitness First emphasises this is an inclusive concept, with novices as welcome as elite athletes.

Facilities include Life Fitness cable-based equipment, a 20m sprint track, free weights, a high impact commando zone, five Olympic lifting dual cell cages by Iron Edge, treadmills and Woodway self-powered treadmills, a group cycling studio, group exercise studio and a stretch area.