Twomey, Dara

Phone: (03) 53279062
Email: Dean.health-life-sciences@federation.edu.au
Room: P921 Mt Helen Campus
Position: Dean, School of Science, Psychology and Sport
Discipline: Exercise and Sport Sciences

Qualifications

  • PhD University of New South Wales, 2006
  • BA (Hons) Physical Education and Mathematics: (UL, Ireland) 1992

Teaching areas

  • Biomechanics
  • Injury prevention

Professional associations

  • Sports Medicine Australia
  • Exercise and Sports Science Australia

Research interests

Dara’s research interests are primarily focused around aspects of sports biomechanics and sports injury prevention. She has extensive experience in the design, delivery and evaluation of sports injury prevention interventions. In more recent times, her research has been centred on the performance and safety aspects of sport surfaces. She developed standards for the use of artificial turf for various sports.  Her work in this area facilitates the combination of her biomechanical expertise and experience in sports injury prevention. Since the implementation of the standards, her focus has been on increasing our understanding of player-surface interactions to reduce injury risk, improving the lack of biofidelity of the testing equipment and enhancing our knowledge of the impact of climatic conditions on participation on artificial playing surfaces.

Publications (Past 5 years)

Refereed articles

Twomey, D.M, Petrass, L.A, Fleming P.R., Lenehan K. (2018) Abrasion injuries on artificial turf: A systematic review. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Online Ahead of Print, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2018.11.005.

Brown, A. M., Twomey, D. M., & Shee, A. W. (2018). Evaluating mild traumatic brain injury management at a regional emergency department. Injury Prevention, 24, 390-394.

Siesmaa, E. J., Clapperton, A. J.,Twomey, D.M. (2018). Hospital-Treated Snow Sport Injury in Victoria, Australia: A Summary of 2003–2012. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 29(2), 194-202.

Brown, A. M., Twomey, D. M., & Wong Shee, A. (2017). Are patients with concussion getting optimal discharge advice at a regional emergency department? Australian Journal of Rural Health, 26(2), 134-135.

Feros, S.A., Spratford, W., Platt, N., Twomey, D.M. (2017) Cricket spin bowling remains in its biomechanical infancy. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 20(12), 1040.

Twomey, D.M, Petrass, L.A, Harvey, J, Otago, L, Le Rossignol, P. (2016) Selection and Management of Sports Grounds: Does Surface Heat Matter? Journal of Facility Planning, Design and Management, 4(1), 33-47.

Petrass, L.A., Twomey, D.M., Finch, C.F. (2016) Ensuring natural grass sports fields are safe for athlete participation. Journal of Applied Sport Management, 8(2), 83-98.

Lenehan, K., Twomey, D.M. (2016)Abrasion testing on synthetic turf: A modified device. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, 230(4) 280 – 284.

Finch, C. F., Twomey, D. M., Fortington, L. V., Doyle, T. L., Elliott, B. C., Akram, M., Lloyd, D. G. (2016). Preventing Australian football injuries with a targeted neuromuscular control exercise programme: comparative injury rates from a training intervention delivered in a clustered randomised controlled trial. Injury Prevention, 22(2) 123 – 128.

Twomey, D. M., Doyle, T. L., Lloyd, D. G., Elliot, B. C., Finch, C. F. (2015) Challenges when implementing an evidence-based exercise injury prevention training program in community-level sport. Journal of Applied Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Science, 1(1), 29-39.

Fortington, L. V., Twomey, D. M., Finch, C. F. (2015). Concussion in community Australian football–epidemiological monitoring of the causes and immediate impact on play. Injury Epidemiology, 2(1), 1-6.

Petrass, L. A., Twomey, D. M., Harvey, J. T., Otago, L., LeRossignol, P. (2015). Comparison of surface temperatures of different synthetic turf systems and natural grass: Have advances in synthetic turf technology made a difference. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, 229(1), 10-16.

Twomey, D.M, Petrass, L.A, Orchard, J.W, Finch. C.F. (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.

Twomey, D.M., Petrass, L.A., Fleming P.R. (2014) Abrasion injuries on synthetic turf: A real risk or not? South African Journal of Sports Medicine, 26(3), 91-92.

Twomey, D.M., Connell, M, Petrass, L. (2014) Rotational traction testing: How can we improve the current test device? Procedia Engineering, 72, 919-924.

Twomey, D.M., Ullah, S., Petrass, 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, L, Twomey, D.M., Harvey, J. (2014) Understanding how the components of a synthetic turf system contribute to increased surface temperature. Procedia Engineering, 72, 943-948.

Finch, C.F, Diamantopoulou, K., Twomey, D.M., Doyle, T.A., Lloyd, D.G., Elliot, B.E. (2104) The reach and adoption of a coach-led exercise training program in community football. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 48(8), 718-723.

Finch, C.F, Orchard, J., Twomey, D.M., Saleem, M.S., Ekegren, C., Lloyd, D.G., Doyle, T.A., Elliot, B.E. (2014) Coding OSICS sports injury diagnoses in epidemiological studies: does the background of the coder matter?British Journal of Sports Medicine, 48(7), 552-556.

Talpey, S., Young, W., Twomey, D.M., Doyle, T.A., Elliott, B., Lloyd, D., Finch, C.F. (2014) Acceleration, change of direction speed and agility profile of adult community level Australian football players. Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning, 22(5),176-178.

Finch, C.F, Doyle, T.A., Dempsey, A.R., Elliot, B.E., Twomey, D.M., White, P.E., Diamantopoulou, K., Young, W.B., Lloyd, D.G. (2014) What do community football players think about different exercise training programs? Implications for the delivery of lower limb injury prevention. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 48(8), 702-707.

Published conference abstracts

Twomey, D. (2017)Improving sports injury prevention knowledge. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 20, Supplement 3, Page 70.

Finch, C.F., Fortington, L., Muhammed, A., Twomey, D.M, Doyle, T., Elliot, B., Lloyd, D. (2106) Exercise training to prevent sports injuries: results from a clustered randomised controlled trial. Injury Prevention, 22 Page A56.

Twomey, D., White, P.E. (2015) Sports injury prevention: Assessing the knowledge of tertiary-level human movement students. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 19, Supplement 1, Page e39 - 40.

Twomey, D., Petrass, L., Harvey, J, Otago, L, Le Rossignol, P. (2014) Heat experienced on synthetic turf surfaces: An inevitable or preventable risk. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 18, Supplement 1, Page e119 - 120.

Grants (last 5 years)

Twomey D. Player perceptions of Mill Park Lakes Reserve. Whittlesea City Council. 2018, $11,940.

Twomey D, Petrass L. Development of synthetic turf educational tool and cricket pitch standards. Australian Football League and Cricket Australia. 2017, $39,690.

Twomey D, Petrass L. Player perceptions and injures on synthetic turf. Australian Football League. 2015 and 2012, $36,054.

Twomey D, Petrass L. Effects of Synthetic turf components on heat of the surface. Tuff Turf Pty. 2013, $8,466.

Twomey D. Performance implications when wearing the POD ankle brace. POD Active Pty. 2013, $10,080.

Research higher degree (last 5 years)

Marlon Gonsalves, Doctor of Philosophy, Current. Investigating the role of sport surfaces in weather-related sports injuries.

Dulan Kodikara, Doctor of Philosophy, Current. Head, neck and facial injuries in Australian community cricket.

Angela McGlashan, Doctor of Philosophy, 2015. Factors influencing the uptake and maintenance of exercise training programs for preventing lower limb injuries.

Phillip Ford, Doctor of Philosophy, 2013. Development of strategies for consistent and acceptable football fields, in relation to hardness and traction.