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Sport and Physical Activity Research and Teaching Network

Collaboration, research and education in physical activity and sport

A collaborative, multidisciplinary network dedicated to advancing sport and physical activity, knowledge, education and innovation.

The Sport and Physical Activity Research and TeAching Network (SPARTAN) aims to facilitate high-impact interdisciplinary research that addresses physical activity and public health, promotes population health, advances knowledge and expertise in athletic performance and identifies novel strategies in injury prevention and management.

The Faculty of Medicine and Health (FMH) is proud to include world-leading experts in physical activity and elite sport research. SPARTAN brings together the global expertise of FMH members in Public Health, Sport Science and Medicine and key strategic collaborator Sydney University Sports and Fitness (SUSF) to explore the facilitators of human health, performance, and best practice in injury prevention and management.

We aim for our research, education and collaborations to contribute to better health outcomes for people in the community from vulnerable groups at risk of physical inactivity, through to competitive athletes at every level including juniors, Masters and retired athletes.

Special Interest Groups

Sex and Gender

From biological sex differences to sociocultural gendered norms and expectations evident in physical activity, exercise, and high-performance sport, “Sex and Gender” SIG creates a supportive space to share the best current practices in sex- and gender-related research, applied practice, and teaching and learning. The SIG brings members together to develop ideas, spark the debate, and lead the way to a more empowering, holistic approach to topics and matters of sex and gender. We promote collaboration, networking, and peer mentoring to advance health policies, community sport, and high-performance environments in our research, classrooms, sporting fields, and relevant professional practice.

The Sex and Gender SIG is lead by Dr. Kotryna Fraser. If you would like to join the SiG and be informed of upcoming meetings and events please reach out to Kotryna who can include you on the bespoke mailing list.

Physical Activity

Special Interest Group (SIG) "physical activity" focuses on understanding bodily movements in various contexts, including and beyond exercise and sport. Physical activity encompasses movements across different settings (e.g., leisure, work, transport), formats (e.g., aerobic, muscle-strengthening), and intensities (e.g., light, moderate, vigorous). The SPARTAN physical activity SIG facilitates collaborations around a broad range of topics, including but not limited to understanding the health benefits of physical activity, exploring the factors influencing physical activity levels, and implementing interventions to promote physical activity in diverse populations and settings. The group’s goal is to unite members to discuss research, teaching, and practice, generate ideas, and build partnerships.

The physical activity SIG is led by Dr. Susan Luo. If you would like to join the SIG and be informed of upcoming meetings and events please reach out to Susan

Disability Sport and Inclusion

Special Interest Group (SIG) “Disability Sport and Inclusion” is focused on understanding, promoting, and celebrating sport, exercise, and physical activity for people with disability. From exercise and sport as rehabilitation to high performance Para and adaptive sport, and everything in between, the SPARTAN Disability Sport and Inclusion SIG creates an inclusive and supportive environment to share ideas, discuss current research, teaching and applied practice, and foster collaborations. The SIG aims to celebrate the diverse insights among members spanning lived experience experts, athletes, coaches, practitioners, academics, supporters, and advocates of disability sport, to champion accessibility, visibility, and understanding of meaningful, high-quality sport, exercise, and physical activity experiences for people with disability across all levels of participation and support needs.

The Disability Sport and Inclusion SIG is led by Dr. Jen Fleeton. If you would like to join the SIG and be informed of upcoming meetings and events, please reach out to Jen who can include you on the bespoke mailing list.

Sleep

The “Sleep” Special Interest Group is focussed on research and teaching endeavours to better understand sleep in relation to sport and physical activity. We foster a collaborative and exploratory group of members made of both seasoned experts and those new to the field of sleep. This diversity of members fosters a unique spectrum of expertise as a strategic underpinning for members to undertake novel research.

Our Sleep SIG Approach has been categorised as surveillance, screening, intervention and mechanistic studies.

Our SIG hopes to promote high quality research in sleep health for populations ranging from the general public to people living with chronic diseases to elite athletes. We are inclusive in our membership and invite academics, researchers, coaches and athletes to diversify the perspectives and ideas considered when exploring sleep.

The Sleep SIG is led by Dr. Elizabeth Machan. If you would like to join the SIG to remain informed of upcoming meetings and events, please reach out to Elizabeth who can include you on the bespoke mailing list.