Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst will host a forum for university exercise and sports Heads of Schools in Australia and New Zealand on Wednesday 5, Thursday 6 and Friday 7 December.

 

Representatives are academics and researchers from 28 out of 31 eligible Australian universities and four New Zealand universities (Massey, Canterbury, Waikato, Auckland), and administrators from the discipline organisation, Exercise and Sports Sciences Australia (ESSA).

 

Professor Robert Robergs, Head of the CSU School of Human Movement Studies in Bathurst, said, “Each year, the Heads of Schools and programs from Australasian universities meet to discuss matters pertinent to exercise and sports science.

 

“This is a showcase event for this group, and we will be adopting a constitution and governance structure for continuing work together.

 

“The forum benefits Charles Sturt University by having leading staff from within the discipline come to Bathurst and inspect our great facilities.

 

“Often such interaction is the breeding ground for collaborative research, as well as shared clinical placement opportunities for the students. It is also professionally responsible to let our colleagues see how we do things, while at the same time receive feedback from peers about how we might do things better.”

 

Importantly, the forum supports the establishment and continued support of the new profession of accredited exercise physiologist (AEP). An AEP can be used by physicians for patient referrals for long-term injury rehabilitation, as well as direction and counseling about increased daily exercise to combat chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cancers.