Petrass, Lauren Dr

Position: Senior Lecturer
Discipline: Health and Physical Education
Location: Mt Helen, Room P925
Phone: (03) 5327 9393
Email: l.petrass@federation.edu.au

Qualifications

  • PhD, University of Ballarat
  • Graduate Diploma of Outdoor and Environmental Education, University of Ballarat
  • BA (Hons) Education (Physical Education), University of Ballarat

Teaching areas

  • Swimming and water safety
  • Biomechanics
  • Research methods

Research interests

  • Swimming ability of Victorian primary school children
  • Child and adolescent drowning prevention and water safety
  • Sports ground conditions and injury risk
  • Synthetic turf and sports grounds

Supervised projects

  • The perceived risk of surf swimming - a child's perspective
  • The validity and reliability of a modified Clegg hammer for testing ground hardness.
  • Parent and teacher opinions regarding infant and pre-school aquatics
  • Drowning risk factors for young adults
  • Swimming competency: Perception versus actuality among physical education undergraduates

Publications

Book chapters

Petrass L. A. (2014) Supervision. In J Bierens (Ed) Drowning: Prevention, Rescue, Treatment (2nd Ed). Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. pp.175-179

Petrass L. A, Blitvich J. D & Finch C. F. (2012) Caregivers' Perceptions of Environmental Risk Factors for Child Drowning in Different Aquatic Environments. In JA Daniels (Ed) Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 20. Nova Science Publishers Ltd. New York. pp.97-124

Journal articles

Petrass LA, Blitvich J. D & McElroy GK. Drowning deaths among anglers: Are waders a contributing factor. International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion available online at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26225888

Petrass, LA, Twomey, DM., Harvey, JT, Otago, L., & LeRossignol, P. (2015) Comparison of surface temperature of different synthetic turf systems and natural grass: Have advances in synthetic turf technology made a difference. Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology. 229(1): 10-16

Petrass, LA & Blitvich, J. D. (2014) Preventing adolescent drowning: Understanding water safety knowledge, attitudes and swimming ability. The effect of a short water safety intervention. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 70: 188-194.

Twomey, DM, Petrass, LA, Orchard, J. W & Finch, CF. (2014) Ground condition as a risk factor in sports injury aetiology studies: The level of concordance between objective and subjective measures. Injury Epidemiology. 1(27): 1-7

Petrass, LA, Twomey, DM & Harvey, JT. (2015) Comparison of surface temperature of different synthetic turf systems and natural grass: Have advances in synthetic turf technology made a difference. Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology. 229(1): 10-16

Twomey, DM, Petrass, LA, Orchard, J. W & Finch, CF. (2014) Ground condition as a risk factor in sports injury aetiology studies: The level of concordance between objective and subjective measures. Injury Epidemiology. Available online at: http://www.injepijournal.com/content/1/1/27

Twomey, DM, Petrass, LA & Flemming, PR. (2014) Abrasion injuries on artificial turf: A real risk or not? The South African Journal of Sports Medicine, 26(3).

Petrass, LA, Twomey, DM, & Harvey, J. (2014) Understanding how the components of a synthetic turf system contribute to increased surface temperature. Procedia Engineering, 72: 943-948.

Twomey, DM, Connell, M, & Petrass, LA. (2014) Rotational traction testing: how can we improve the current test device? Procedia Engineering, 72: 919-924.

Petrass, LA & Blitvich, J. D. (2014) Preventing adolescent drowning: understanding water safety knowledge, attitudes and swimming ability. The effect of a short water safety intervention. Accident Analysis and Prevention. 70: 188-194.

Twomey, DM, Ullah, S. Petrass, LA, & Otago, L. (2014) One, two, three or four: Does the number of Clegg Hammer drops alter ground hardness readings on natural grass? Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology. 228(1): 33-39

Petrass, LA & Twomey, DM. (2013) The relationship between ground conditions and injury: What level of evidence do we have? Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 16(2): 105-112.

Twomey, DM, Connell, M. Petrass, LA, & Otago, L. (2013) The effect of stud configuration on rotational traction using the studded boot apparatus. Sports Engineering. 16(1): 21-27.

Petrass, LA & Blitvich, J. D. (2013) Unobtrusive observation of caregiver-child pairs at public pools and playgrounds: Implications for child unintentional injury risk. International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 7(3): 204-213.

Petrass, LA, Blitvich, J. D, McElroy, GK, Harvey, J, & Moran, K. (2012) Can you swim? Self-report and actual swimming competence among young adults in Ballarat, Australia. International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 6(2): 136-148.

Blitvich, J. D, Moran, K, Petrass, LA, McElroy, GK, & Stanley, T. (2012) Swim instructor beliefs about toddler and preschool swimming and water safety education. International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 6(2): 110-121.

Moran, K, Stallman, R. K, Kjendlie, PL, Dahl, D, Blitvich, J. D, Petrass, LA, McElroy GK, et al. (2012) Can you swim? An exploration of measuring real and perceived water competency. International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 6(2): 122-135.

Petrass, LA, & Blitvich, J. D. (2012) The nature of caregiver supervision of young children in public pools. International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 6(1): 11-23.

Petrass, LA, Blitvich, J. D, & Finch, CF. (2011). Adapting an established measure of supervision for beach settings. Is The Parent Supervision Attributes Profile Questionnaire reliable? International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion, 18(2): 113-117.

Petrass, LA, Blitvich, J. D, & Finch, CF. (2011). Lack of caregiver supervision: A contributing factor in Australian unintentional child drowning deaths, 2000-2009. Medical Journal of Australia, 194(5): 228-231.

Petrass, LA, Blitvich, J. D, & Finch, C. F. (2011). Lack of caregiver supervision: A contributing factor in Australian unintentional child drowning deaths, 2000-2009. Medical Journal of Australia, 195(3): 156-157.

Petrass, LA, Blitvich, J. D, & Finch, CF. (2011). Observations of caregiver supervision of children at beaches: Identification of factors associated with high supervision. Injury Prevention, 17(4): 244-249.

Petrass, LA, Blitvich, J. D, & Finch, CF. (2011). Self-reported supervisory behaviour and beliefs vs. actual observations of caregiver behaviour at beaches. International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education, 5(2): 199-209.

Petrass, LA, Finch, C. F, & Blitvich, J. D. (2009). Methodological approaches used to assess the relationship between parental supervision and child injury risk. Injury Prevention, 15(2): 132-138.

Petrass, LA, Blitvich, J. D, & Finch, CF. (2009). Parent/caregiver supervision and child injury: A systematic review of critical dimensions for understanding this relationship. Family and Community Health, 32(2): 123-135.

Published research reports

Twomey D. M., Otago, L., Petrass, L. A, LeRossignol, P. JJ Holland Park Heat Project. Melbourne City Council. May, 2012.

Blitvich J. D, Petrass, L. A, McElroy, G. K., Twomey, D. & Swan, P. Pool concourse guidelines - Technical Report., in Pool Concourse Guidelines - Design, Construction, Management and Maintenance Considerations. Aquatics and Recreation Victoria and Sport and Recreation Victoria. 2011.

Grants

Petrass, L & Blitvich, J (2015) Swimming ability of Victorian children ($20,000)

Petrass, L., Twomey, D., Lenehan, K. & Fleming, P (2015) Hosting an international research scholar. Federation University Faculty of Health Grant ($5,000)

Petrass, L & Twomey, D (2013) The influence of synthetic turf components on rotational traction. University of Ballarat Joint Research Engagement (JRE) Grant ($1,850)

Twomey, D & Petrass, L (2013) Effects of synthetic turf components on heat of the surface. Tuff Turf PTY. ($9,500; plus approx. $20,000 for plot installation)

Twomey, D & Petrass, L (2013) Sports surface writing retreat. University of Ballarat Joint Research Engagement (JRE) Grant ($1,585)

Twomey, D & Petrass, L (2012) Player perceptions and injuries on synthetic turf. Australian Football League ($30,242)

Petrass, L & Blitvich, J (2012) Lifeguard and caregiver knowledge and perception of their responsibilities. University of Ballarat Seeding Grant ($6,500)

Twomey, D & Petrass, L (2012) Improving the validity of a surface impact test device. University of Ballarat Seeding Grant ($8,700)

Twomey, D, Flemming, P & Petrass, L (2012) An investigation of the maintenance regimes at Saltwater Reserve. University of Ballarat Seeding Grant ($15,750)

Otago, L., Twomey, D., LeRossignol, P.,& Petrass, L. (2011) Heat policy for synthetic turf. Melbourne City Council ($10,500)

Blitvich, J., McElroy, K., Swan, P., Petrass, L., & Twomey, D. (2010) Pool Concourse Project. Aquatics and Recreation Victoria (ARV) ($30,463)

Blitvich, J., Petrass, L., & Kremer, P. (2010) Preventing drowning in young adults – skills, beliefs and risk taking. University of Ballarat Small Grant ($5,000)

Awards

International Life Saving Federation Best Poster Award at the Drowning Prevention and Rescue Conference, 2012.

University of Ballarat Research Conference Award for Best 3 minute Thesis Presentation, 2010.

ASICS Award for Best Paper in Injury Prevention at the Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, 2009.

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Public Health Postgraduate Scholarship, 2008.

ASICS Award for Best Poster in Injury Prevention at the Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, 2008.

University of Ballarat Research Conference Award for Best Student Presentation, 2008.

Associations

  • Sports Medicine Australia
  • Life Saving Victoria
  • Australian Injury Prevention Network