Dr Brett Tarca

Lecturer, Clinical Exercise Physiology

School of Allied Health and Human Performance

College of Health

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Available For Media Comment.


Brett is an exercise physiologist and Lecturer within the Clinical Exercise Physiology undergraduate program specialising in chronic kidney disease. His research focus involves the role of exercise therapy in end stage kidney disease with his current focus exploring the effectiveness of early movement-based interventions on high priority patient outcomes for people commencing dialysis. 

Date Position Institution name
2023 - ongoing Lecturer in Clinical Exercise Physiology University of South Australia

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2023 Award Renal Society of Australasia Conference Awards – Best Paper Research Winner Renal Society of Australasia 51st Annual Conference 2023 Australia -

Language Competency
English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review

Date Institution name Country Title
2020 - 2023 University of South Australia Australia Doctor of Philosophy
2018 - 2020 University of South Australia Australia Masters by Research (HlthScience)
2013 - 2016 University of South Australia Australia Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology

Year Citation
2025 Tarca, B., Davison, K., Smith, A. E., Wade, A., Trenorden, K. I., & Ferrar, K. E. (2025). Pacing, conventional physical activity and active video gaming to increase physical activity levels for adults with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a pilot feasibility study. Translational Exercise Biomedicine, 2(3), 216-230.
DOI
2025 Alexiuk, J., Harasemiw, O., Vanderlinden, J., Verrelli, D., Tarca, B., Collister, D., . . . Bohm, C. (2025). Identifying research priorities for cognition in CKD : a Delphi Study. Kidney360, 6(5), 739-753.
DOI
2025 Wilkinson, T. J., Tarca, B., Lightfoot, C. J., Viana, J. L., Wilund, K. R., Ribeiro, H. S., . . . Kistler, B. M. (2025). Prescribing Physical Activity and Exercise for People with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Practical Guide by the Global Renal Exercise Network. Clinical Journal Of The American Society Of Nephrology, 20(6), 876-888.
DOI Scopus3 WoS4 Europe PMC3
2025 Kistler, B. M., Kirkman, D. L., Kusni, D., Alemañy, G. M., Ribeiro, H. S., Tarca, B., . . . Wilund, K. R. (2025). Physical activity and exercise for cardiometabolic health and fitness in chronic kidney disease: An overview by exercise type. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 10 pages.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1 Europe PMC1
2025 Durey, B. J., Coates, A. M., Davison, K., Tarca, B., Mok, J., Parmar, C. D., . . . Martin, D. S. (2025). Evaluating the Impact of Telehealth Exercise Prehabilitation on Cardiometabolic Health in Bariatric Surgery Candidates: Protocol for the BARI-Prehab Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR RESEARCH PROTOCOLS, 14, 11 pages.
DOI
2024 Tarca, B., Jesudason, S., Wycherley, T. P., Le Leu, R., Ovenden, M., Meade, A., . . . Ferrar, K. E. (2024). Ecological momentary assessment to explore fatigue, mood, and physical activity levels in people receiving peritoneal dialysis. Kidney International Reports, 9(3), 601-610.
DOI Scopus4 WoS5 Europe PMC4
2024 Tarca, B., Jesudason, S., Bennett, P. N., Wycherley, T. P., & Ferrar, K. E. (2024). Modifiable physical factors that influence physical function for people receiving peritoneal dialysis. Kidney International Reports, 9(5), 1298-1309.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1 Europe PMC1
2024 Tarca, B., Jesudason, S., Bennett, P. N., Wycherley, T. P., & Ferrar, K. E. (2024). Characteristics and frequency of physical activity and exercise-related side-effects in people receiving peritoneal dialysis. Journal of Renal Nutrition, 34(4), 359-367.
DOI Scopus4 WoS3 Europe PMC3
2023 Bennett, P. N., Bohm, C., Harasemiw, O., Brown, L., Tarca, B., & Thompson, S. (2023). Physical activity and exercise in peritoneal dialysis: international society for peritoneal dialysis and the global renal exercise network practice recommendations. Nephrology and Dialysis, 25(4), 493-514.
DOI
2023 Bennett, P. N., Bohm, C., Yee Moon Wang, A., Kanjanabuch, T., Tarca, B., Xu, Q., & Thompson, S. (2023). An international survey of peritoneal dialysis exercise practices and perceptions. Kidney International Reports, 8(7), 1389-1398.
DOI Scopus9 WoS11 Europe PMC10
2022 Tarca, B., Jesudason, S., Bennett, P. N., Ovenden, M., Southwell, P., Wycherley, T. P., & Ferrar, K. E. (2022). Research involving people receiving peritoneal dialysis: Lessons learned. Renal Society of Australasia Journal, 18(2), 51-56.
DOI Scopus3 WoS2
2022 Bennett, P. N., Bohm, C., Harasemiw, O., Brown, L., Tarca, B., & Thompson, S. (2022). Physical activity and exercise in peritoneal dialysis: International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis and the Global Renal Exercise Network practice recommendations. Peritoneal Dialysis International, 42(1), 8-24.
DOI Scopus75 WoS61 Europe PMC56
2022 Tarca, B., Jesudason, S., Bennett, P. N., Kasai, D., Wycherley, T. P., & Ferrar, K. E. (2022). Exercise or physical activity-related adverse events in people receiving peritoneal dialysis: a systematic review. Peritoneal Dialysis International, 42(5), 447-459.
DOI Scopus8 WoS8 Europe PMC7
2021 Tarca, B. D., Wycherley, T. P., Meade, A., Bennett, P., & Ferrar, K. E. (2021). Validity and reliability of hand-held dynamometry for abdominal flexion muscular assessment. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 30(2), 343-346.
DOI Scopus8 WoS8 Europe PMC5
2021 Tarca, B., Jesudason, S., Le Leu, R., Ovenden, M., Borlace, M., Meade, A., . . . Ferrar, K. E. (2021). Ecological momentary assessment to explore fatigue, mood and physical activity levels in people receiving peritoneal dialysis: a study protocol. Peritoneal Dialysis International, 41(5), 502-508.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC3
2021 Kasai, D., Parfitt, G., Tarca, B., Eston, R., & Tsiros, M. D. (2021). The Use of Ratings of Perceived Exertion in Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review. Sports Medicine, 51(1), 33-50.
DOI Scopus28 WoS21 Europe PMC16
2020 Tarca, B. D., Wycherley, T. P., Bennett, P., Meade, A., & Ferrar, K. E. (2020). Modifiable physical factors associated with physical functioning for patients receiving dialysis: A systematic review. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 17(4), 475-489.
DOI Scopus12 WoS10 Europe PMC9
2020 Jones, S. C., Fuller, J. T., Chalmers, S., Debenedictis, T. A., Zacharia, A., Tarca, B., . . . Milanese, S. (2020). Combining physical performance and Functional Movement Screen testing to identify elite junior Australian football athletes at risk of injury. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 30(8), 1449-1456.
DOI Scopus5 WoS5 Europe PMC4
2020 Fuller, J. T., Lynagh, M., Tarca, B., Zacharia, A., Townsley, A., Gleeson, C., . . . Chalmers, S. (2020). Functional movement screen pain location and impact on scoring have limited value for injury risk estimation in junior Australian football players. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 50(2), 75-82.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC2

Year Citation
2024 Dostan, R., Davison, K., Tarca, B., Durey, B., Slayman, S., & Bessell, J. (2024). Exploring methods of adjusting VO2max for body size to estimate aerobic capacity in people presenting for bariatric surgery. In OBESITY SURGERY Vol. 34 (pp. 117). AUSTRALIA, Melbourne: SPRINGER.

Year Citation
2025 Durey, B. J., Coates, A. M., Davison, K., Tarca, B., Mok, J., Parmar, C. D., . . . Martin, D. S. (2025). Evaluating the Impact of Telehealth Exercise Prehabilitation on Cardiometabolic Health in Bariatric Surgery Candidates: Protocol for the BARI-Prehab Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint).
DOI
  • The Effect of an Exercise Program on Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes: A Feasibility Study (CORE-PD), The Hospital Research Foundation, 01/04/2024 - 30/04/2026

Courses I teach

  • HLTH 4012 Clinical Exercise Physiology Practicum 1 (2025)
  • HLTH 4013 Clinical Exercise Physiology Practicum 2 (2025)
  • REHB 4052 Health Science Honours Project (2025)
  • HLTH 4011 Clinical Exercise Physiology (2024)
  • HLTH 4012 Clinical Exercise Physiology Practicum 1 (2024)
  • HLTH 4013 Clinical Exercise Physiology Practicum 2 (2024)
  • HLTH 4014 Clinical Exercise Physiology Practicum 3 (2024)
  • REHB 4052 Health Science Honours Project (2024)

Programs I'm associated with

  • IHCP - Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology (Honours)

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2024 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Belinda Durey

Date Role Committee Institution Country
2021 - ongoing - Global Renal Exercise Network Organising Committee NA -
2021 - ongoing Chair Global Renal Exercise Network - ECR Group NA -

Date Role Membership Country
2016 - ongoing Member Exercise and Sport Science Australia -

Date Title Engagement Type Institution Country
2024 - ongoing Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology Annual Scientific Meeting – Consumer and Carers Day Auxiliary Event Public Community Engagement NA Australia
2024 - ongoing Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology Annual Scientific Meeting – Renal Nutrition Update Day Auxiliary Event Scientific Community Engagement NA -
2024 - ongoing Renal Society of Australasia South Australia / Northern Territory Education Day Scientific Community Engagement NA -
2022 - ongoing AusActive – Preventative Health Webinar Series Public Community Engagement NA -
2022 - ongoing Kidney Health Australia World Kidney Day - Exercise for Kidney Health Education Session Public Community Engagement NA Australia

Date Engagement Type Partner Name
2018 - ongoing Collaboration Central Northern Adelaide Renal Transplantation Service