Dr Hunter Bennett
Senior Lecturer, Exercise and Sport Science
School of Allied Health and Human Performance
College of Health
Dr Hunter Bennett is a Senior Lecturer in Exercise and Sport Science (Allied Health and Human Performance), member of the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) research centre, and ESSA-accredited Exercise Scientist. His research explores training strategies to optimise physical performance and topics pertaining to injury surveillance and prevention in athletic populations.
Hunter completed his PhD in 2020, with his research exploring how movement assessment can help guide exercise prescription. Before this, Hunter completed his degree in Applied Sciences (Human Movement and Health Studies) in 2012, majoring in Sport and Exercise Science. In 2014, he completed a Master's Degree in Exercise Science (Strength and Conditioning), before undertaking an Honours year that resulted in the development of an aerobic exercise test for active duty fire service personnel. Other areas of interest include all aspects of exercise prescription, with emphasis on modes of training that can elicit relevant outcomes in athletic, healthy, and clinical populations.
Hunter has been teaching at a tertiary level since 2012, and researching since 2016. He is currently supervising three PhD, five master's by research, and two honours students, all within the broad realm of Exercise Science.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 - ongoing | Senior Lecturer in Exercise Science | University of South Australia |
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Country | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Award | UniSA Unstoppable Early Career Researcher | University of South Australia | Australia | - |
| 2022 | Award | Exercise Scientist of the Year | Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA) | Australia | - |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 - 2020 | University of South Australia | Australia | Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) (Exercise Science) |
| 2015 - 2015 | University of South Australia | Australia | Bachelor of Health Science Honours |
| 2013 - 2014 | Edith Cowan University | Australia | Masters of Exercise Science (Strength and Conditioning) |
| 2009 - 2012 | University of South Australia | Australia | Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement and Health Studies)1 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Crozier, A. J., Blacket, C. T., Bennett, H., Fuller, J. T., & Arnold, J. (2025). Examining the feasibility and psychological impact of the 'Just Run' online educational program for recreational runners. In JOURNAL OF SPORT & EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY Vol. 47 (pp. 25 pages). HUMAN KINETICS PUBL INC. |
| 2024 | Skejo, S., Blacket, C. T., Nielsen, R. O., Fuller, J. T., Bennett, H., Crozier, A. J., & Arnold, J. B. (2024). Why do we run? Motivation profiles and training characterstics in the Garmin-RUNSAFE Running Health Study. In EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH Vol. 34 (pp. 1 page). OXFORD UNIV PRESS. DOI WoS1 |
| 2023 | Blacket, C., Arnold, J., Bennett, H., Fuller, J., & Crozier, A. (2023). Exploring the barriers and enablers to recreational running from both current and discontinued runners' perspectives: A qualitative analysis. In JOURNAL OF SPORT & EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY Vol. 45 (pp. S60-S61). HUMAN KINETICS PUBL INC. WoS1 |
| 2021 | Johnson, D., Williams, M., Bennett, H., Boyle, T., Davison, K., & Murray, J. (2021). SAFETY AND TOLERABILITY OF BLOOD FLOW RESTRICTED EXERCISE IN OLDER ADULTS: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW. In RESPIROLOGY Vol. 26 (pp. 146). WILEY. |
| 2018 | Slattery, F., Johnston, K., Bennett, H., & Crockett, A. (2018). LONGITUDINAL CHANGES IN PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER LUNG FUNCTION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW. In RESPIROLOGY Vol. 23 (pp. 205). WILEY. |
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MTA: Concussion in Women's Australian Rules Football, Unknown, 08/09/2025 - 09/09/2028
Courses I teach
- HLTH 1039 Foundations in Human Movement, Exercise and Sports Science (2025)
- HLTH 2027 Exercise Prescription and Delivery 1 (2025)
- HLTH 3011 Exercise Prescription and Delivery 2 (2025)
- HLTH 1039 Foundations in Human Movement, Exercise and Sports Science (2024)
- HLTH 2027 Exercise Prescription and Delivery 1 (2024)
- HLTH 3011 Exercise Prescription and Delivery 2 (2024)
- HLTH 3054 Professional Practice in Exercise Science (2024)
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Co-Supervisor | In your hands: Digit ratio as a predictor of physical performance and game statistics in junior Australian football players | Master of Research | Master | Full Time | Aaron James Beaty-Verhaaf |
| 2025 | Principal Supervisor | The effect of longer-muscle length resistance training on skeletal muscle hypertrophy. | Master of Research (Human Movement) | Master | Part Time | Mr Joel Phillips |
| 2025 | Co-Supervisor | 688- Enhancing athlete monitoring through analysis of running gait mechanics (Speed Signature) in AFL athletes | Master of Research (Human Movement) | Master | Full Time | Miss Bridget Godfrey |
| 2025 | Principal Supervisor | The effect of longer-muscle length resistance training on skeletal muscle hypertrophy. | Master of Philosophy | Master | Part Time | Mr Joel Phillips |
| 2025 | Co-Supervisor | 688- Enhancing athlete monitoring through analysis of running gait mechanics (Speed Signature) in AFL athletes | Master of Philosophy | Master | Full Time | Miss Bridget Godfrey |
| 2024 | Principal Supervisor | Recommendations for prescribing strength training to enhance triathlete performance | Master of Research (Human Movement) | Master | Part Time | Mr Kent John Dredge |
| 2024 | Co-Supervisor | Concussion in Women's Australian Rules Football | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Jack Luders |
| 2024 | Principal Supervisor | The influence of the menstrual cycle on the performance of state-level female Australian rules footballers | Master of Research (Human Movement) | Master | Full Time | Miss Erica Jane Greet |
| 2024 | Co-Supervisor | Shoulder dislocations in Australian Rules Football Women (AFLW) players | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Ms Sarah Ruth Bradbrook |
| 2024 | Principal Supervisor | The effect of training drill classification on internal and external load in semi-elite male football athletes. | Master of Research (Human Movement) | Master | Part Time | Miss Keely Jayde Cannizzaro |
| 2024 | Principal Supervisor | The influence of the menstrual cycle on the performance of state-level female Australian rules footballers | Master of Philosophy | Master | Full Time | Miss Erica Jane Greet |
| 2024 | Principal Supervisor | The effect of training drill classification on internal and external load in semi-elite male football athletes. | Master of Philosophy | Master | Part Time | Miss Keely Jayde Cannizzaro |
| 2024 | Principal Supervisor | Recommendations for prescribing strength training to enhance triathlete performance | Master of Philosophy | Master | Part Time | Mr Kent John Dredge |
| 2023 | Co-Supervisor | Evolution of match demands, and relationships with physical and match performance in Australian Football League Womens (AFLW) athletes | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Brooke Jenner |
| 2023 | Co-Supervisor | Evolution of match demands, and relationships with physical and match performance in Australian Football League Women?s (AFLW) athletes | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Brooke Jenner |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 - 2024 | Principal Supervisor | How complex contrast training affects the training outcomes of female semi-professional Australian rules football players | Master of Research (Human Movement) | Master | Full Time | Mr Jack Luders |
| 2022 - 2025 | Co-Supervisor | The effects of training intensity distribution on elite cyclists | Master of Research (Human Movement) | Master | Full Time | Ben Cove |
| 2022 - 2025 | Co-Supervisor | The prevention of ankle injuries in elite adolescent male Australian footballers | Master of Research (Human Movement) | Master | Part Time | Miss Jessica McDonald |
| 2021 - 2022 | Co-Supervisor | Inertia flywheel resistance and its applications for post-activation performance enhancement | Master of Health (Human Movement) | Master | Full Time | Mr Keegan Hall |
| 2021 - 2025 | Co-Supervisor | The characterisation of cardiac structure and function of registered Australian jockeys | Master of Research (Medical Radiation) | Master | Part Time | Ms Angela Farley |
| 2020 - 2024 | Co-Supervisor | The mind and the miles: exploring motivational and psychological factors related to recreational running maintenance | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Chloe Blacket |
| 2020 - 2024 | Co-Supervisor | Effect of exercise on global longitudinal strain in women with breast cancer, and women at risk of cardiovascular disease | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr James Murray |
| 2020 - 2022 | Co-Supervisor | The effect of aging on movement quality in Australian urban firefighters | Master of Research (Health Sciences) | Master | Part Time | Mr Alex Redshaw |
| Date | Role | Board name | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 - 2024 | Member | ESSA South Australian State Chaper | Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA) | Australia |
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