Student Highlights
From Open Foundation to a Masters in Exercise Physiology

When Jess didn’t receive the ATAR she hoped for, she felt gutted.

“All my friends were going to university, and I was left trying to work out what to do next,” Jess said.

Believing that university wasn’t for her, Jess signed up for a six-month summer camp in America. This turned out to be a fundamental decision in determining her future.

In addition to having a whole lot of fun at the Pennsylvania-based summer camp, Jess was introduced to the idea of studying movement and exercise physiology.

“After summer camp, I travelled further around the US and then returned home. I knew I wanted to go to uni but I didn’t know where to start,” Jess said.

“That’s when I came across Open Foundation, which allowed me direct entry into an undergraduate degree.”

After completing one year of study through Open Foundation, Jess was given the choice of three different degrees, with one of those being a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science.

“I’ve always been a very sporty person and I knew I wanted to help people. But I wasn’t sure in what context, so this degree seemed like the best path for me,” she said.

Jess studied at the University of Newcastle’s Ourimbah campus on the Central Coast and completed a three-year undergraduate degree before going on to do a Masters in Exercise Physiology.

Exercise Physiology involves prescribing exercise to populations who suffer from chronic conditions such as back pain, asthma and cardiac conditions, Jess explained.

As part of her studies, Jess has had the opportunity to explore multiple avenues in the industry including working at an exercise physiology Clinic, visiting local communities in the Maldives, and now working at Belle Movement Pilates Studio.

Jess is looking forward to starting her placement with the University’s student-run Exercise Physiology Clinic at Ourimbah. After this, she hopes to undertake a placement in Darwin or somewhere rural.

“One of the subjects we covered was working in rural regions.

“We sat in on an interview with a lady who worked fly-in-fly-out at Arnhem Land and some of the surrounding islands. Her role was to undergo checkups and general assessments of the locals.

“I really want to get that rural experience; I feel it would be a really effective way of using my knowledge,” Jess said.

Original article and photo supplied by HunterHUNTER.

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Jess Thomas

After completing one year of study through Open Foundation, Jess was given the choice of three different degrees, with one of those being a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science.

All my friends were going to university, and I was left trying to work out what to do next.