Master of Exercise Medicine (Oncology)

Aims to teach advanced theoretical concepts of exercise medicine and, specifically, how these can be applied in the clinical setting with cancer patients and survivors.

The curriculum offers students understanding of the disease processes; various treatments currently being applied (e.g. surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and immunotherapy), effects of cancer and treatment side-effects in terms of physical structure and function, development of other disease processes (e.g. metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, sarcopenia and osteoporosis), and the psychological impacts of the disease and treatments (e.g. anxiety, depression, fear of recurrence, self-care).

This course provides graduates with specialised knowledge and skills in the principles of health and fitness testing, exercise prescription development and program implementation, as well as understanding current best-practice in exercise medicine for cancer patients and survivors.

The two-week on-site practicum offers students the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts in targeted exercise for the management of cancer.

• Critically evaluate a complex body of exercise oncology knowledge, research principles and methods to demonstrate mastery of assessment and exercise prescription for cancer patients and survivors.
• Apply cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, evaluate, synthesise and apply physical exercise as a medicine for patient management within interprofessional team environments.
• Apply communication skills to collaboratively formulate and implement exercise prescriptions in authentic clinical settings.
• Use high level self management skills to plan and formulate exercise medicine clinical programs within diverse settings.