News

Professor Rob Orr, together with colleagues Joe Dulla (LT rtd) and Dr Bob Lockie, recently presented the impacts of COVID 19 on current and future law enforcement with a focus on the impacts of initial COVID, long COVID and the lengthy periods of sedentary activity due to lockdowns on fitness.

The Tactical Research Unit presented their 3rd Rapid Fire Mini Congress at Bond University's Research Week yesterday. Following a keynote from Dr Scotty Gayton on High Reliability Teams (HRT), HDR candidate Graham Marvin presented his work on Occupational Fatigue. The congress finished with 10 tactical research studies presented by the TRU team (Dr Elisa Canetti, Dr Ben Schram and Dr Rob Orr) in 30 minutes in a Rapid Fire format (buzzer included).

The TRU team joined with previous DPHTY students who undertook their research with the TRU to present 12 research abstracts at the 2023 Australian Physiotherapy Association IGNITE Conference. The conference book of abstracts can be found here: 

https://ignite2023.physio/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ignite2023_Abstrac…

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.