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Student athlete empowerment project

With the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games fast approaching, the School of Health and Medical Sciences' high-performance sport initiative is focused on supporting student athletes across the region. Our dedicated staff are committed to shaping the next generation of champions through diverse education and research programs.

What's 'Eat 2 Win'?

Eat 2 Win is a nutrition education research program designed to help student-athletes understand how proper nutrition and hydration can boost their health and performance. The program includes three interactive nutrition workshops, access to online nutrition modules, and hands-on cooking classroom activities, that teach the essentials of sports nutrition. Students learn how to fuel their body for training and competition, unpack the Athlete's Plate, and discover game-day nutrition and hydration strategies. Led by UniSQ sports nutrition experts, this program will empower students to feel confident in the kitchen, with easy to prepare nutritious meals that will keep them performing at their best.

  • Module 1: Winning Nutrition
  • Module 2: Fuelling Performance
  • Module 3: Hydrate to Dominate
  • Practical: Inside the Athlete’s Kitchen

'Eat 2 Win' Research

Our previous research highlights that student-athletes, especially those from regional and rural areas, often have limited nutrition knowledge and hold several misconceptions. This highlights the importance of providing integrated nutrition education led by qualified professionals, which can greatly enhance their understanding and practices around nutrition. The Eat 2 Win research aims to measure changes in student-athletes’ nutrition knowledge before and after targeted nutrition education, while also evaluating how well the educational components are received by the students.

Four people in aprons stand in a kitchen. One person is stirring food in a pan on the stove. They are smiling at the camera.

Professor Stephen Bird: Eat like a champion

"The Eat 2 Win program offers student-athletes a unique educational opportunity to actively explore the critical role of nutrition in supporting their health and performance. A key component of the program is learning practical cooking skills, empowering students to feel confident in the kitchen."– Professor Stephen Bird

Contacts

For more information, contact  or .

'Protect 2 Win'

‘Protect 2 Win’ is a neck strength and concussion education program designed to help student-athletes reduce their risk of concussive events. The program focuses on targeted neck strength training and concussion education, equipping athletes with practical tools to enhance neck stability and manage concussion risks. Led by UniSQ strength and conditioning experts, the program aims to provide student-athletes with the training and knowledge to support their performance and safety on the field.

"Increased isometric neck strength has been associated with decreased head acceleration during impacts, highlighting the potential of neck training in reducing concussion risk." – (Daly et al., 2021)

Part 1: Neck Strong

The first part of the program focuses on enhancing neck strength and stability to reduce the potential for concussions. Athletes will participate in a tailored, evidence-based neck strengthening program, including:

  1. Initial Testing: Comprehensive neck strength assessments to evaluate isometric strength and head stabilisation.
  2. Training Plan: A 6-week neck strengthening regimen, designed to improve neck stability.
  3. Coach-Led Supervision: UniSQ will educate school strength coaches to ensure proper technique and maximise the program’s benefits.

Part 2: Neck Smart

The second part of the program provides athletes with neck strength and concussion education through interactive online modules, including:

  • Module 1. Heads Up Concussion Awareness: Athletes learn to recognise the signs and symptoms of concussions and follow proper recovery protocols.
  • Module 2. Neck Strength and Concussion Prevention: Discover the role neck strength plays in reducing concussion risks in contact sports.
  • Module 3. Training Technique: Sport-specific tutorials on safe training techniques, such as tackling in rugby and heading in soccer.

‘Protect 2 Win’ Research

Research suggests that strengthening neck muscles may reduce the severity of head injuries by stabilising the head during impact. The ‘Protect 2 Win’ program is based on studies showing that athletes with stronger necks experience fewer and less severe concussions. This research component focuses on measuring the impact of neck strength training on concussion risk, evaluating how neck strength development influences injury prevention, and assessing student-athletes' knowledge of concussion risks.

A man wearing glasses and a 黄片看片神器 shirt smiles in a gym setting with exercise equipment in the background.

Dr Chris Gaviglio: Leading strength coach tackles new chapter

"The Protect 2 Win program offers student-athletes a comprehensive approach to reducing their risk of concussions, blending evidence-based neck strength training with essential concussion education. By focusing on both physical resilience and knowledge, we aim to empower young athletes to take proactive steps toward their neck safety and performance." – Dr. Chris Gaviglio, UniSQ 

Contacts

For more information, contact  or .

Disclaimer: While Protect 2 Win focuses on neck strength training and concussion education, it is important to note that no training program can fully prevent concussions or eliminate all risks of head injury. The goal of this program is to reduce risk factors and improve awareness, but external factors such as the nature of contact sports and individual circumstances can still result in concussions. Athletes and coaches should always follow safety protocols and consult medical professionals when dealing with concussive symptoms or head injuries.

‘Girls 2 Win’

‘Girls 2 Win’ is a student-athlete education program designed to help young female athletes understand the unique aspects of their physiology and how it may impact their health and performance. The program provides an overview of the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraception, and the relationship between female physiology and athletic performance. Led by UniSQ experts in female athlete health and performance, ‘Girls 2 Win’ empowers student-athletes to make informed decisions about their health, ensuring they are equipped to optimise their wellbeing and performance on and off the field.

Part 1: Girl’s Know – Knowledge is power!

The first part of the program focuses on building a foundational understanding of female physiology and how it relates to athletic performance. Athletes will engage in educational sessions that cover:

Module 1: Periods and hormonal contraception: Learn about the menstrual cycle and its potential effects on exercise and recovery. Plus explore the different types of hormonal contraceptive options, how they influence the body, and their role in managing menstrual symptoms.

Module 2: Knowing your body: Learn about breast health, bone health, and nutrition to fuel successful exercise performance.

Module 3: Communicating with confidence: Learn how to communicate confidently by using voice, effective body language, and adapt your communication style to suit different environments and situations. 

Part 2: Girl Talk – Confidence through conversation!

The second part of the program focuses on practical training strategies for managing female-specific health and performance, including:

Menstrual cycle tracking: Practice tracking the menstrual cycle and learn how to make use of the data. Discover what information is relevant to discuss with your doctor if you wish to try hormonal contraception, or if you are experiencing issues with your menstrual cycle.

Knowing your body: Learn how to best support breast and bone health, including choosing the right sports bra for exercise. Plus explore recipes to optimise performance and recovery.

Confident conversations: Reflect on your communication strengths, learn about how your communication styles vary depending on what environment you’re in, and role play communicating and advocating for your own health in different scenarios.

‘Girls 2 Win’ Research

The ‘Girls 2 Win’ program incorporates research into how education can be used to empower female athletes. The program will use a newly validated survey tool developed by UniSQ and the AIS to assess menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptive knowledge, ensuring that the education provided addresses the topics most relevant to the athletes.

A woman in a dark polo shirt stands in a fitness lab. In the background, another woman is cycling on a stationary bike. Equipment and monitors are visible in the room. 

Periods, contraceptives and performance: The need for more education.

“While the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraception can undoubtedly be difficult conversation topics, it is imperative that an open environment is fostered within high-performance sport that allows female athletes to discuss their MC, particularly if issues arise.” – Dr. Brianna Larsen, UniSQ

Contacts

For more information, contact .

Enhancing student-athletes’ movement skills with AI

This project aims to create a low-cost, objective, and automated system for screening the movements of pre-elite student-athletes using artificial intelligence (AI) and markerless motion capture technologies. It is particularly relevant for athlete talent identification and injury prevention programs leading up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games, and it has broader applications in sports science, rehabilitation, and biomechanics. The system will enhance student-athlete movement skills by facilitating the development of tailored intervention strategies based on individual movement patterns. Mastering proper movement skills is essential for student-athletes. As Kobe Bryant famously said, "I NEVER GET BORED WITH THE BASICS."

Contacts

For more information, contact or .

Sleep Challenges in Student-Athletes

Sleep is critical for maintaining both physical and mental health, particularly in student-athletes who contend with unique demands. Research has consistently shown that poor sleep negatively impacts overall health and athletic performance, cognitive function, and psychological readiness to perform, and increases injury risk. Student-athletes are particularly vulnerable to sleep challenges due to the competing demands of balancing intense training schedules, academic pressures, and social stressors. As a result, many student-athletes fail to meet the recommended sleep duration, leading to impaired recovery and suboptimal performance. Additionally, nutrition is suggested to play a crucial role in the sleep of student-athletes. Poor dietary habits, such as irregular meal timing, high caffeine intake, and/or inadequate intake of macronutrients, can disrupt sleep and hinder recovery. Collectively understanding the relationship between nutrition and sleep in student-athletes can offer valuable insights for improving health, wellbeing, and performance.

A soccer ball wearing a graduation cap beside text: "1 in 3 college students stays up until 3 a.m. at least once per week.

The Research

This project will investigate the prevalence of sleep challenges among student-athletes and explore the link between sleep and dietary habits (i.e., the sleep-food connection). Participants will be asked to complete sleep and dietary assessments using validated questionnaires, wear an actigraphy device to objectively monitor sleep-wake cycles, and maintain a three-day food diary. The findings of this study will insights for future research on nutritional strategies to enhance sleep health in student-athletes.

“The negative impact of sleep restriction on student-athletes’ overall health and performance is one of the worst kept secrets. It is imperative that student-athletes recognise how fundamental sleep is to overall health and performance.” Professor Stephen Bird, UniSQ 

Contact

If you would like further information, please contact:
Tanzeela Nisar (PhD Student Researcher)
Email: tanzeela.nisar@unisq.edu.au

This research is being conducted under the 黄片看片神器 PhD Research Program and is part of the Student-Athlete Empowerment Project.
PhD Student Researcher: Tanzeela Nisar
Supervisory team: , , and .