Exercise & Health Sciences
Undergraduate Exercise & Health Sciences brochure
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Exercise & Health Sciences
Our wide range of courses can lead to exciting careers in health promotion, nutrition, occupational safety and health, sports coaching, personal training, exercise rehabilitation and more. Many of our courses also provide a pathway to postgraduate study.
With access to state-of-the-art facilities, and lecturers who work in the industry, you have the potential to become the best trainer, therapist, assessor, evaluator, adviser, researcher or rehabilitator that you can be.
ECU receives Environmental Health accreditation
In March 2012, our Environmental Health major received national accreditation by Environmental Health Australia and the WA Environmental Health Officers Professional Review Board.
The Environmental Health major is a specialist stream within the Bachelor of Health Science course. It was developed in consultation with local WA employers of Environmental Health Officers, and was mapped against EnHealth criteria for Environmental Health Practitioners.
Hands-On Training Through the Spinal Injury Centre
We've recently announced an exciting partnership with Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (SCIA), resulting in the creation of the "Walk On" rehabilitation program, based at ECU's Health and Wellness Institute.
The Centre will provide access to hands‑on training to both ECU staff and students from the Exercise Science and Rehabilitation course, allowing them to develop specific rehabilitation exercises.
Health Science Students Travel Abroad
Our Health Science students have the opportunity to take part in international practicum placement in Bali throughout their course.
In collaboration with Health Communication Resources (HCR), students reside and work in a Balinese village for three weeks.
The placement offers students an inside look at international healthcare programs, enabling them to further develop their studies and skills in community development and health promotion.
ECU's Human Performance Centre
Our Human Performance Centre (HPC) provides undergraduate students studying courses including the Bachelor of Science (Exercise and Sports Science) and the Bachelor of Science (Exercise Science and Rehabilitation) with the chance to get involved in sporting and health‑related activities to gain practical experience. Students can put what they have learned in their classes into practice within the community, including sporting teams and elite athletes.
Occupational Therapy Teaching Suites
Our OT students have access to three well‑equipped occupational therapy laboratories and teaching resources in the Health and Wellness Building at our Joondalup Campus.
These labs have specialised equipment for students to learn hands‑on skills in physical rehabilitation, assistive technology and communication technology. These labs combine with a range of impressive facilities to create a state‑of‑the‑art learning environment.
Football Science (Soccer) course
Our Bachelor of Science (Sports Science and Football) course is the only one of its kind in Australia. It offers a solid foundation of both science and football‑related units including Physiology, Performance Analysis and Advanced Coaching and Leadership and Management in Football. The qualification can lead to careers in areas such as football coaching, sports coaching, sports science, physiology and teaching.
Health Science Students: Making a Difference Overseas
Our Health Science students were recently offered the chance to travel to Tulikup Village in central Bali to take part in a practicum placement run by Health Communication Resources (HCR).
Students lived and worked in the Balinese village for three weeks, gaining insight into the health issues of the Balinese community and conducting research through interviewing midwives, volunteer health workers and new parents at the child health clinics.
The aim of the placement was to offer students an inside look at international healthcare programs, enabling them to further develop their studies and skills in community development and health promotion.
A job secured before graduating
With professional experience and a Diploma of Occupational Health & Safety under her belt, Shaydeen Thompson decided she wanted to further enhance her skills and career, and so returned to study, commencing an undergraduate degree in Occupational Health & Safety with us.
Due to her professional and academic background, Shaydeen completed her three year undergraduate degree in just two years.
What's more, she completed her final three units online, rather than coming to campus, so she could work full-time.
Before officially graduating, Shaydeen secured a position with a renowned integrated energy company, which she commenced in February this year.
"Hands-on learning was great for my skill-level and confidence!"
"Why ECU? Two reasons really. Firstly the class sizes allow for excellent student lecturer interaction, and secondly, the practical nature of the course means you get out there and experience the profession from year one. The fieldwork is hands-on, allowing you to practice what you've learnt at uni, and your confidence really increases with the support you receive from staff and fellow students. You also learn how to be a better communicator. After all it's crucial that you can connect with a patient. All in all I found ECU a warm, inspiring and supportive environment. I'd recommend it to anyone."
Samantha Gasson
Occupational Therapy student
Master of Nutrition and Dietetics students undertake ground-breaking research
Master of Nutrition and Dietetics students David Bryant and Lauren Rosser have recently conducted a project to investigate malnutrition in children with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and to examine whether current supplement regimes are effective in addressing fat soluble vitamin deficiency.
The project, based at Princess Margaret Hospital, was under the supervision of hospital dietitian Kelly Josh and ECU lecturer Dr Therese O'Sullivan, and involved conducting a medical record audit of 50 children with CF and comparing results with international standards. It is the first time a project of this type has been run in WA.
Results from this research will give a better picture of the nutritional status and needs of local children with CF, and contribute to more tailored dietetic intervention and monitoring to help improve the lives of these children.
Research that's on the pulse of muscle therapy
School of Exercise and Health Sciences' Professor Nosaka and Master of Science (Sports Science) student Henry Banyard are investigating the effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMFT)for exercise-induced muscle damage that typically experienced by athletes.
The technique is being used with volunteers, in whom delayed onset muscle soreness has been induced by eccentric exercise of the elbow flexors. If the treatment proves to have benefits, it could offer a relatively cheap and portable addition to the range of treatments available to our elite athletes.
ECU Professor Named WA Australian Of the Year 2012
Congratulations to Professor Donna Cross who was named the WA Australian of the Year 2012. Professor Cross is the Foundation Professor at ECU's Child Health Promotion Research Centre.
The award recognises her tireless work to improve the health of young people through research and community programs to address issues including bullying, drug use, road safety and obesity.
Promising ECU Researcher Awarded a Research Scholarship by the Cancer Council
PhD in Sports Science student, Greg Levin, was recently awarded a top-up Ancillary PhD Scholarship by the Cancer Council of Western Australia.
The $12,000 scholarship supports the work of promising young PhD students with a research interest in cancer, and will allow Greg to conduct research into the effects of exercise on the mental health and quality of life of cancer survivors.
Greg is currently working with the team at ECU's Health and Wellness Institute, and hopes to understand why and how cancer survivors experience a boost in self‑esteem and quality‑of‑life when they combine exercise with their treatments.
Work/Life balance - a great success!
Mature-age student Michelle Tegg returned to university after deferring for four years to care for her family. Tackling her studies head on, she attended both TAFE and university consecutively, completing her Exercise & Sports Science qualification with us part-time.
In her final year of study, Michelle received some unexpected news: she was due to have her fourth child.
Studying until only a few months before her baby was due to arrive, she deferred for one semester, then returned to University to complete her qualification with flying colours!
Michelle has now commenced postgraduate studies with us!
Exercise & Sports Science - Nationally Accredited by ESSA
Our Exercise & Sports Science course was the first Sports Science course in WA to be fully accredited by Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA).
Students completing a Sports Science program at ECU also have the option of doing a fourth year in rehabilitation, offering a Bachelor of Science (Exercise Science & Rehabilitation) qualification.
This offers students immediate accreditation as an "Exercise Physiologist" through ESSA.
Promising ECU Researcher Awarded a Research Scholarship by the Cancer Council
PhD in Sports Science student, Greg Levin, was recently awarded a top-up Ancillary PhD Scholarship by the Cancer Council of Western Australia.
The $12,000 scholarship supports the work of promising young PhD students with a research interest in cancer, and will allow Greg to conduct research into the effects of exercise on the mental health and quality of life of cancer survivors.
Greg is currently working with the team at ECU's Health and Wellness Institute, and hopes to understand why and how cancer survivors experience a boost in self‑esteem and quality‑of‑life when they combine exercise with their treatments.
Exercise and Sports Science facilities
Our Exercise and Sports Science area operates a number of laboratories in each of its program areas which are fully-equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, available for use by undergraduate and postgraduate students, in Australia.Each purpose-built lab is catered to the different functions in biomedical science such as biomechanics and digitising, exercise physiology, rehabilitation, phlebotomy, human movement, motor control, strength and conditioning and skill acquisition.
Nutrition Laboratories
Our Nutrition labs play an essential part of our nutrition courses:
- The dedicated Nutrition Food laboratory is designed for students to work on practical projects involving food. The multifunctional lab has a food demonstration and teaching area, computing stations for dietary analysis and diet development and individual or group work areas for food preparation, cooking and tasting and food analysis. Students have access to equipment such as microwave / convection heating facilities, gas hotplates, modern freezers and automatic dishwashers.
- The Nutritional Assessment laboratory provides a range of equipment for teaching and learning for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, including anthropometric equipment for nutrition assessments. The lab reflects a realistic hospital setting with high tech equipment for measuring body composition and metabolic rate and analysing blood samples. It is fully functional for dietary and physical assessments which can be undertaken in the privacy of a clinical cubicle. Students have access to technical equipment and can undertake assessments of community clients. Dietary analysis software is used in order to give immediate paper based feedback to clients.
Occupational Therapy facilities
We have three well-equipped occupational therapy laboratories and teaching resources in the new Health and Wellness Building on our Joondalup Campus.
The laboratories have specialised equipment for students to learn hands‑on skills in physical rehabilitation, assistive technology and communication technology. They labs combine with a range of impressive facilities to create an environment that is supportive, colourful and fun.
Vario Wellness Clinic - Open to the community
Our Vario Wellness Clinic is staffed by allied health professionals and is open to the community for consultation.
You can book consultations for physiotherapy, dietetics, psychology, clinical psychology and exercise physiology.
The clinic also runs a range of programs designed for specific health conditions and populations. Programs include:
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Weigh 2 Go Kids
- Fighting Fit Veterans
- Living Longer Living Stronger
- Parkinson's
Please see the Vario Wellness Clinic website for information on services.
"ECU enhanced my research skills and helped me gain experience."
"My Masters by Research was hard work but it would have been much harder without the guidance and support of ECU staff and supervisors. They kept me on track, enhanced my research skills and helped me gain employment as a research assistant in the area of Child and Adolescent Health Promotion. Anyone wishing to further their career should consider postgraduate studies at ECU. They're flexible, supportive and focused on you achieving your goals."
Patricia Cardoso
Masters by Research (Public Health) graduate