Lara Ralph

Growing up as the youngest of four children, sport and being active were a big part of my childhood. I was constantly tagging along to my siblings’ sport, observing everything in awe, which inspired me to participate in a range of sports too. To this day, we still share a passion for being active which now takes the form of sibling gym sessions. My mother, a physiotherapist, always encouraged us to learn about our health and find joy in being active. Her work also provided me with an insight into the allied health industry. Throughout my own ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction and injury rehabilitation at 16, I was further exposed to the role of exercise in health and performance.

After school, I completed a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science (majoring in Exercise Science) at UTS and was awarded a University Medal upon graduation. I am now completing my Honours degree. Alongside my studies, I have worked as a Sports Coach, Personal Trainer, Physiotherapy Clinic Manager, Research Assistant, UTS U:PASS Leader and currently as an Academic Tutor, teaching in the UTS School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation. 

I have always been passionate about health and fitness – the logic of the human body and multidimensional nature of health and sport have always fascinated me. I am interested in how we can use exercise to correct biomechanical errors, lift our overall health, improve athletic performance, and prevent injury (or properly recover when it does occur). There will always be a need and appreciation for health industries, with their importance expanding rapidly with time. After all, what is humanity without its health! I am also incredibly passionate about education and expanding one’s knowledge – both in the case of my own studies as well as helping other students to further theirs. 

I was initially drawn to UTS due to the expansive nature of the degrees on offer. With the breadth of the sporting and allied health industries, I liked the idea of a degree that could cover multiple areas and wouldn’t limit my options – rather, it provided pathways I was previously unaware of. I also love the spacious, modern campus at UTS and particularly the focus on elite sport at the Moore Park campus. 

Nothing provides more of a real-world vision to course content than walking past the Sydney Swans, Sydney Roosters or Rugby 7s training. In the classroom, our lecturers and tutors were able to share real-life examples from elite sport and the health industries, to enhance our learning (and provide great connections for internships)! The efficiency and structure of our course content and timetables has meant as students we have been able to engage in relevant work experience and internships. This experience has not only improved our only education but also provided enriching conversations and knowledge sharing in the classroom.

Progressing from student to teacher has been a highly rewarding aspect of my time at UTS. During my undergraduate studies I led study sessions for students in the years below me through the U:Pass program, and since graduating I have taken on work as an Academic Tutor, teaching in the UTS School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation. I really enjoy helping students, knowing that I was once in their exact position! 

I’m now working on my Honours project which aims to build foundational knowledge in training quality, to further enhance the preparation of athletes in high performance sport. We will explore training quality through a synthesis of current literature from diverse fields (sport, exercise, business, education etc.) and consultations with expert stakeholders in sport and exercise. This work will allow me to better understand what high-quality training involves and how it might best be achieved, with the hope that this may enhance the high-performance sporting landscape. 

Following my Honours year, I hope to undertake a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at UTS, continuing my research in the training quality domain. I’ll continue to teach at the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation and pursue a career in academia – combining my interests of teaching and research while also working with industry stakeholders in sport and exercise. For now, this means I’ll continue working alongside an incredible team at an amazing place - the UTS Moore Park Campus, where my sport and exercise studies began!

I would encourage anyone considering the Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science, to go into this degree with an open mind. The health and fitness industries are continually growing, and you may be surprised by the opportunities it provides. Most of all, with a UTS Sport and Exercise Science degree, you’ll be prepared for your future career, with a well-rounded education and university experience.