Prof Rob Orr
Professor
Level 5, Bond Institute of Health and Sport, 2 Promethean Way, Robina QLD 4226
Accepting PhD StudentsContact details
Professional biography
Dr Rob Orr joined the Australian Army in 1989 as an infantry soldier before transferring to the Australian Defence Force Physical Training Instructor (PTI) stream. Serving for 10 years in this stream, Rob designed, developed, instructed and audited physical training programs and physical education and rehabilitation courses for military personnel and fellow PTIs from both Australian and foreign defence forces. Rob subsequently transferred to the physiotherapy stream where his role included the clinical rehabilitation of defence members and project management of physical conditioning optimisation reviews. Serving as the Human Performance Officer for Special Operations before joining the team at Bond University in 2012, Rob continues to serve in the Army Reserve as a Human Performance Officer and as a sessional lecturer and consultant.
Rob is the director of the Tactical Research Unit, a multidisciplinary, international team of researchers nested in Bond University providing research, consultancy, and education services to tactical professions around the globe. Rob’s fields of research, consultancy, and education provision spans physical conditioning, reconditioning, rehabilitation and injury prevention for military, law enforcement and protective services across their occupational lifespan (initial trainee to specialist). Generally focussing on the tactical population, Rob is actively involved in research with the Australian and foreign defence forces, an extensive list of law enforcement departments (both national and international), and firefighters / first responders.
Rob has served on the organising committee for the 4th and 5th International Congress on Soldiers' Physical Performance and on the scientific committees for the occupational branch of the Australian Physiotherapy Association Conference and World Physiotherapy Congress, and was the Chair of the organising committee for the 4th Physical Employment Standards Conference which was held at Bond University in 2023.
Research interests
Professor Rob Orr joined the Australian Army in 1989 as an infantry soldier before transferring to the Australian Defence Force Physical Training Instructor (PTI) stream. Serving for 10 years in this stream, Rob designed, developed, instructed and audited physical training programs and physical education and rehabilitation courses for military personnel and fellow PTIs from both Australian and foreign defence forces. Rob subsequently transferred to the physiotherapy stream where his role included the clinical rehabilitation of defence members and project management of physical conditioning optimisation reviews. Serving as a Human Performance Officer at the Royal Military College and Special Operations HQ before joining the team at Bond University in 2012, Rob continues to serve in the Army Reserve.
Professor Orr is the Director of the Tactical Research Unit, a faculty research centre at Bond University with international collaborations designed to provide research, consultancy and education services to tactical professions around the globe. Rob’s fields of research, consultancy, and education provision spans physical conditioning, reconditioning, rehabilitation and injury prevention for military, law enforcement and protective services across their occupational lifespan (initial trainee to specialist). Generally focusing on the tactical population, Rob is actively involved in research with the Australian and foreign defence forces, an extensive list of law enforcement departments (both national and international), and firefighters / first responders.
Professor Orr served as the editor for the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) TSAC Technical Report (2015-2020) and on the organising committee for the 4th and 5th International Congress on Soldiers’ Physical Performance and on the scientific committees for the occupational branch of the Australian Physiotherapy Association and 2019 and 2021 World Physical Therapy Organisation conferences. Dr Orr was Chair of the organising committee for the 4th Physical Employment Standards (PES) Conference held at Bond University, Australia, in 2023 and still serves on the PES committee.
In 2022, Professor Orr was the NSCA TSAC Professional of the year award winner, a Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Award winner, and an Australian Award for University Teaching winner.
Teaching expertise
Having taught in Defence and the private sector for over 25 years, Rob's expertise lies in exercise prescription for injury prevention, rehabilitation and optimised function for athletes and special populations (military and protective services).
Teaching awards
- 2021 Australian Awards for University Teaching Citation
- 2020 Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence
- 2019 Certificate of Excellence (eTEVAL) award – Evidence Based Practice
- 2019 Certificate of Excellence (eTEVAL) award – Principles of Physiotherapy
- 2017 Certificate of Excellence (eTEVAL) award – Principles of Physiotherapy
- 2016 Certificate of Excellence (eTEVAL Award) – Principles of Physiotherapy
- 2016 Faculty Award for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning through Sustained Innovation
- 2016 HSMSA - Academic Staff Excellence
- 2015 Certificate of Excellence (eTEVAL Award) – Principles of Physiotherapy
- 2014 Certificate of Excellence (eTEVAL Award) – Principles of Physiotherapy
- 2013 Certificate of Excellence (eTEVAL Award) – Maximising Human Potential
- 2013 HSM Excellence in Learning and Teaching Award for Tutors/Facilitators
Professional admissions
- Tactical Strength and Conditioning-Australia
- National Strength and Conditioning Association
- Australian Army
- Sports Medicine Australia
- Australian Physiotherapy Association
Professional appointments
- Human Performance Officer - Department of Defence-Army
- Sessional Lecturer - Department of Defence
- Editor - Tactical Strength and Conditioning Report, National Strength and Conditioning Association 2014-
- Guest Editor: Int J Environ Res Pub Hlth (Testing and Physical Conditioning for Tactical Populations)
- Guest Editor: Int J Environ Res Pub Hlth (Tactical Forces Injury Risk Management)
- Abstract mentor: World Congress of Physical Therapy - Occupational Health Stream (2021)
- Chair of the Organising Committee: International Physical Employment Standards
- Organising Committee: International Congress on Soldiers’ Physical Performance
- Member: California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training Physical Job Demands of Patrol Officers Taskforce
- Queensland Safety Innovation and Technology Laboratory (QSITL)
- Queensland Defence Science Alliance
- International Physical Employment Standards Committee
- Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services heat risk working group
Qualifications
- Philosophy, PhD, 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
Fields of Research
- Public health
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).