Australian Catholic University

What you'll study

This short postgraduate award is organised around applied, evidence‑based topics central to contemporary high performance environments. Typical study areas include:

• Foundations of High Performance Sport – principles of athlete development, periodisation and the high performance system.
• Performance Monitoring and Athlete Assessment – designing and interpreting testing batteries, data collection protocols and longitudinal monitoring.
• Strength and Conditioning for High Performance – practical and theoretical approaches to strength, power and speed development for elite athletes.
• Applied Sport Science and Technology – use of wearables, video analysis, GPS and athlete management systems in decision making.
• Recovery, Nutrition and Load Management – strategies for optimising recovery, injury risk reduction and nutrition for performance.
• Athlete Welfare, Psychology and Leadership – psychological skills, athlete wellbeing, leadership and multidisciplinary team functioning.

Units are typically delivered as taught online subjects with a mix of recorded lectures, live seminars and applied assessment tasks. Assessments emphasise workplace application, such as performance plans, monitoring programmes and case studies that can be integrated with students’ current roles.

Entry requirements

Applicants are usually required to hold an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline (for example exercise/sport science, physiotherapy, coaching or physical education) or demonstrate equivalent professional experience in sport. Relevant postgraduate study or industry experience in high performance settings strengthens an application.

Typical application materials include a certified academic transcript, CV outlining professional experience in sport, and referee contact details. International applicants must meet the university's English language requirements. Specific entry conditions and pathways (including recognition of prior learning or work experience) are published by the university and considered on a case‑by‑case basis.

Career prospects

Graduates use the Graduate Certificate to move into or progress within roles in elite sport and high performance programmes. Common roles include:

• High performance coach or assistant coach
• Strength and conditioning coach
• Performance analyst or sport scientist
• Talent identification and athlete development officer
• Performance programme manager or multidisciplinary support staff

The award is also commonly used as a stepping stone into further postgraduate study (for example a graduate diploma or master’s) or to meet employer expectations for applied professional development in elite sport settings.

Why study at Australian Catholic University

Australian Catholic University offers applied, industry‑focused sport programs with an emphasis on real‑world skills and multidisciplinary collaboration. The online delivery of this graduate certificate is designed for working professionals, combining flexibility with opportunities to apply learning directly in workplace contexts.

Students benefit from teaching staff with industry and research experience in performance sport, and from the university’s connections with clubs and high performance organisations across Australia. The program is structured to align academic rigour with contemporary practice so graduates are prepared to contribute to multidisciplinary high performance teams.