Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
I have served in the Australian Army in a full-time capacity for 23 years as an infantry soldier and Defence Force Physical Training Instructor (PTI), a uniformed physiotherapist and Human Performance Officer. During this time my fields of research have included physical conditioning and injury prevention for military personnel, from the initial trainee to the elite warrior, with a key focus on combat load carriage. Serving as the Human Performance Officer for the Royal Military College and Special Operations units before joining the team at Bond University in 2012, I continue to serve in the Army Reserve as a Human Performance Officer and as a sessional presenter.
I serve as director of the Tactical Research Unit at Bond University, an international collaboration exclusively dedicated to research, education, and consultancy for tactical populations. With over 100 tactical publications in peer reviewed journals and 20 technical reports, I run training for military, law enforcement, and fire and rescue agencies across the globe, from Australian and the USA to Singapore and China. I lead the TRU team to provide consultancy and educational services that have aided tactical populations set fitness standards, reduce injuries, improve rehabilitation, optimise mobility and lethality, and inform equipment purchases (e.g. load bearing vests, thigh holsters etc). I currently serve on the International Physical Employment Standards Committee and as Chair of the organising committee for the 4th Physical Employment Standards Conference in 2021.
Statement for HDR students
Potential students interested in, or who are currently working with, tactical populations (military, police and firefighters) may find some of the projects on offer to their liking.
Projects include the training and rehabilitation of recruits and serving personnel, optimising selection processes for specialist streams, improving rehabilitation of injured members for return to work and investigating the impact of load carriage on occupational task performances (like mobility and lethality).
Education/Academic qualification
Philosophy, PhD, Soldier Load Carriage: A Risk Management Approach, University of Queensland
Award Date: 15 Mar 2013
Physiotherapy, Masters of Physiotherapy Studies, University of Queensland
Award Date: 10 Dec 2005
Education, Bachelor of Further Education and Training
Award Date: 21 Apr 2001
Exercise Physiology, Associate Diploma in Applied Science (Physical Training)
Award Date: 22 Aug 1997
External positions
Editor - TSAC Report, National Strength and Conditioning Association
1 Jan 2015 → …
Human Performance Officer, The Australian Army
29 Mar 1989 → …
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Factors affecting Tactical Decision Making in Police Officers
Schram, B., Orr, R. & Fontenelle Dumans Canetti, E.
10/01/22 → 8/01/24
Project: Research
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Predicting job performance by measuring fatigue levels in emergency services
Marvin, G., Schram, B., Orr, R. & Fontenelle Dumans Canetti, E.
1/10/21 → 31/12/23
Project: HDR Student Project
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Identifying which neuromuscular strength and power requirements are essential for law enforcement candidates pursuing specialist police selection
Orr, R., Schram, B., Fontenelle Dumans Canetti, E. & Robinson, J.
1/10/21 → 6/10/25
Project: HDR Student Project
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Can competence achievability in Law Enforcement skills training be defined and quantified?
Orr, R., Schram, B., Fontenelle Dumans Canetti, E. & Andrews, N.
1/09/21 → 17/01/29
Project: HDR Student Project
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Profiling Musculoskeletal Injuries in Army Basic Training
Lyons, K., Orr, R., Schram, B. & Pope, R.
1/06/21 → 31/12/24
Project: HDR Student Project
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A Comparison Of Two Law Enforcement Marksmanship Assessments.
Orr, R. M., Fontenelle Dumans Canetti, E. & Schram, B., 26 Feb 2023, p. 20-21.Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › Research › peer-review
File15 Downloads (Pure) -
An Examination of Subjective and Objective Measures of Stress in Tactical Populations: A Scoping Review
Tramel, W., Schram, B., Fontenelle Dumans Canetti, E. & Orr, R. M., 11 Sept 2023, In: Healthcare. 11, 18, p. 1-40 40 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile13 Downloads (Pure) -
A profile of injuries suffered by female soldiers serving in the Australian Army.
Schram, B., Orr, R. M. & Pope, R., 26 Feb 2023, p. 32-33.Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › Research › peer-review
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A profile of occupational tasks performed by mounted police officers
Fontenelle Dumans Canetti, E., Gersbach-Seib, A., Moore, R., Schram, B. & Orr, R. M., 26 Feb 2023, p. 7-8.Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › Research › peer-review
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A research note investigating the leg tuck and plank with potential impacts for occupational testing
Gonzales, S., Withrow, K., Rubin, D., Lynn, S., Jay Dawes, J., Orr, R. M. & Lockie, R. G., Oct 2023, In: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 37, 10, p. 2076-2079 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Activities
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Biology (Journal)
Rob Orr (Editor)
2022Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Guest Editor
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High Performing teams for trauma.
Victoria Brazil (Speaker), Rob Orr (Speaker) & Eve Purdy (Speaker)
Sept 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Fergus James - Evidence Based Practice Research A (PHTY93-421 - 202) and B (PHTY93-422 - 203)
Vinicius Perez Simas (Supervisor), Ben Schram (Secondary Supervisor), Rob Orr (Secondary Supervisor) & Elisa Canetti (Secondary Supervisor)
2020Activity: Professional Development, Mentorship, Supervision and Other Activities › Non-HDR Student Supervision
Press/Media
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Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide
18/07/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Researching equipment for tactical personnel
7/10/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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