![](/-/media/feature/micrositesnewsandevents/staffnews/suzanne-chambers-460px.jpg)
Innovation in practice
News 24 JulyA message from Executive Dean of Health Sciences Professor Suzanne Chambers: Winter has so far been a season of future-thinking and action for the Faculty of Health Sciences.
23 June 2016
Share
ACU’s exercise scientists are helping to boost the performance of the nation’s leading sporting teams, and leading the charge is Dr Craig Duncan.
The Socceroos, the Matildas, Western Sydney Wanderers and the NSW State of Origin team are among the top sporting outfits that have benefited from the expertise of Dr Duncan, and his colleagues.
Dr Duncan, Senior Lecturer at ACU’s School of Exercise Science, emphasises to coaching and support staff the need to view their athletes as valuable assets that need to be managed via individualised programs to ensure maximum performance.
“Effective management involves appropriate and meaningful monitoring of training loads and markers of fatigue to ensure athletes are adequately prepared for competition,” he said.
“Appropriate preparation leads to increased success and lower injury rates.”
Dr Duncan is one of Australia's leading Sport Scientists and is a passionate advocate for safe, professional, and ethical standards for all Sport Scientists.
The former ACU graduate was awarded the Exercise and Sport Science Australia's (ESSA) '2014 Sport Scientist of the Year' award in recognition of his knowledge and expertise.
In that year Dr Duncan also directly contributed to the success of the Western Sydney Wanderers FC in making the grand final of the A-League and winning the recent Asian Champions League, and to the successful NSW State of Origin team's performance.
In particular, Dr Duncan's innovative use of sleep monitors with the NSW State of Origin team in the months leading up to the tri-series was an example of his holistic approach to player management.
“Quality sleep is vital for elite athletes to reach their optimum performance zone, and this is one of the things we look at when assessing the players,” he said.
He also featured prominently in the Socceroos preparation for last year’s Asian Cup Championships, which the Australian team won beating the Korea Republic 2-1 in the final.
This year he has helped the Socceroos, and will continue to work with the coaches as the national soccer team aims to win the 2017 Federation Cup and progress through World Cup qualifiers.
And he will be working with the Matildas in the lead-up to the Rio Olympics.
“In Australia we do exercise science very, very well and ACU is the leading university in this discipline,” he said.
Dr Duncan has also been instrumental in developing a new postgraduate program dedicated to those who aspire to work as Sport Scientists.
The programs go beyond strength and conditioning principles and integrate many aspects of sport science that have previously not been addressed in a sequential manner.
The use of technology in sport science, the skills required to analyse and interpret performance data, the importance of leadership, and factors pertaining to fatigue and recovery are addressed within a contemporary approach to sport science.
Above all, Dr Duncan's greatest success has been the positive and guiding influence he has had on the students he teaches.
He realises that the profile of Sport Science in Australia is in the hands of the next group of qualified professionals.
As such, he takes great pride in developing sport scientists who are ethical in nature, professional in approach, and respectful of others.
A message from Executive Dean of Health Sciences Professor Suzanne Chambers: Winter has so far been a season of future-thinking and action for the Faculty of Health Sciences.
From Monday 22 July to Friday 9 August, Service Central will be available for extended hours to support staff.
A message from Vice President Father Anthony Casamento csma: From 5 – 9 August we will celebrate Mission Week across our campuses. This is an opportunity for us to come together as a community to cele...
Are you going to be a grandparent soon? Did you know ACU offers personal leave for staff to care for their child or grandchild after birth or adoption?
Discover the learning and career development opportunities that are available online, including the brand-new leadership development program, 'The Edge Series'.
Join ASCILITE and become a member of one of Australasia’s most vibrant professional technology enhanced learning communities, with more than 2200 members from tertiary institutions across Australia an...
Phones will be removed from all classrooms over the mid-semester break, from 23 September to 27 September.
Include an additional survey item in the Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) survey for units that are offered in Professional Term 5 (202455).
Australia’s first five-time diving Olympian, a Kiwi gymnast and the woman who taught actor Chris Hemsworth to row will be among 15 ACU students and alumni to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Para...
A message from acting Executive Dean of Theology and Philosophy Associate Professor Richard Colledge: Recently, the faculty has hosted opportunities for reflection on the possibilities for reconcilia...
Are you on your parenthood journey? A practical guide is now available to support staff, and their supervisors, through the stages of becoming a parent and transitioning back to work.
Embark on an exhilarating journey into the mysterious world of enrolments. Register to attend an enrolment information session for Semester 2, 2024.
Join upcoming online workshops in preparation for Semester 2. Secure your spot today to learn how you can utilise Canvas and its features to enhance your teaching practices.
A limitless professional horizon awaits ACU students after its three IT programs were awarded certification by the nation’s most trustworthy player in the tech sector, the Australian Computer Society.
Following evaluation and voting by a panel of ACU judges, Co-Lab is delighted to announce Thomas Clark and Xavier Chalkley as the winners of the $1000 prize for the ACU Co-Lab Social Enterprise Pitch ...
ACU Library staff will participate in professional development activities on Thursday 18 July. While away from their usual posts, they'll be working together across three locations to plan our future ...
Applications for 2024 Teaching Development Grants, Citations and Awards are open. Explore guidelines and resources to enhance your teaching project’s impact or gain recognition for your contributions.
As we sit in this small window of the winter break gearing up for Semester 2, it's important to recognise that not everyone experiences this period as downtime. For many, workloads and busy lifestyles...
This week is NAIDOC Week, an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
ACU staff who are also members with UniSuper can now access free expert medical advice and services to support their health and wellbeing through MetLife 360Health.
Visit Service Central to access Corporate Services.