This assessment item is comprised into six sections and you will be given a choice of multiple case studies to select from. You must choose two of these case studies and complete every section for each case study as outlined below. Tables and/or figures can be used where appropriate and do not count towards the word count for each section. References are required for every section.

Your case studies will contain information pertaining to a hypothetical client including their age, gender, exercise history, goals, and the results of exercise assessments. From your two case studies selected you are required to answer the following sections:

S1: Interpret the data from the case study, including their demographic, outcomes of assessments, and goals. Outline their goals and test outcomes in relation to normative data. Each response for this section must be 100-150 words per case study.

S2: Identify movement patterns important for improving performance and injury prevention and/or activities of daily living. Each response for this section must be 100-150 words per case study.

S3: Outline the expected exercises and modalities that will be included in your plan, include reference to equipment and space requirements, while also considering two (different) social determinants of health for each client. Each response for this section must be 150-200 words per case study. 

S4: Design an 8-week training program, to maintain and/or improve health and fitness, wellbeing, and performance. This plan should contain sufficient detail for another exercise professional to be able to deliver this plan without any assistance from you. It must include the names of each exercise, instructions on how to complete the exercise (with images if required), specific reps, sets, rest periods, and intensity (RIR/RPE, speed, etc). If conditioning-based exercises are prescribed you must also include the time/distance/calories, etc required to complete. You must justify the prescription of specific exercises, selection of sets and reps, frequency, and intensity. Tables are required to respond to this section, and each case study must be presented in separate tables.

S5: Outline the expected physiological response to acute exercise bouts (e.g. HR, BP, body temperature, hormonal responses, etc) and the adaptations to chronic exercise (e.g. VO2max, hypertrophy, neural adaptations, etc), as a result of this program. Each response for this section must be 150-200 words per case study.

S6: Outline how you would monitor and progress this client (including exercises and modalities), based on their individual needs. Each response for this section must be 150-200 words per case study.

The case studies will be made available on the ESSC13008 Moodle site.

A detailed marking rubric for this assessment will be made available on the ESSC13008 Moodle site, covering the following areas:

• Interpretation of case study data and goals
• Identification of common movement patterns and injuries
• Identification of exercise modalities, space requirements, and social determinants
• Program design, including sets, reps, and distance (volume), intensity (%RM, RPE, RIR, velocity/speed, HR etc)
• Identification of expected chronic and acute physiological changes and adaptations.
• Identification of methods to monitor client progress
• Correct and suitable use of references
• Spelling, grammar, and formatting

Use of Generative AI:

Level 2 - AI Planning. You may use AI for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.

Throughout the residential school, you will be assessed on your ability to plan, organise, deliver, coach, reflect, and critique exercise delivery sessions and training programs. These sessions will include client pre-screening and movement assessments, resistance training, group exercise, speed and agility, and aerobic endurance. You will be provided with case studies and group allocations prior to your attendance at the residential school. These case studies form the basis of some of the exercise sessions you will be required to prescribe and deliver exercise for. Further information will be provided in the residential school workbook, tutorials, and at the residential school.

As part of this assessment item you are required to attend a compulsory online tutorial held in Week 6. This tutorial will ensure all students are aware of their group and case study allocations so that they can undertake the required preparatory work before participating in the residential school. As part of this assessment you will be assessed both individually (60% of the total total grade for this assessment item) and within small groups (40% of the total grade for this assessment item). 

Please see the ESSC13008 Moodle site for the most up to date residential school dates, locations, and information.

A detailed marking guide will be made available on the ESSC13008 Moodle site, covering the following areas:

• Exercise knowledge
• Exercise prescription
• Movement analysis
• Coaching delivery skills
• Planning and organisation
• Communication
• Attitude and teamwork

The 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment. 

Use of Generative AI:
Level 2 - AI Planning. You may use AI for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.

In this assessment task, you will undertake ESSA-approved work-integrated learning (placement) and be assessed on your competency as a student Exercise Scientist. You are required to undertake a minimum of 50 hours Your competency in this assessment will be graded as pass or fail.

• Professional Practice Evaluation 1 is due at the completion of 25 hours (mid-point).
• Professional Practice Evaluation 2 is due at the completion 50 hours (end-point).

Irrespective of when you commence your placement, both Evaluations must be submitted by Review/Exam Week Tuesday (9 June 2026) 11:59 pm AEST. In the event your documentation contains insufficient detail or is incomplete and requires resubmission, the resubmission must be no later than Review/Exam Week Friday (12 June 2026) 11:59 pm AEST.

You are required to submit two (2) Professional Placement Evaluations. This assessment item includes assessment tools that your placement supervisor will complete regarding your, goals, performance and capabilities while on placement. It is expected that you and your placement supervisor complete the Professional Practice Evaluations together. This should be viewed as an open process designed to enhance your placement experience and exercise assessment, prescription, and delivery skills and competency.

You must complete the templates available on the ESSC13008 Moodle site for Professional Placement Evaluation 1, which documents the first 25 hours of your placement, and for Professional Placement Evaluation 2, which documents the second 25 hours of your placement. During your placement, you will be evaluated by your placement supervisor at the end of 25 hours and the end of 50 hours of placement. Together, Professional Placement Evaluation 1 and Professional Placement Evaluation 2 must show evidence of your competency in completing your minimum 50-hour placement. In the absence of an approved extension, evaluations that do not contain sufficient detail, or are not completed by the placement supervisor(s) will be returned for corrections and you may not be able to pass this assessment item, or this unit, unless the evaluations are completed according to these instructions. You will have one (1) opportunity to resubmit returned evaluations. 

Please Note: Failure to comply with the Professional Practice Placement agreement for any site with regard to student attendance, expectations, behaviour, or communication during a placement may result in cancellation of all placements at that site. Consequently, this may result in a Fail grade being awarded for the unit to which non-compliance applies and rescheduling of placement site(s) for other units where WIL activities are required.

Further details regarding placement and this assessment task will be made available on the ESSC13008 Moodle site.

The Professional Practice Evaluations comprises an assessment tool that your placement supervisor will complete regarding your performance and competency while on placement. The evaluation tool is made up of two sections including Professional Practice Competencies and Exercise Scientist Competencies. In the event of completing placement across multiple sites, your evaluation must be completed for the site in which you completed the most hours.

Professional Practice Evaluation 1 is a formative assessment and the outcomes of this assessment are used to help identify areas in that you are doing well in, and areas that need improvement.

Professional Practice Evaluation 2 is a summative assessment and you must attain the minimum pass mark to pass this assessment item.

A detailed marking rubric for this assessment will be made available on the ESSC13008 Moodle site, covering these areas:

Professional Practice Competencies

• Professional behaviour and demeanor
• Communication with clients
• Communication and teamwork with colleagues
• Critical thinking and analysis
• Self-improvement and development

Exercise Scientist Competencies

• Client assessment
• Interpretation of findings
• Development of exercise plan(s)
• Implementation of exercise plan(s)
• Evaluation of exercise plan(s)

The 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment. 

Use of Generative AI:

Level 1 - No AI. You must not use AI at any point during this assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.

In this assessment task, you will provide details and evidence of your ESSA-approved placement and be assessed on how this evidence aligns with ESSA Accredited Exercise Scientist (AES) professional attributes. Your evidence presented in this assessment will be graded as pass or fail.

You are required to submit 1 (one) Record of Student Engagement. You must complete the template available on the ESSC13008 Moodle site, which also includes a logbook of the hours you have completed. The Record of Student Engagement must also be signed by your placement supervisor. An example of the level of detail required for the Record of Student Engagement and further detail regarding this assessment task will be made available on the ESSC13008 Moodle site. 

The Record of Student Engagement is graded as Pass/Fail. Sufficient detail is required in regard to the client description and description of services, reference to the appropriate ESSA AES professional attributes, as well as the detail and adequacy of the placement hours. In the event of completing placement across multiple sites, the Record of Student Engagement must be completed for each site.
Your Record of Student Engagement will be marked according to the following criteria to comply with guidelines stipulated by ESSA:

• Sufficient detail of dates, hours, client(s) description (anonymised), description of services, supervisor's name, and supervisor's signature
• Reference to the appropriate ESSA AES professional attributes completed during placement
• A breakdown of hours for "Exercise Assessment, Prescription, and Delivery" (Category 1) and "Sport Science Other" (Category 2) tasks is included, using the descriptors provided on the ESSC13008 Moodle site
• Typed and uploaded as a .pdf, .doc, or .docx file

An example of the level of detail required for the Record of Student Engagement will be made available on the ESSC13008 Moodle site.

Records of Student Engagement that do not contain sufficient detail, are not signed by the placement supervisor, or are not clearly typed, will be returned for corrections. You may not be able to pass this assessment item, or this unit unless the Record of Student Engagement meets the requirements described above, which are in accordance with ESSA standards. If a Record of Student Engagement is returned for corrections you will be given one (1) opportunity to resubmit that Record of Student Engagement.

Use of Generative AI:
Level 1 - No AI. You must not use AI at any point during this assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.