Endeavouring to improve the unemployment rate: USC awarded $15K research grant
20 July, 2006
The affects of an individual's overall health on their
employment status will be the focus of new research to be conducted
at the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC).
The University, WorkDirections Australia and the National
Seniors Productive Ageing Centre have each contributed $5000 to the
project, which will aim to improve the health of unemployed people
and investigate whether or not good health has positive effects on
employment opportunities.
Program coordinator and Lecturer in Sport Psychology, Lisa
Fraser, will conduct the research with two colleagues from USC's
Faculty of Science, Health and Education. She said the University
was looking for unemployed people who were interested in improving
their health to participate in the study.
"Lecturer in Sports Nutrition, Fiona Pelly, Lecturer in Exercise
Physiology, Chris Askew, and myself, will be focusing on assessing
and improving the health of mature-age male jobseekers who have
been out of work for a period of twelve months or longer," Ms
Fraser said.
"The participants will need to attend our program for two hours
a week for eight weeks in order for us to give them the best chance
of success. The program will consist of weekly education seminars
and group exercise classes, and each participant will also be given
an individualised walking program.
"If the majority of jobseekers do, in fact, have success in
finding employment following the study, we will then look more
closely at developing the health program further," she said.
The research project will be outlined in more detail when the
researchers host two presentations to be held at WorkDirections
Australia's Maroochydore and Caloundra branches on Tuesday 25th
July.
For more information:
Lisa Fraser
Lecturer in Sport Psychology
Tel: +61 7 5459 4638
Email: lfraser@usc.edu.au