SPORTS science students will get practical experience and research opportunities in Ballarat’s newest indoor stadium.
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Federation University and Basketball Ballarat are partnering to explore ways they can collaborate in community and marquee sport programs based in the redeveloped Ballarat Sports and Events Centre.
The two bodies have long worked together informally, particularly when Fed Uni’s strength and conditioning expert Scott Talpey was previously part of the Miners’ program.
Fed Uni sports management program coordinator Sue Brown said now, with stadium construction underway, was a good chance to formalise a learning partnership. This will predominantly be with the university’s exercise rehabilitation and strength and conditioning masters programs.
“It’s really good for our student teaching philosophy of a high component of work internships,” Dr Brown said.
This fits where Basketball Ballarat is going and where our students need to go...we're taking them out of a uni environment and putting them into the real world.
- Dr Sue Brown, Federation University
BSEC, due for completion mid next year, will become the home base for the Miners and Rush basketball programs, including junior squads, and state league netball club Sovereigns.
The stadium is also set to house University of the Third Age programs, allowing students a chance to work with older, predominantly semi-retired adults.
Dr Talpey was keen, from a research point of view, to focus on promoting education on how to keep sport safe and effective for players, coaches and parents while still keeping sport fun.
Dr Talpey, who has returned from a stint in the United States, played a key role in early planning for gym facilities, which feature in a BSEC stage two funding bid.
This $5.14 million play would also create lecture rooms for elite teams that would be accessible to groups like U3A and for Fed Uni to create a sports science hub in the venue.
Drs Talpey and Brown said it was an exciting time to be part of indoor sport in a growing region.
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