Exercise physiologists
Do you have a passion for exercise? Would you like to work as a health care practitioner in Australia? Exercise physiologists are allied health professionals who work in the Australian public health system. Exercise physiology is a unique profession; exercise and physical activity are used as therapy for clients recovering from injuries, operations, and illnesses, and to train clients for the physical demands of work.
Australia has a large burden of diseases of modern lifestyles. Particularly, many Australians are overweight or obese, and have, or are at risk of developing, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, heart disease, or stroke. Arthritic diseases are also common, and are increasing as the life expectancy of Australians increases. Australians may be living longer, but they are not always living well. Exercise and physical activity are powerful tools for changing these diseases, improving the health of people living with these serious illnesses, and reducing the risk of these illnesses in people who are apparently well.
As allied health professionals, exercise physiologists work as colleagues alongside physiotherapists, occupational therapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, and other health care practitioners. Within the Australian public health system, exercise physiologists receive the same pay and recognition as practitioners in these other disciplines. There is some overlap between the work of exercise physiologists and other practitioners such as physiotherapists, but these professions are discrete and accredited individually.
The Australian Association of Exercise and Sport Scientists (AAESS) is the accrediting body that governs Exercise Physiologists. Details of the accreditation requirements and process are available from the AAESS website: www.aaess.com.au
You can study to become an exercise physiologist at several Australian universities. Programs are available at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and many programs are open to international students. In particular, Victoria University offers a range of postgraduate programs in exercise for rehabilitation. The Master of Applied Science – Clinical Exercise Practice (AMCE) program is designed for students with undergraduate degrees in therapy disciplines such as physiotherapy or occupational therapy who wish to qualify as exercise physiologists for the Australian health system. The Master of Applied Science – Exercise Rehabilitation (HMER) is designed for students with completed exercise and sport science degrees, and similarly, leads these graduates to accreditation in exercise physiology.
Exercise physiology is a rewarding health care profession. Rural and regional areas of Australia are underserved with allied health practitioners, and exercise physiologists are in high demand everywhere. If you have a passion for exercise and a passion for health care, consider this field for your postgraduate studies.
Author details:
Dr Melainie Cameron, PhD
MAAESS
Senior Lecturer – Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
Victoria University
