Intro Text

Able to provide pragmatic real-world research, the TRU works with organisations to ensure that the research undertaken meets with their desired outcomes. Our extensive team of collaborators allows the TRU to scale the research to meet timelines and available resources of organisations as well as meet short-notice tasks.

Recent research projects include:

Tactical Research Unit - Fire and Rescue
The impacts of structural firefighting on fire fighter hydration and thermal regulation. 

The impacts of structural firefighting on fire fighter hydration and thermal regulation. 

Tactical Research Unit - Fire and Rescue

The aims of this study is to investigate the impact of performing occupational tasks during an active structural fire on firefighter’s hydration status. In doing so the present study will provide evidence for the development and refinement of firefighter hydration protocols and health and safety guidelines to minimise adverse health effects and improve work performance.

Project Status
Ongoing
Reaper
The use of the Reaper system by Specialist Tactical Response Police

The use of the Reaper system by Specialist Tactical Response Police

Reaper

To mitigate the impact of heavy loads, like that imparted by a ballistic shield, on Specialist Tactical Response Police mobility and lethality, a proposed load offset system, the Reaper, is being trialed.

Project Status
Ongoing
Tactical Research Unit - Police 2
The Impact of Load Carriage on the Mobility and Lethality of Specialist Tactical Response Police

The Impact of Load Carriage on the Mobility and Lethality of Specialist Tactical Response Police

Tactical Research Unit - Police 2

Load carriage is known to impact on the mobility and lethality of the carrier. The aims of this program of research is to investigate the impacts of occupational loads carried by Specialist Tactical Response Police officers on their mobility (tactical move, victim drag, 10m sprint) and lethality (primary and secondary weapons)

Project Status
Ongoing
Police Body armour
Load Bearing Vests / Body Armour and Law Enforcement

Load Bearing Vests / Body Armour and Law Enforcement

Police Body armour

Load bearing Vests (LBV) / Body armour worn by law enforcement can have have a variety of impacts on the officer. This program of research includes studies comparing different systems, obtaining subjective comfort feedback from officers, impacts of the systems on mobility, lethality and physical performance in order to inform task performance and injury risk outcomes.

Project Status
Ongoing
Solider rehab
Soldier load carriage from injury to rehabilitation: An international approach

Soldier load carriage from injury to rehabilitation: An international approach

Solider rehab

Drawing on international experts, the aim of this project is to establish optimal injury mitigation, physical conditioning and rehabilitation protocols for soldier load carriage.

Collaborating Countries: USA, UK, Germany, Spain and Brazil

Project Status
Ongoing
Urban Rush
Developing an occupationally-relevant physical fitness assessment for Specialist Tactical Response police officers

Developing an occupationally-relevant physical fitness assessment for Specialist Tactical Response police officers

Urban Rush

The aim of this program of research is to develop and validate an occupationally-relevant fitness assessment framework for Specialist Tactical Response police officers. Current assessments under review include the anaerobic, repeated-effort, Urban Rush and longer distance pack marches, all with full occupational and role-relevant loads.

Project Status
Ongoing
Police uniforms
Public and Police officer perceptions on different clothing and equipment configurations

Public and Police officer perceptions on different clothing and equipment configurations

Police uniforms

This aim of this study is to gain insights into both public and police officer perception on the aesthetics of various body armour and equipment configurations

Collaborating Countries: USA

Uniform configurations: Australian Defence Apparel

Project Status
Ongoing
LASD fitness assessments
The relationships between physical fitness and performance in Los Angeles Sheriff Deputies

The relationships between physical fitness and performance in Los Angeles Sheriff Deputies

LASD fitness assessments

This program of research spans initial training for Los Angeles Sheriff's Department (LASD) Cadets as well as Custodial Assistants. Investigations span fitness and performance on the mandated Work Sample Battery Test, loss of fitness during custodial duties, impacts of fitness on physical training session success, and several other associated fields of interest to the LASD.

Collaborators: USA

Project Status
Ongoing
Physical Training Army
Profiling injuries in Army Reserve personnel and between sexes.

Profiling injuries in Army Reserve personnel and between sexes.

Physical Training Army

This program of research is investigating differences in injuries (rates, bodily sites, natures and mechanisms) between full time and part time Army personnel as well as between male and female soldiers 

Project Status
Completed
Load Carriage
Predicting Load Carriage Performance

Predicting Load Carriage Performance

Load Carriage

This program of research is looking at means of predicting future load carriage performance as well as injury risk. Combining elements of load carriage performance prediction (i.e. a modified Pandolf equation) together with risk factors known to impact on load carriage performance (e.g. previous injury, most recent load carriage training session, etc), a level of risk is established. This level of risk aligns with the Military and International risk Management Frameworks and can be used to predict military and law enforcement load carriage performance.

Project Status
Completed
Firefighter movement
Movement quality and injury risk potential in Fire fighters

Movement quality and injury risk potential in Fire fighters

Firefighter movement

This program of research is investigating the impacts of different types of station wear and turnout / bunker gear on firefighter movement patterns as a risk factors for slips, trips and falls and fire ground injury

Project Status
Completed
SWAT
Physiological demands of an active shooter on specialist tactical response police

Physiological demands of an active shooter on specialist tactical response police

SWAT

Active shooter scenarios require specialist tactical response officers to move rapidly, under heavy operational loads of around 22 kg, and yet remain operationally effective. This research is bench marking the physiological responses of specialist tactical response officers when responding to simulated active shooter scenarios

Project Status
Completed
Police SIM VR
Physiological responses to virtual reality scenarios

Physiological responses to virtual reality scenarios

Police SIM VR

This multifactorial program of research will investigate the physiological responses to simulation and virtual reality (VR) training. One study will focus on physiological differences between trained and untrained tactical personnel completing a VR event. Another study will have Physiotherapy students compete both a VR event and a patient simulation event early in their training. Physical and biochemical markers of stress will be recorded.

Project Status
Completed
Mounted Police
NSW Mounted Police: Tasks, Injuries and Fintess

NSW Mounted Police: Tasks, Injuries and Fintess

Mounted Police

NSW Mounted Police

This project is profiling the job tasks (inc types, movement profile and physiological cost), injuries and fitness standards of mounted police officers to inform risk mitigation strategies and fitness requirements.

Project Status
Completed
Thermal with ADA
Thermal Impacts of Body Armour

Thermal Impacts of Body Armour

Thermal with ADA

The TRU are working with Australian Defence Apparel as part of their ongoing R&D to investigate the thermal burden imparted on wearers and the associated impacts on performance and heat illness risk.

Project Status
Ongoing

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