HomeBase 2013 Welcome2013 has been a busy year with staff teaching and researching, graduate students gaining knowledge and undertaking research and the undergraduate students learning and gaining relevant expertise in sport science, exercise and health. The staff has also been busy responding to the international review committee report, a result of the review undertaken in

April, and planning relevant changes in structure and curriculum. New graduate courses are being developed for 2014 and 2015 – maybe one will interest you, your social or family connections.

We thank those who joined us for the Centenary Reunion and hope that you enjoyed it as much as we did! We thank the Alumni Committee, in particular Meredith Eddington, for their organising abilities and the SSEH students who assisted on the evening.

I thank those who informed me of their pending non-attendance, most of whom took the opportunity to tell me where they are and what they are doing. It is amazing – the breadth of occupations and the places in the world where Alumni reside.

We greatly appreciate those who have have assisted the School by supporting

Words from the Head of SchoolThe School Review was very supportive of our academic and community outreach activities, but warned of the danger of becoming complacent in an every changing higher education landscape. We have been directed to get more focussed in our teaching and research, and to cut away programs that are not efficient and effective in the delivery of our mission. The UWA – Kobe agreement represents the first in a series of focussed collaborative agreements with international partners to promote research engagement at the cutting edge of sport and exercise science. Conversely, the withdrawal from our program with PSB allows us to focus our teaching efforts at the Crawley campus.

By the time Homebase is distributed, we will have hosted our Grand Reunion. Special thanks to Graeme Wright and the SSEH Alumni committee who have done such great work this year and to Meredith Eddington and Kerry Smith in particular, for the Reunion. In closing, I thank all academic and professional staff of the School for making 2013 a memorable

year. We all worked extremely hard in preparation for the Review and now have the important task of implementing the various recommendations. This will ensure the School maintains its reputation for excellence by delivering a vibrant and relevant academic program. Best wishes for the holiday break and for a healthy and happy 2014.

Tim Ackland

I write these paragraphs having just returned from a visit to Kobe University where I signed a research and education collaboration agreement with colleagues from Japan.

We are developing strong research ties with Prof Nari Kondo, an expert in thermoregulation and sweat production who has been working closely with Prof Danny Green’s group. Then, next week, I go to Singapore for one of the final graduation ceremonies for students from the UWA – PSB Academy program, as we are winding down our delivery of the course in Singapore from 2014. These two trips signify some important changes for the School arising from our School Review which was conducted in April.

kerry smith

our research in sport science, exercise and health by funding scholarships and partnering in equipment purchases in 2013; with your support we hope to increase this in the years to come.

We also thank all those who have assisted the staff and the School to deliver an excellent education to our students in 2013, helping SSEH to contribute to the UWA Faculty of Science’s tremendous result in the Worldwide University Rankings of number 26 in the world, to the University ranking of 91 in the world and to the Faculty of Science’s ranking as number one in Australia.

We wish you all a happy, healthy and safe festive season.

Kerry Smith

Inside this issue

→Continuing Education Courses 9 Pilates and Strength and Conditioning Contact: Bonnie.Furzer@uwa.edu.au

→Postgraduate Courses 12 Graduate Diplomas and

Masters Courses Contact: Sandy.Gordon@uwa.edu.au

HomebaseSport Science, Exercise and Health

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Continuing the SSEH tradition of prize winning School academics we welcome to the group Winthrop Professor Bob Grove who received a Faculty of Science Award for Excellence in Coursework Teaching. Bob arrived at Human Movement from the US in 1984, found his partner here (literally within the School) and he and Sheridan have brought up two wonderful young women, one of whom, Kate, completed her degree in SSEH before enrolling in medicine. Congratulations from all the SSEH staff and students.

clover maitland

Staff News

Ashleigh Thornton, newly on staff as part of the Exer-Gaming Project and Paediatric Exercise Programs, announced her engagement and won the “Good Guy Award” at the third year dinner, on the same day. She has also joined the SSEH Social Committee: keeping things social since 2012!!

Peter Peeling has extended his contract to a full time position as part of the exercise physiology team.

Joanne Huggins has replaced Barbara Smith at the front desk in a job share position with margaret Durling.

melanie Pescud completed some first year SSEH units and then defected to another School; she has now “gone the full circle” and is employed on contract as a researcher in the Health Promotion Unit (HPEU) at SSEH.

We also wish to congratulate coach Winthrop Professor Brian Dawson who, in his first year of coaching the East Perth Football Club team (Royals), reached the dizzy heights of the Grand Final WAFL game. Unfortunately the Royals were defeated on a very wet and windy day by the Falcons … but a great effort by all.

Congratulations to Brooke Haendel and staff member Peter Whipp on their marriage in October 2014. We wish them both (and the much loved pooches) every happiness.

Congratulations to Rebecca Braham and Brendan Lay on the arrival of their fourth child … after 3 daughters, a son: Lennox (Lendo) Campbell Lay.

Barbara Smith, after many years as part of the duo of ‘Marg and Barb’ at the front desk has retired and moved to Melbourne to live closer to her daughters and grandchildren. Farewelled at an amazing lunch prepared by the Social Committee (thanks Chair and Officers 1,2 and 3 – keeping it social since 2012) with superb salads by the admin staff there was a high attendance by the school staff, Emeritus Professors and friends within the UWA community. Presented with a voucher to a favourite clothing store (which Barb spent on the way home and wore the purchases

the following day) she also received a wonderful scrapbook with pages made by all staff members and many student groups.

Chris Pugh, a post doc working in the cardiac group, returns home to John Moores University, UK shortly. A social club stalwart, we will miss his b-b-q skills (apart from the time he and the other officers burnt the b-b-q – but not the food) and wish him all the best for the future. It has been suggested that he be the UK SSEH Social Club member and that he develop a number of club memberships that would be advantagous to visiting SSEH staff – football, golf etc. Bye Tugboat!

Congratulations to PhD student Clover maitland. In February 2013 at the Centenary Canberra Sportswomen’s Ball, the 2000 Olympic Australian Women’s Hockeyroos Team was named the Australian Women’s Sporting Team of the Century!

It so happens that the fearless gold medal goalkeeper of both the 1996 Atlanta and the 2000 Sydney Hockeyroos Olympic Teams is studying quietly in the southern wing of SSEH to complete her PhD (does not even wear her hard won bling to work). What a fantastic acknowledgement to accompany her two gold medal winning performances. Congratulations, Clover.

Clover and Christina Mills Davies also won three of the four prizes at the Population Health Postgraduate Symposium: Best Oral presentation: Clover and Christina (tied for first place), People Choice Award: Clover and Christina (tied for first place) and 2013 Consumer & Community Advisory Council Award for Consumer Participation: Christina Davies

tim and BarBara

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Congratulations to staff members Grant Landers (UWA Triathlon) and Mel Tantrum (UWA Uniswim) who received “Coach of the Year” Awards at the 2013 WA Department of Sport and Recreation Awards.

First year SSEH student Stephanie Boehm was awarded WA Junior Triathlon Official of the Year. She also won gold at the National Triathlon Championships in February whilst two other SSEH students came 10th (Troy Main and Jesse Thyer) in different events. Jesse went on to win the 2013 National Duathlon Championships in Oct. Grant also attended the World Triathlon Championships as a guide runner – he and Jeremy McClure finished 8th.

Coached by Mel, Rhys Mainstone was awarded 2013 Open Swimmer of the year and also made the team for the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships and Kat Downie was selected for IPC World Champs in Montreal.

“A gentlewoman and a scholar”. It is with sadness that we report of the passing of Dr Dawne Larkin in April this year. Initially a teacher, Dawne completed her doctoral studies at Columbia University before joining SSEH in the mid1980s, where she lectured in motor control and development. Dawne set a high standard of scientific integrity, scholarship, ethics, and honesty of herself and her students. Dawne’s contribution to the scientific literature in the area of child development included publishing over 50 papers, 2 books, 9 book chapters, the development of a screening test for motor development and supervising over 30 higher degree students. Under Dawne’s direction, Unigym became an internationally renowned program for children with coordination difficulties. As a consequence so many children are now

able to experience the joy of movement. It was in this role that she saw her major goals realized; that is to help children run freely, to skip and jump, to dance, to throw and catch so they could live life to the full. On retirement from SSEH Dawne continued to research, meeting her colleagues on Fridays to discuss issues, develop research projects and to drink wine! She is sadly missed by her many friends who remember her as a great academic, for her devotion to children with motor learning difficulties and directorship of Unigym, her penchant for colourful wraps, flowers, scarves, cushions, and paintings, her mentorship of young female academics and her loyalty, support and friendship.

Beth Hands, Betty Rose and Helen Parker

On 1 November 2013, SSEH Head of School, Prof Tim Ackland signed a General Memorandum of Agreement for staff and graduate student exchanges with the Graduate School of Human Development and Environment at Kobe University in Japan (Prof Akihiro Okada). Several visitors from Kobe

In Memoriam: Dr (Janet) Dawne Larkin

UWA and Kobe University Exchange

A beautiful object presented to the School in recognition of the assistance provided by the Technical Staff to the Honours Students of 2011 is pictured on the right.

Honours students completed 2011 in traditional style by unwinding after submissions with a responsible drink or two within the Honours room. To celebrate their achievements they creatively left the school a gift to remember them by … so the school says thank you and wishes all the best to all the Honours students and their future endeavours.

Highly prized by the Technical Staff and stored in the SSEH Technical Area for all to admire, is the wall cabinet. Although initially filled with interesting beverages, the contents were well and discretely

Beautifying the Technical Area!

used and the cupboard requires occasional/constant refilling (a quiet reminder to current honours students)

Don Gordon

have worked in the lab with Prof Danny Green and his team, including Prof Nari Kondo and Dr Kumiko Ono, while Danny, Tim and PhD student Howard Carter have given papers in return visits during 2013.

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Imagine my surprise when, passing the television, I spied Paul Richardson (pictured here with Richard “Huddo” Hudson at the AFL Grand Final this year) dancing in his hi-vis gear in front of an audience in Karratha as a member of the “Men of the Red Earth”, a men’s dance troupe formed for the Pilbara Red Earth Arts Festival. Some of you may be pleased to note that he was able to incorporate into the performance two moves of Phys Ed origin - the “Gwenyfred” (in honour of an infamous student residence in the 80’s) and the “Wave Dance”! I know that he rode to Sydney in a bilby suit for the 2000 Olympics and has undertaken numerous interesting activities throughout his life; this was another exceptional effort!

The Faculty of Science Awards

A collaboration of SSEH, West Coast Eagles and the Athletes Performance Academy

In 2013 a value added course was offered to 25 Level 3 UWA BSc Sport Science, Exercise and Health students.

The course built on the knowledge and skills from the BSc undergraduate degree to provide third year students with an understanding of current industry practice in high performance

The journalist was frothing on incredulously about mine-site workers in hi-vis gear performing a dance extravaganza to an audience – obviously he was unaware of the talents of our “phys edders”, imparted to them by “twinkle toes”, world renowned Ann Clark.

Monica Leslie AJ Marshall Memorial Award; Convocation of UWA Graduates Prize - Human Biology and Human Movement (Level 1); University of Western Australia Physical Education Students’ Association Prize

Rachel McCormick Convocation of UWA Graduate Prize – Human Biology and Human Movement (Level 1)Marc Babich-Philip Convocation of UWA Graduate Prize – Bachelor of Science, Exercise and Health, Level 2Jess Cameron Convocation of UWA Graduate Prize – Bachelor of Science, Exercise and Health, Level 2Caroline Davis Rod Fry AwardJonothon Jacobs GG Watson AwardJason Kiely Robin K Gray AwardBen Kopec Robin Moss PrizeJessica Smurthwaite Tracy Cawson Prize in Exercise Rehabilitation ScienceProfessor Bob Grove Faculty of Science Award, Excellence in CourseworkTeaching.

glen stewart

The Dancer

Principles and Practices of High-Performance Sport Coaching coaching and player preparation, with theory (at SSEH) and practical sessions at the West Coast Eagles FC (WCE). In addition, the students were presented with opportunities to work with a wide range of coaches.

We thank Glenn Stewart, High Performance Manager, WCE for the opportunity presented to our students who quickly filled the spaces available. A waitlist has already been established for the 2014 program.

The Faculty of Science was delighted to welcome the 2012 award winners, donors and special guests to the inaugural Awards Breakfast. Congratulations to all award recipients on their outstanding achievements and many thanks to the generous donors who make this prize giving possible. The SSEH Awardees were:

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Early in 2011, the preparations began for an exciting new pregnancy and diabetes research study to be conducted at the School with the support of the National Health and medical Research Council, Telethon and the Women and Infants Research Foundation. This study is exploring if 14 weeks of supervised home-based exercise (cycling) training can prevent Gestational Diabetes mellitus (GDm) in women who have had the condition in a previous pregnancy.

A year and a half further on:

The Cycle Study Cycling to Prevent the Cycle of Gestational Diabetes

GDM increases the risk of complications with labour and delivery, as well as increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes later-in-life for the mother, and obesity and diabetes in the child. Pregnant women in the exercise group have a stationary bike delivered and receive one-on-one personal training in their own home. The program overcomes many of the common barriers to exercise for women during pregnancy including finding time, transportation, childcare issues and concerns about safety and supervision. Dana Hughes heard about the study when it was preparing to get underway in 2011 and not wanting to miss out on the fabulous opportunity,

jumped on board straight away! She was the first official volunteer. However, the Cycle Study wasn’t quite ready to start recruiting at the time and as Dana’s pregnancy progressed she was no longer eligible for the study (which starts at 14 weeks of pregnancy). However, Dana’s determination to be part of the Cycle Study was clear when she got in touch with the research team about 18 months (and 112 participants!) later, when she became pregnant for a third time! I’m sure that the Cycle Study wasn’t the only reason they decided to get pregnant again… So Dana has been hopping on her bike for almost 14 weeks now and like most other participants, credits the Cycle Study for feeling fitter and healthier during her current pregnancy when compared to previous ones.

The Cycle Study requires more volunteers based in Metropolitan Perth and is expected to run until mid-2014. So if you or anyone you know might be eligible to participate, please call the Cycle Study research midwives on 9340 1705 or visit our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/thecyclestudy) for more information.Nicole Crisp

School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, UWA

In 2002 students of Sport Science, Exercise and Health commenced travelling to the Pilbara to assist as practicum students in health promotion programs, firstly in Punmu and then to the communities of Kunawarritji, Jigalong and Parnngurr. Initially supported by Newcrest Mining, through the Community Relations program headed by Leon Van Erp, over time the program gained additional sponsorship whilst still retaining Newcrest support.

At the conclusion of the health promotion program Newcrest continued support

REDimED and the School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, UWA.

REDiMED is a company that provides comprehensive health services and workplace injury management, focusing on early intervention, to corporate employees. The team encompasses on-site plastic/orthopaedic surgeons, general practitioners, registered nurses and allied health providers who bring corporations world-class health services and care.

Among the REDiMed employees are numerous SSEH graduates, in particular, exercise physiologists. REDiMED has gifted 5 years of Honours Scholarships (one a year for 5 years) and a top up PhD Scholarship for 3.5 years to research topics related to Exercise Rehabilitation within the SSEH Honours and PhD programs. We thank Dr Hanh Nguyen and REDiMED for their support and we look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership.

of the placement program with students travelling to assist the Western Desert Sports Council Inc, now named Ngurra Kujungka (Martu for “all coming together in one place”) with their Western Desert Sports Carnivals and health promotion program, funded by Newcrest and the Department of Sport and Recreation.

Our thanks go to Newcrest Mining with special thanks to Leon, Peter, Tristen, Dan, Ben and the rest of the Newcrest Community Team for their ongoing assistance, support and supervision providing the opportunity for SSEH students to broaden their knowledge and expertise. Thank you all.

dana hughes with daughters,

eva and elisaBeth

Principles and Practices of High-Performance Sport Coaching

A new partnership

An ongoing partnership

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Thank you to those who continue to support the Paediatric Exercise ProgramsWe greatly appreciate your assistance as we widen our program base to assist children in need of a supportive environment in which to learn fund-amental movement skills and to gain the skills to enable confident participation in community physical activity.

In the past few years we have seen our Paediatric Exercise Programmes grow (and grow). Apart from Unigym coordinated by Melissa Licari we now offer the very successful Thriving, coordinated by Bonnie Furzer. Thriving is a fitness based programme for children with chronic conditions with sessions offered during term time and over summer. Following the success of Thriving, in 2012 we launched iFit,

coordinated by Siobhan Reid, to prepare children to ‘fit in’ with sport and recreational opportunities in their communities. Both these new programmes offer opportunities for students enrolled in the Exercise Rehabilitation Graduate Diploma to gain important skills in working in paediatrics. We are planning additional programs to commence in 2014 and 2015, ensuring that program coordinator, Megan Armitage remains busy.

The Paediatric Exercise Programs (PEP) offer many research opportunities for our Post Graduate students. Congratulations to doctoral students Ashleigh Thornton and Esther Chia for submitting PhDs in

2013 where they worked with boys from Unigym with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) assessing motor overflow and the physiological cost of running respectively. In 2013 we have also been delighted that Jess Reynolds and Claire Willis have commenced their PhDs working with children from Unigym and iFit. And it doesn’t stop there… in 2014 Kemi Wright will also be commencing PhD research with children in our Paediatric programs. Honours projects have included Yihui Chen investigating the Mirror Neuron System in DCD and Ansley Tan investigating visual tracking during catching in DCD.

Our Team of SSEH Staff Members involved in the programs above:

ashleigh Bonnie megan sioBahnmelissa

We often take for granted the ability of our brains to translate how we want our body to perform a task into the correct set of movements. For children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) in Unigym this isn’t the case. Somewhere the signals go wrong and despite their best efforts they struggle to perform even simple movements efficiently.

My body doesn’t do as my brain says

There were so many areas within sport science that I found interesting during my degree, so when it came time to contemplate undertaking a PhD I didn’t really know where to start. Then in the last semester of my final year, I took part in the Unigym program and had the opportunity to work with a young girl with DCD. I knew straight away that this was the area I wanted to pursue.

Currently the underlying causes of DCD are unknown and research exploring the aetiology of this condition is limited because of the complexity and cost involved. It has recently been proposed that deficits in the functioning of mirror neurons may be an underlying cause of DCD. Mirror neurons are neurons that

fire when a person observes as well as acts out or imagines an action performed by another. They allow us to understand actions of others and are thought to be our primary modality of motor learning by enabling us to imitate skills that we see others performing.

Fortunately I have been given an opportunity to explore this mirror neuron system hypothesis for my PhD research, supported by a multidisciplinary team of researchers and neuroradiology staff from UWA, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Victoria University and the University of Leeds. The first phase of the research will use behavioural assessments to look at imitation and motor imagery ability of children with and without DCD. The

second phase of this research will then use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore mirror neuron system activation in children with and without DCD. fMRI involves looking at the change in blood oxygenation levels in the brain to determine where activity is occurring or where deficiencies may exist. Imitation activities with small amounts of movement can be performed in the scanner to look at activation of areas within the mirror neuron system associated with the task. By gaining a greater understanding of the underlying causes, we hope to be able to translate our findings into the creation of intervention programs to assist children with DCD.Jess Reynolds

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A world of opportunity: From SSEH, to all corners of the globe and back again

The SSEH Environmental Chamber – inclusive of climate and altitude, a joint venture by the WCE and SSEH

In 2010, I embarked on the most incredible journey of my life. I left Australia with a one-way ticket, no plans and definitely no desire to begin a PhD! I spent two years travelling, some of which was spent working in some of the most amazing and unheard of parts of the globe. Having an Honours degree in Sport Science, Exercise and Health allowed me the opportunity to experience some incredibly unique lines of employment; from rehabilitation centres in North America, to coordinating sport activities on board cruise ships, to many months in hospitals in remote villages in Nepal. I never knew what

was coming next. A twist of fate in 2012 took me to a rehabilitation institution in the middle of the mountains in Norway. Beitostølen Healthsports Centre (BHC) is an integral part of the rehabilitation chain in Norway, seeking to enhance lifelong activity and participation by adapting activities to the needs of each individual. Participation is a goal shared by parents, clinicians and service providers involved in paediatric rehabilitation, but it can be complex to facilitate and achieve. Here, I was watching magic happen; this hidden gem at the end of the earth was helping families to understand that there should be no limits - the possibilities are actually endless.

My PhD is a collaborative project between The University of Western Australia, Princess Margaret Hospital, Curtin University and Beitostølen Healthsports Centre (Norway). We are aiming to develop a model to help to facilitate community participation in children with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). Although Norway has a very successful model, we are designing our own to

make sure that it meets the needs of children and families in Australia.

In a world of diverse cultures, climates and languages, activities that children around the world partake in can be very different. However, the enjoyment and fulfilment that is experienced by just participating is certainly universal. With the help of the Western Australian community, we hope this research can assist children with ABI in their transition back into the community. Ultimately, we are working towards improving the quality of life of these fantastic kids and their families. Claire Willis

Funded by the West Coast Eagles and the School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health and named the Frank Pyke Environmental Chamber, in August the upgraded chamber was declared open by Janet Pyke after speeches by Brian Dawson, Glenn Stewart, High Performance Manager of the WCE and Mark Nicoski, a WCE player.

We look forward to a wide range of research being completed in this environment!

mark nicoski, Brian dawson, glenn stewart janet pyke

The Many Faces of martin AndersonLecturer in Health and Physical EducationChair of the SSEH Teaching Committee

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After working as a rehabilitation/strength and conditioning coach at Swan Districts Football Club (WAFL) for the past few years, I have lived alongside players experiencing the combination of not just physical, but the mental strain of the long journey back from an ACL injury. It has been a hot topic this year in the AFL, where by round 8 there were already 15 players down and out for the season with these injuries. Team sports require an athlete to change direction constantly with little time to react in order to avoid an opponent. These non-contact, change of direction, tasks are where the majority (56%) of ACL injuries occur. Interestingly, current figures place females 4-6 times more likely to rupture

I love running, for a time though, dodgy knees saw me slowed to a crawl. But during my undergraduate years I fell into employment at Jim Kidd Sports and made an unbelievable discovery - ¬wearing good quality running shoes makes all the difference. Not long after slipping into a pair of Asics I was back pounding the pavement. I felt that such a drastic improvement required further investigation; I wanted to know why such a simple change made such a radical difference.

Jacqueline Alderson agreed to supervise me in a PhD investigating how supportive footwear can reduce knee injuries and handed me a newspaper article on barefoot running. The article described a very popular book entitled “Born to Run” that heavily advocated for barefoot running. As a running shoe devotee, I was shocked that people would fathom running without the exquisite cushioning and support a quality running shoe provides. More amazing still, the article claimed that running barefoot would make you a more efficient runner and reduce your injuries! I set forth to investigate.

I did some reading and theorised that perhaps it wasn’t the lack of shoes that made ‘barefoot’ running so great (according to internet blogs, I didn’t come across any scientific evidence) but maybe the style of running it facilitates. Whilst barefoot, you are more likely to land on the ball/front of your foot first, otherwise known as a forefoot strike, whereas when in shoes most tend to land on their heel first, known as a rearfoot strike. I was fascinated, could the angle your foot hits the ground really make you a better and

less injury riddled runner? How? Why? My PhD topic was born!

After four years I have found that forefoot strike running places more stress on the ankle joint while rearfoot running the knee. Though despite this altered distribution, overall there is no difference in total lower limb work between runners who naturally forefoot strike and those who naturally rearfoot strike. However, consciously changing from a preferred rearfoot strike to a forefoot technique (which is what a lot of people are trying with barefoot running) can actually increase the lower limb work required and may be detrimental to running performance. On the other hand, if runners who naturally forefoot strike switch to a rearfoot technique, there is no change in lower limb work; this may be a useful strategy to offload the ankle joint for injury rehabilitation. While I have answered a lot of questions by doing my PhD I now seem to have even more! I hope to continue in this field of research and maybe one day have all the answers on how best to run injury free.

Sarah Stearne

The ACL Curse: preventing knee injuries in sporttheir ACL in sport in comparison to their male counterparts.

After teaming up with supervisors Cyril Jon Donnelly, Jacque Alderson and Bruce Elliott in 2012, we formulated my PhD around some clear gaps in preventative biomechanical medicine. The first phase which I worked on with honours student Natalie Smailes was to develop a screening tool capable of identifying athletes at risk of sustaining an ACL injury by assessing the biomechanical techniques they adopt during change of direction running tasks. In order for this to be applied in a community sport setting, cost and ease of this tool were

exploring the role of the foot in running

Sole searching:

paramount. By using 2D video based measures of full body kinematics, we found they were both accurate and reliable in predicting dangerous knee loading patterns associated with ACL injury. The second phase of my research entails the development and implementation of body-weight based hip and trunk neuromuscular training to specifically target biomechanical risk factors placing an athlete at risk of sustaining an ACL injury. We have been absolutely spoilt to work in conjunction with AIS Physiotherapist Jennifer Cooke and Strength and Conditioning coach Kate Starre for the implementation of this training intervention with the national women’s hockey squad (Hockeyroos). The primary aim of my research is to then be able to translate these findings into community level training environments. We are currently working with the team at SiliconCoach video analysis software to create an online open source tool to enable coaches and trainers to screen their athletes at all levels. Identified ‘high risk’ athletes can then be placed into targeted training protocols, and subsequently reduce their risk of sustaining an ACL injury in sport. Gillian Weir

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As the youngest (only just) of 3 competitive brothers, I grew up in a very active house. With only two years separating us, bragging rights over who was stronger, faster or better was often determined by some sporting venture. Whether we played football, cricket, basketball or something completely made up, winning was the key. Unfortunately for me, I was the small, skinny brother! It was in my third year sitting in a Brendan Lay skill acquisition lecture when I had one of those moments. A moment when you think, “I wish I had known about that earlier.” Brendan was talking about athletes like Roger Federer and Wayne Gretkzy winning against physically superior opponents, just by playing smarter. Suddenly my definition of ‘what makes a great athlete’ was a little broader. Player smarts, or perceptual expertise, has since become the main

To See or Not to See: training vision during evasive action.

research focus for both my honours and doctoral studies. To date, my PhD has incorporated the development of a 3D projection environment and customising an eye tracker to assess, and potentially train, players’ visual strategies to decrease knee loading when evading opponents by sidestepping.

With the increasing management of workloads of, and physical restrictions placed on, AFL players during training,

there is a potential need for passive-cognitive training platforms such as simulators and virtual reality. These systems are capable of providing athletes with a realistic game environment in which athletes can be placed into in-game scenarios for decision-making training. My research aims to determine how best to use such environments in the training of perceptual skills that could positively influence a player’s on-field performance. Steve Tidman

Continuing Education Courses at SSEH in 2014

march-April 2014 Contemporary PilatesContempory Pilates Comprehensive Spe-cialised Course for exercise physiologists and movement therapists presented in partnership with international pilates com-pany, art of motion – training in movement.Part A – Pilates Essentials (4 days)Part B – Pilates Flow and Remedial (4 days)

June – August 2014 Strength and Conditioning Professional development course for exercise therapists, coaches, fitness professionals and allied health, delivered by elite strength and conditioning professionals, including elite strength and conditioning coaches, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists and researchers and incorporating practical and seminar components.Part A – Functional Movement AssessmentPart B – Strength and Conditioning Injury Prevention and ManagementPart C – Strength and Conditioning Sport Specific Training

Contact: bonnie.furzer@uwa.edu.au

A graduate of Human Movement with a post graduate Diploma of Education, Symon began his teaching career in Kalgoorlie and then transferred to Mandurah to teach and follow his dream of competing as a Triathlete. After a few wins, his training intensified, but life as he knew it came to a screaming halt after colliding with a distracted driver in a four wheel drive whilst training.

His injuries were significant. Hundreds of facial, neck and chest stitches, a broken jaw, lost teeth and a significant bleed into the spinal cord. This bleed resulted in partial quadriplegia with a significant spinal syrinx (syringomyelia). The spinal lesion is ascending and, as time goes on, his hands and arms have less feeling and he is losing more and more motor function. He works with a team of medical

A Human Movement Graduate Striving for Independence: Symon Still

specialists to reduce the negative effects but only so much can be done. He has to continually modify his life to suit.

His job requires transport and he needs your help. He is the National Injury Prevention Leader of the Paraplegic Benefit Fund (PBF) where he recruits, manages, mentors and coaches a team of 20 people to present Injury Prevention education throughout Australia. Presentations are aimed at preventing traumatic injury and death and the presenters are those who have sustained a spinal cord injury and as result are wheelchair bound. It is a position and role of which he is very proud and wishes to continue for the long term.

In order to do his job he needs to travel constantly to presentations, to see clients, to participate in meetings and to meet with PBF presenters. Due to the advances in his physical condition he now requires a specialised wheelchair accessible van that he can drive from his power chair. Half the funds have been raised to purchase the van but a further ~ $25,000 is required.

Further information is available at: https://give.everydayhero.com/au/symon-still

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HPEU has been working within SSEH on a number of projects over the last 12 months. From active video gaming research, to evaluations of community programs and larger government-based workplace initiatives, the variety in our work provides us with many opportunities to engage with different community groups.

Our most recent biennial evaluation of Healthway’s sponsorship program finished in April. Healthway sponsors WA based sport, arts and community organisations in exchange for the promotion of health messages at their events. Field staff were sent to 25 Healthway sponsored events over a year to conduct surveys with attendees. It was found that the sponsorship program continues to successfully promote health messages to the public, with 72% of respondents aware of a health message and around 16% taking some form of related behavioural action.

Children’s activity and technology is another research area in which we have been particularly ‘active’. The active video gaming lab has been the site of research projects investigating energy expenditure, social interaction and motor skill development opportunities for children within new generation active video games. It was found that when playing the Xbox Kinect, children

The Health Promotion Evaluation Unit (HPEU)maintain energy expenditure over multiple sessions, and that playing is likely to contribute to reducing children’s sitting time. However, what happens in the laboratory may not always accurately reflect what happens at home. One HPEU PhD project is looking at how the home environment may influence children’s activity at home. Initial findings from interviews with families of 9 to 13 year old children across Perth indicate that the size, space and design of the homes, and the equipment available within them, can influence children’s opportunities for activity.

Earlier this year we wrapped up the evaluation of the National Heart Foundation’s Community Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Grants program, an initiative that provided small grants to community groups from the metropolitan area and rural and remote communities. The program proved to be successful at providing examples of how to easily engage in physical activity and healthy eating via the Swap, It, Don’t Stop It message.

Following on from a SSEH Honours student’s research project, we worked with the AFL Players Association to provide them with some insights into the health and wellbeing of past AFL players, as well as how aspects of their playing careers influence their current

She is doing her Honours Year in Biomechanics. Congratulations Kirsty.

The reunion this year is part of the 100 year celebrations of UWA and we are delighted to be part of the celebrations. We are linking 100 years of UWA with our new fund raising quest. Our objective is to secure 100 people, contributing $1000 per year (that is less that $20 per week) on an ongoing basis. Reaching our target will assist to secure future funding for student support, scholarship, travel and a cluster of developments for all those who are part of the Alumni at the School. Names are already on the list and we would love to think that you may wish to help us get closer to 100 names. This will help us secure the future of our current students.

The Alumni Committee has now finalised the details for our ongoing Mentoring Program. This will be an

lifestyle. Among some of the interesting findings, past players were found to have a comparable level of mental well-being to that of similarly aged males from the general population, although past players did report drinking alcohol at higher levels.

Most recently, we started working on a two-year evaluation of the Healthier Workplace WA program. The program is part of a joint Australian, State and Territory Government Initiative being delivered by the Heart Foundation WA in conjunction with Cancer Council WA and UWA. The program aims to improve workplace health through the combined efforts of employers and workers to encourage and support healthy lifestyle habits. Members of our HPEU team also form part of the management advisory group.

In addition, a pilot program that will investigate fundamental motor skills in pre-primary and primary aged students is to shortly commence. This will look at using computer technology and link nicely to the School paediatric programming.

The HPEU team is led by Michael Rosenberg, with Melanie Pescud, Clover Maitland, Amanda Derbyshire and Renee Ferguson, two of whom (Clover and Amanda) are SSEH graduates.Renee Ferguson

exciting development and hopefully offer the support and guidance required by graduating students. We would enjoy hearing from you if you wish to be involved in the mentoring program as a mentor.

Your Alumni Committee has been involved in supporting coaching courses, documenting a values proposition paper about being involved in the Alumni Association and creating specific flyers designed to get you more involved.

If you wish to be involved over 2014, and beyond, then we would be delighted to hear from you. I would also like to thank the committee for the work that we completed over 2013. Great job team! Trust you all had a great year and that 2014 will bring all you work for. Enjoy the break. Cheers

Graeme Wright (Chair)

What a great year it has been…another one I hear you say. The sound foundations are beginning to yield results.

2013 saw the inaugural Frank Pyke Memorial Scholarship presented. This was a direct result of your generosity. The significant fund raising effort has all but secured the future of the Scholarship. It would be remiss of me, on behalf of the Committee, not to thank all of you who have given so generously. It is important to acknowledge that support of the Pyke Family and the WA Government. In addition we would like to publically acknowledge the work that Winthrop Professor Brian Dawson has done in bringing the whole scholarship matter to fruition. Thanks Daws. Ms Kirsty McDonald was the inaugural recipient.

Alumni News

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We thank all Alumni, Pyke family members, West Australian Government and other donors who

provided funding to enable the establishment of the Frank Pyke memorial Scholarship, an initiative of the SSEH Alumni Committee.

In an informal ceremony on 11th of September, current Honours student Kirsty McDonald was announced as the inaugural recipient of the Frank Pyke Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is the result of 18 months of intensive fundraising, which has seen over $130,000 donated, such that the scholarship will be able to be offered annually, in perpetuity. (Additional funding would be appreciated to enable an increase in the annual amount awarded). It is named in the memory of Professor Frank Pyke, a former student and Lecturer within the School, and the Executive Director of the Victorian Institute of Sport from 1990 to 2006. His academic and administrative career spanned some 30 years, in which he was at the forefront of many initiatives in sports science, sports administration and elite athlete program developments within Australia. His academic qualifications included Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Education (Physical Education) from

The First Frank Pyke Memorial Scholarship Awarded

The University of Western Australia (1962, 1967) and a PhD in Exercise Physiology and Human Performance from Indiana University, USA (1970). He also received an Australian Sports Medal in 2000, Life Membership of the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation in 2002 and induction into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2003. Sadly, he fell victim to motor neurone disease in November 2011. The School Alumni is very pleased to bring this scholarship to fruition, to honour Frank’s contribution to academia and sport within our country. The scholarship, designed to assist Honours students in sports science with their studies and sporting activities, carries with it a stipend of approximately

$4000, plus $1000 for travel expenses to attend an appropriate sport science conference. Kirsty, as the first recipient, will receive her stipend shortly and will look to attend a conference within the next 12 months, hopefully to present the results of her Honours project in biomechanics. Her topic is investigating the differences in energy transfer between fore-foot and rear-foot runners, with the results likely to have application to both distance running performance and injury risk. She is a State representative in women’s Gaelic football and also coaches in women’s soccer at junior levels.

Brian Dawson, Alumni Committee member

C Jon Donnelly, who was awarded: 2013 Outstanding Researcher Award (National Centre for Simulation Rehabilitation Research, Stanford University, http://opensim.stanford.edu/support/pilot.html) and the 2012 High Achieving Young Investigator Award (UWA, www.research.uwa.edu.au/staff/funding/young-investigator-awards)

Peter Peeling, who at the inaugural ‘Pitch your Project’, won a monetary prize to assist with his research

Jonas Rubenson and co-authors, whose paper Programmable Mechanical Stimulation Influences Tendon Homeostasis in a Bioreactor System was placed in the top 1% of papers by the Rheumatology Faculty

Ben Jackson, who is part of a group who won a large, health promotion ARC Discovery Project grant.

Danny Green and Louise Naylor, who are part of a group who have won a National Health and Medical Research Grant to research Does breaking up sitting time with activity improve cognitive function? Graduate David Dunstan, from the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, is also part of the research team.

Kym Guelfi, who received a monetary reward for her presentation to the Science Faculty Competition on The effect of relaxation training on energy intake and appetite regulation: implications for weight management

Ben Beau cyril jon

jonas (emu man) pistol pete

Congratulations

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We welcome contributions, photos, feedback and anecdotes.

The weather is getting hotter, exams are almost finished and before you know it, it will be the “festive season”, a time to spend with family and loved ones. Like most people, I am looking forward to the break, in fact, I am really looking forward to it. This realisation makes me pause to reflect on the so called “work life balance”. I know that I am in no way qualified to give any advice on this topic (Rob can attest to the fact that I am probably one of the worst culprits when it comes to accruing “excess annual leave”). But, as my high school chemistry teacher used to always say, “indulge me, if you will”, so here goes...

I once read a newspaper article claiming that 95% of women believe they can attain everything they want at work and at home. At first, I was sceptical, surely they were lying! But after some thought I realised that you can, you just have to want less! It may sound like I’m joking, but I’m not. It’s about setting prioritises that are real and congruent across all the compartments of your life, knowing who we are and what is truly important

to us, and prioritise those things. The rest can wait, or just not get done.

My journey to becoming a research associate was exactly that – a journey. As many new graduates do, once I had my degree I was faced with the decision of what to do now. So I did what I think most people in my shoes are tempted to do, I delayed the decision by staying at Uni for a bit longer! I decided to do an Honours year and see where that took me. Well, that “year of procrastination” started me on a career as a researcher, which so far has been fulfilling, and rewarding yet challenging. I think the best way to describe it is like going on a journey through uncharted territory. Research is fundamentally about trying to gain new understandings, the answers aren’t in any textbook, research is about new ideas, and designing clever ways to test them. The next step is crucial. It is taking that new understanding and applying it to answer some real issues. For me, it’s all about making a difference – whether it is to my family, or the kidsand families in my research projects, or to the scientific community. My research is all driven by the idea that we can use exercise to prevent and treat lots of different diseases, and make a difference to peoples’ health and life.

I will be the first to admit that it is not all smooth sailing, some days are consumed with juggling – there are the hundreds of deadlines – proposals, ethics, paperwork, meetings, grants, analysis, writing up, testing sessions, teaching commitments, and all of this

happens while figuring out what the very latest time I can leave and not be too late for school pick up/drop off, or to get the girls to their sporting commitments, helping with homework, birthday parties, and of course spending “quality time” with loved ones, and “me” time.

Getting clear on what is really important to me, and how your choices align with these values helped me to create “balance”. I (try to) make sure that I spend most of my time doing things I believe are important. Of course, it’s not all about me and what I want, I have to be able to explain it to my family too so that they are on board. My daughter once complained “but mum, you don’t need to go to that early meeting”, and I could reply to her “that’s right, I don’t need to go, but I would really like to because I think it is really important” and then I explained to her how I believed I was helping the sick kids I was working with, and she actually agreed that I should go.

Once you have set your priorities, you need to make a commitment to them. This is the hard part! There are certain truths of life, and one of them is that once you make a decision, you will be tested. That’s when you have to remind yourself of those priorities and celebrate the small victories along the way. I believe gratitude is extremely important, and might even say that without gratitude, you can’t be happy. And last, but definitely not least, I can’t claim to do it all on my own. I have to confess that I have an awesome family, including a very supportive husband, and I work with great people!

The (second) Last Word: Louise Naylor

Want a change of direction or an additional qualification?

We offer four Graduate Diplomas (one year full time or 2 years part time) and Masters of Science Programs which may be of interest.

GRADUATE DIPLomAWork Health and Safety tim.ackland@uwa.edu.auEducation martin.anderson@uwa.edu.auExercise Rehabilitation bonnie.furzer@uwa.edu.auSport and Recreation management inga.carr@uwa.edu.au

mASTER of SCIENCEScience, Work Health and Safety, Education, Exercise Rehabilitation inga.carr@uwa.edu.au

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