Our projects

Recent research projects

Our multidisciplinary team at the Performance and Expertise Research Centre researches issues surrounding the acquisition, maintenance and loss of expertise.

Learn more about our recent research.

Diagnostic performance

The ability to perceive, discriminate between and use environmental and stimulus cues is critical to performance in many professions. Yet this capability is rarely assessed once practitioners become qualified.

Our easy-to-use online assessment tool, EXPERTise 2.0, measures this skill. It has been tested successfully in a wide range of contexts including:

• software engineering
• cybersecurity
• medicine
• allied health
• transportation.

It is currently used for the selection and assessment of electrical controllers by industry partner Thomson Bridge.

Human-machine teaming and training

Effective team performance is dependent on individuals learning critical tasks and teamwork skills. This requires training simulations that:

• include intact teams
• promote self-guided learning.

In collaboration with the Australian Government’s Defence Science and Technology Group, we have developed cutting-edge computational modelling techniques and AI systems that replicate the behaviour of human teammates within simulated team-training exercises.

This reduces the logistical and financial costs of team training, and enables the development of targeted, trainee-specific programs that can be completed remotely.

Detecting attentional lapses

Funded by: Australian Research Council (ARC)

Many high-risk environments – such as train networks, air traffic control and power generation – are controlled primarily by computers, with human oversight limited to monitoring for computer errors.

However, it is incredibly difficult to sustain attention in these conditions, and lapses can have tragic and costly consequences.

In this research we are using patterns in brain activation to detect lapses in attention, providing the basis for translational research to identify when human operators might miss computer failures.

Sustaining high performance in sport

High-performance athletes have always needed to manage setbacks and difficult circumstances, such as losing, injury, loss of form, and pressure from fans, coaches and competitors.

In partnership with national sporting bodies such as Cricket Australia, our research has informed protocols that directly impact performance, such as:

• building athletes’ awareness of emotional skills
• promoting better work-life balance
• reducing psychological risk from isolation
• promoting flexibility and perspective.

We also conduct research using digital software and mobile applications that help all Australians (including athletes) build the skills to recover from, or live well with, chronic pain.

Our research identifies unique marketable benefits of the app and two major areas for future innovation that are now being pursued.

Enhancing lifeguard performance

In collaboration with the Y NSW and the ARC, we have developed evidence-based solutions for selecting, training and maintaining the individual performance of lifeguards.

A key component has been the development of virtual reality (VR) training that allows users to develop and practice strategies to improve sustained attention in near-to-real contextual environments.

It is portable and cost-effective, and is now used across Y NSW sites, improving access to high-quality and effective training, even in remote locations.

Flood risk communication

In Australia, floods are the second-most deadly natural hazard, following heatwaves. Many flood deaths and rescues are avoidable, with most being due to people entering floodwater in motor vehicles or engaging in recreational activities.

In collaboration with the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre, we are working with the state emergency services across Australia to:

• develop effective public flood risk communication strategies
• identify the factors that lead to risky decision-making during flood emergencies.

Enhancing resilience

Until now, daily stressors were overlooked as catalysts for strengthening resilience. Our interventions, which help leverage stressor experiences, are the only evidence-based solutions shown to successfully support the strengthening of emotional resilience and performance.

Supported by our trained coaches, individual resilience training programs use guided self-reflection strategies to enhance personal insight into a person’s unique resilience strengths and areas for growth.

Our team resilience training programs use a novel debriefing strategy so teams can coordinate assets to support resilience. This debriefing protocol is a scalable method for providing team leaders with the tools to enhance team resilience.

Evaluation criteria

Evaluation criteria help people articulate thoughts that are often considered intuitive.

Establishing evidence-based evaluation criteria is useful for:

• teaching and skills development
• determining measures by which things can be recognised.

For example, in performing arts we developed a rubric for evaluating film editors’ work that was an essential prerequisite to establishing the Australian Screen Editors Guild Awards. It was then shared with the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards for their editing awards.

Music to reduce work anxiety

Thoughts and worries about the future keep many people awake at night. In fact, 44 per cent of Australians stay up late worrying about work. One way to alleviate this stress and anxiety is through music.

We worked closely with Seek.com, Spotify and Australian rapper Briggs to develop a new app called SEEK Sleepmix – a personalised Spotify playlist of music and career advice to help people relax, unwind and get a fresh perspective on work.