News

Professor Rob Orr was honoured to give evidence at the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Rob's testimony focussed on injury, injury management and surveillance, training and fitness standards. The link to the recording is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7HEFPwDKDM&t=13371s (Commencing at 3h26min)

Dr Elisa Canetti and Dr Ben Schram, together with HDR student Elizabeth Cooper, headed down to Tasmania to support Ambulance Tasmania Wilderness Paramedics. This follow on trip saw the TRU follow candidates completing an arduous wilderness Mountain Walk Assessment inclusive of sharp inclines and a scramble track, covering around 9km. While very cold, the view was indeed scenic. The next stages will involve injury profiling and job tasks analysis of these specialist paramedics.

Honoured to share the stage with some amazing individuals during a panel on ‘High Performing Teams’ at the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists CombiSIG. Hosted by PROF Victoria Brazil, the panel included the amazing Dr @Andrew Donohue and Dr Eve Purdy.

HDR Candidate Colin Tomes recently presented one of his thesis studies at the American Physiology Summit held in Long Beach. His poster, titled, ‘Incorporation of heart rate variability into police tactical group small unit tactics selection’ presented research completed with Australian Police Tactical Group personnel and is being used to inform future specialist selection and training.

Dr Ben Schram, recently switched gears from research with tactical personnel to continuing support for combat sport fighters. Measuring VO2 to inform training Ben worked with fighter Shannon Ross prior to his next big UFC fight in Las Vegas.

Ever wonder how hard specialist police work when clearing a multistory building of an armed offender? Working with Coach Jeremy Robinson, the Tactical Research Unit had a look. Small wonder their fitness levels are commensurate with elite athletes.
Read the research here: https://lnkd.in/gtKkYrRb

The Tactical Research Unit from Bond University have just returned from spending time in Hobart with the Wilderness Paramedics from Ambulance Tasmania. The collaborative research will investigate and analyse key job tasks and fitness requirements of this specialist group of paramedics who often have to work in austere conditions and climates. Phase 1 of the research starts with their selection processes and will see the TRU team make multiple trips to collect data on Ambulance Paramedics undergoing their selection process for Wilderness Paramedics. 

Professor Rob Orr was recently invited to present in Helsinki, Finland. Presentations included  'Evidence based training to optimise readiness' to the National Defence University, and 'Physical fintess assessemtns and evidence based training in tactical populations'.

Professor Orr was honoured to be invited back to Singapore to run the Tactical Research Unit's Tactical Conditioning Optimisation Program (TACOPS) for the Soldier Fitness Centre.

TRU collaborate with University of Brasilia 
Dr Elisa Canetti from the TRU hosted fellow researcher and collaborator Diogo Ferreira, a visiting PhD candidate from the University of Brasília, Brazil. Diogo is a professional firefighter completing his thesis on firefighter performance. Whilst here, Diogo participated in several TRU activities including a trip to connect with Inspector Richard Gorey, the Manager of the Tactical Training Unit at Queensland Fire and Rescue and TRU Advisory Group Member. The team are already planning a series of collaborations to help the health and wellbeing of these vital personnel, both here and abroad.

Sports Medicine Australia Conference
The TRU turned out in force to present at the Sports Medicine Australia Conference, the leading multidisciplinary sports medicine conference in Australasia. Research spanning military, law enforcement, and firefighters was presented across two days of podium and poster presentations. 

Dr Vini Simas was awarded best research poster at the Sports Medicine Australia Conference, the leading multidisciplinary sports medicine conference in Australasia. This is a funded Department of Veteran’s Affairs program of research. Congratulations Vini!

TRU In the news
The Tactical Research Unit's latest media release focused on female body armour. Supported by Australian Defence Apparel Pty Ltd, Bond University's Doctor of Physiotherapy students, Claire Buttner, Sharne Tiller and Nash Vollenweider investigated differences in body armour comfort and function in female and male police officers with the aim of identifying similarities and differences. You can read more here.

HDR student presents at ASCA International Conference on Applied Strength and Conditioning
TRU Higher Degree Research student, Jeremy Robinson recently presented on specialist policing at the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association's (ASCA) International Conference on Applied Strength and Conditioning.  Jeremy’s work focussed on the effects of a daily undulating periodisation program on the physical performance of specialist police.

TRU & the NSW Police Force 
The TRU recently spent over a week working with NSW Police Force units. In addition to Stage 2 of a job task analysis project with the Mounted Unit where the team collected various biometric and metabolic data, the team commenced work with the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command in both Sydney (Metro) and Goulburn (Rural) and driving instructor staff and students at the School of Traffic and Mobile Policing.

Pictured below: Dr Ben Schram and Dr Elisa Canetti monitor feedback on Mounted Police officers conducting yard work with their mounts.