Highly qualified specialists
Our Physical Performance Coaches (PPCs) are highly qualified, meeting the following strict criteria to work at UniSC:
- Degree in Sport and Exercise Science, Strength and Conditioning, Human Movement or similar
- Current member of the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA) Professional Coaching Accreditation Scheme (PCAS) at the Professional level (ASCA-PL2) *
- ASCA Level 2 Coaching Accreditation **
- Current first aid and CPR training
Younger coaches, working towards these standards, are supervised by a coach who already meets these standards.
* Refer to Professional L2 Accreditation
** Refer to ASCA Coaching Accreditation Framework
World-class facilities and teams
PPCs work with high-performance squads including the QAS Swimming Hub and UniSC Spartans high-performance swimming team, the Australian Cycling Academy and support the University's High performance student athletes (HPSAs) who come from a range of sporting disciplines.
Squads and athletes have access to nationally-accredited facilities, academics and research.
High-performance sporting facilities include:
- 50-metre Olympic pool
- 25-metre covered pool including a range of high-tech video cameras (underwater and overhead)
- 450-metre2 high-performance lifting facility
- SwimEx Professional Hydrotherapy Pool
- Contrast (hot and cold) therapeutic recovery plunge pools
- 400-metre tartan Olympic running track and field
- Multiple sporting fields and ovals
- A range of experts in sports science, nutrition and psychology
- Research labs for screening and testing of physical performance measures
Research in Physical Performance
Research projects are a constant part of the high-performance sport environment. The outcomes assist in improving performance and provide coaches with further information to develop their programs.
Many of our PPCs are completing their postgraduate studies using our high-performance squads and athletes in their research.
This includes:
Swimming
- Warm-up strategies and impact on swimming performance
- Training load management for swimming
Cycling
- Training load management in cycling
- Performance measures to assist with determining athlete wellness
Various sports
- Determining and comparing sports-specific performance profiles and training loads in high-performance athletes
Practical experience
UniSC occasionally has opportunities for work placement or ASCA practical coaching hours in our high-performance programs.
If you are a coach looking for practical experience, we welcome your enquiry by email.
You will need to provide evidence of the following:
- Current first aid and CPR training,
- Working with children check (WWCC), and
- Work placement agreement or ASCA practical logbook completion.
These are essential if you are to attend a high-performance squad session.
Contact
Adam Robertshaw
PPC Practical Hours Coordinator
Email: [email protected]
Meet the Coaches
A/Prof Mark McKean
Head of Physical Performance in High-Performance Sport
Senior PPC QAS Swimming Hub Sunshine Coast
PPC High Performance Youth Academy
ASCA Level 3 Master Coach
Dr Aaron Turner
Physical Performance Coach in High-Performance Sport
PPC Australian Cycling Academy
PPC High Performance Student Athletes
ASCA Level 3 Elite Coach
Dr Max McKenzie
Physical Performance Coach QAS Swimming Hub Sunshine Coast
ASCA Level 2 Professional Coach
Adam Robertshaw
Physical Performance Coach in High-Performance Sport
PPC UniSC Spartans Swimming
PPC Sunshince Coast Thunder Netball
ASCA Level 2 Professional Coach
Trent Hayden
Physical Performance Coach in High-Performance Sport
PPC Maroochydore Roos QAFLW
PPC UniSC University Basketball League
ASCA Level 2 Professional Coach
Matt Muller
Sport & Fitness Gym Attendant
Strength and Conditioning Coach
ASCA Level 2 Associate Coach
Jacob Templeton
Sport & Fitness Gym Attendant
Strength and Conditioning Coach
ASCA Level 2 Associate Coach