Sports, Health and Exercise Science

Overview of the Research Area

The School of Health Science's Research into research in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences extends into the fields of Sport and Exercise Science, Health and Physical Education and Sports Development.

Sport and Exercise Science

Our diverse team of researchers spans the exercise science spectrum: from sports science and performance to ‘exercise is medicine’ and the application of research to clinical problems. With experts in areas such as cardiorespiratory physiology and resistance training, we tackle challenges associated with neuromuscular fatigue, ageing and chronic disease. Our sports science research program is built upon our strengths in injury risk mitigation, nutrition, movement analysis, and athlete monitoring and development. We have extensive collaborations with researchers in Australia and overseas, and we work closely with local organisations such as the GWS Giants, NSW Institute of Sport, and Bankstown City Aged Care

Health and Physical Education

The research strengths and main focus areas for health and physical education research at Western Sydney University cover:

  • Physical education
  • Physical activity
  • Health promotion
  • Sport coaching
  • Sport science
  • Sociocultural perspectives on Health and Physical Education teaching

Our staff have expertise in qualitative and quantitative methods and a strong record of publication upon completion of research projects. Researchers have access to international standard facilities on campus including a state of the art gymnasium and renovated dance and gym studio. These facilities are complemented by a wealth of sports venues including multi-purpose courts, football fields, and synthetic hockey pitches.

Industry research partners include: NSW Police, Institute of Sport, Football NSW, AFL NSW/ACT, Netball NSW, NRL, ARU, Ice Hockey NSW and various Indigenous sport organisations.

Sports Development

Coming soon.


Researchers

To find out more about a researcher, click on their name to be redirected to their staff profile.

Researchers

Dr Andrew Bennie, Snr Lecturer (Health and Physical Education)
Research Expertise and Interests: Sport Coaching; Physical Education; Qualitative Research; Indigenous Sport
Email:a.bennie@westernsydney.edu.au

Prof Roy Cheung, Professor (Physiotherapy)
Research Expertise and Interests: Biomechanics; Gait retraining; Wearable sensor; Motion analysis; Injury prevention; Musculoskeletal health
Email:Roy.Cheung@westernsydney.edu.au

Dr Peter Clothier, Lecturer (Sport & Exercise Science)
Research Expertise and Interests: Human Movement analysis; Biomechanics; Neuromechanics
Email:p.clothier@westernsydney.edu.au

Dr Genevieve Dwyer, Snr Lecturer (Physiotherapy)
Research Expertise and Interests: Physical Activity in children (with and without disability); Disability in children and optimising participation in their communities; Preterm survivors and motor outcomes; Preterm infants and interventions; Childhood obesity; Health service delivery in paediatric physiotherapy (including telehealth)
Email:g.dwyer@westernsydney.edu.au

Dr Emma George, Snr Lecturer (Health & Physical Education)
Research Expertise and Interests: Physical activity; health promotion; men's health; mixed methods research; intervention design; community engagement; professional sport
Email:e.george@westernsydney.edu.au

Assoc Prof Simon Green, Associate Professor (Sport & Exercise Science)
Research Expertise and Interests: Physiology; heart-lung interactions; exercise testing; experimental techniques; cardiopulmonary diseases
Email:s.green@westernsydney.edu.au

Dr Amitabh Gupta, Lecturer (Physiotherapy)
Research Expertise and Interests: Motor control, Biomechanics, Human Movement Science; Falls, Balance and Gait; Musculoskeletal Science; Physiotherapy
Email:a.gupta@westernsydney.edu.au

Prof Gregory Kolt, Dean (School of Science and Health)
Research Expertise and Interests: Health promotion; lifestyle behaviour change; physical activity; public health; Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD);
Email:g.kolt@westernsydney.edu.au

Assoc Prof Ric Lovell, Associate Professor (Sport & Exercise Science)
Research Expertise and Interests: Football Science, Injury Risk Mitigation; Athletic Development; Fatigue Management; Talent Identification; Load Monitoring
Email:r.lovell@westernsydney.edu.au

Dr Dean Norris, Lecturer (Sport & Exercise Science)
Research Expertise and Interests: Neuromuscular function, dose response modelling, performance analytics
Email: D.Norris2@westernsydney.edu.au

Robin Pap, Lecturer (Paramedicine)
Research Expertise and Interests: Paramedicine; Prehospital Care; Quality Improvement; Quality Indicators; Evidence Synthesis
Email:r.pap@westernsydney.edu.au

Dr Shona Papalia, Snr Lecturer (Sport and Exercise Science)
Research Expertise and Interests: Dance; sport; physical demands; injury
Email:s.papalia@westernsydney.edu.au

Associate Professor Paul Marshall, Associate Professor (Sport & Exercise Science)
Research Expertise and Interests: Back pain; fear-avoidance; exercise; neuromuscular; fatigue; weightlifting; injury prevention
Email:p.marshall@westernsydney.edu.au

Dr Nicole Peel, Lecturer (Health Sciences)
Research Expertise and Interests: Leisure and vulnerable groups " leisure and health " health education" systems change" recreation therapy" leisure and sport for outcomes"
Email:n.peel@westernsydney.edu.au

Dr Katherine Raw, Lecturer (Sport Development)
Research Expertise and Interests: Sport development; sport for development and peace; social impact; diversity; inclusion
Email:k.raw@westernsydney.edu.au

Dr Arianne Reis, Snr Lecturer (Lesisure and Recreation Studies)
Research Expertise and Interests: Therapeutic Recreation; Leisure, Sport and Physical Activity for Vulnerable and Marginalised Groups (e.g. refugees, migrants, low income communities, people in prison, etc.); Mental Health and Wellbeing; Public Spaces and Leisure; University Students' Learning
Email:a.reis@westernsydney.edu.au

Prof Jason Siegler, Professor (Sport & Exercise Science)
Research Expertise and Interests: Sport nutrition; human performance; physiology of fatigue
Email:j.seigler@westernsydney.edu.au

Dr Chloe Taylor, Snr Lecturer (Sport and Exercise Science)
Research Expertise and Interests: Cardiovascular control; autonomic nervous system; baroreflex function; microneurography; exercise physiology
Email:c.taylor@westernsydney.edu.au

Dr Rhiannon White, Lecturer (Health & Physical Education)
Research Expertise and Interests: Physical activity; mental health; motivation; self-determination theory; physical education
Email:r.white@westernsydney.edu.au