High performance sport and exercise

The High Performance Sport and Exercise theme brings together multidisciplinary teams to conduct applied research to enhance the performance and wellbeing of athletes. Researchers within this theme also investigate areas including high performance coaching, officiating, and management.

The High Performance Sport and Exercise theme combines University of Canberra expertise in sport science, analytics, strength and conditioning, nutrition, psychology, and management, with that of our industry partners. These industry partners include state and national sporting institutes and academies (such as the Australian Institute of Sport, NSW Institute of Sport, Queensland Academy of Sport, and ACT Academy of Sport), state and national sporting organisations (such as Capital Football, Triathlon Australia, Rugby Australia, Snow Australia, and Australian Sailing), and professional sports clubs (such as Brumbies Rugby and Canberra Raiders).

Importantly, researchers of the High Performance Sport and Exercise theme have a particular interest in supporting Women in Sport, as evidenced by our ongoing projects with industry partners such as the Canberra United A-League W team, Canberra Raiders women’s National Rugby League (NRLW) team, and the Brumbies Super W rugby team. Our current Women in Sport projects can be found here.

The High Performance Sport Research Centre undertakes projects which combine UC expertise in sports management, science, medicine, design and technology, with that of external partners. These include: the Australian Institute of Sport, the Australian Sports Commission, the ACT Academy of Sport, the Queensland Academy of Sport, national sporting organisations (such as Swimming Australia and Rowing Australia) and professional sports clubs (such as Brumbies Super XV rugby).

By bringing together interdisciplinary research teams, the High Performance Sport Research Centre combines expertise in multiple academic disciplines to address real-world problems in areas including athlete support and preparation, as well as high performance sport administration.

The Rugby and Football Research Centre combines experts in sports science, medicine and sports management with external partners to investigate best practice in rugby and football codes. The close connection between UCRISE, the Brumbies Super XV rugby team and the Canberra United "W league" women's football team are examples of rugby and football partnerships which have led to applied research projects.

The UCRISE Occupational Performance Science Special Interest Group (OPS group) is comprised of UCRISE researchers and consultants with relevant expertise and a particular interest in the science of human performance in occupational settings. The aim of the OPS Group is to develop occupational solutions for military personnel and first responders by conducting targeted research and providing evidence-driven consultancy services. Recent OPS group projects include: 

• Acceleration forces on the head during jet fighter training flights 
• A comparison of body composition assessments in an urban fire and rescue cohort to determine best practice 
• Development of a biomechanical model of muscle-tendon loads on the cervical spine for aircrew wearing helmets with helmet-mounted masses. 

The key activities of the exercise epigenetics research theme are underpinned by accumulating evidence that aging is linked to negative epigenetic alterations in cells. 

The Olympic Winter Sports Institute Research Centre, based at the University of Canberra, is a research collaboration between the Olympic Winter Institute, the Australian Institute of Sport and the University of Canberra. The Centre supports and services Australia's winter sports athletes in their pursuit of medals at World Championships and Olympic Games, as well as supporting sport researchers at the University of Canberra. The research includes sports medicine, sports science, coaching science, strength and conditioning and sports design projects. 

• Professor Nick Ball, Strength and Conditioning and Biomechanics
• Associate Professor Naroa Etxebarria, Sports Physiology
• Dr Michelle Minehan, Nutrition and Dietetics
• Professor Richard Keegan, Performance Psychology
• Dr Jocelyn Mara, Sports Analytics
• Associate Professor Julie Cooke, Anatomy and Physiology
• Professor Andrew McKune, Strength and Conditioning
• Professor Dick Telford, Physical Literacy
• Professor David Pyne, Sports Physiology (Adjunct Professor)
• Dr Brad Clark, Sports Physiology
• Mr Billy Mason, Strength and Conditioning