Dr Betul Sekendiz

Dr Betul Sekendiz is on the Senior Academic Team at the International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS). She is the Program Manager at the International Sport College Australia (ISCA).

Dr Sekendiz started her research career at Bond University on the Gold Coast in Queensland as a Senior Research Assistant at the Research Centre for Law, Governance and Public Policy while she was studying her PhD at the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine. Transitioning to academia, she was a full-time tenured Lecturer in Exercise and Sport Management at Central Queensland University in Australia where she was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2018 before joining ISCA in November 2020. Dr Sekendiz was the recipient of the Vice Chancellor`s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Learning and Teaching and was nominated for Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) Citations for her research informed innovative online pedagogical methods in sport management to achieve collaborative and engaged student learning outcomes.

Dr Sekendiz was the principal chief investigator on a competitive SOLT grant investigating safety and quality in work integrated learning, as well as a chief investigator on a highly competitive multidisciplinary nationwide research project funded by the Australian Research Council and industry partners AUSactive (formerly Fitness Australia) and Sports Medicine Australia that emanated from her PhD study and focused on evidence informed policy development to improve and promote risk management best practices in the health and fitness industry for health and safety. Dr Sekendiz disseminates her expertise through research higher degree supervision, consultancy work, membership on industry committees and as an expert witness on legal liability cases.

Dr Betul Sekendiz holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Sport Management (specialization: risk management and legal liability) from Bond University on the Gold Coast; and a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Physical Education and Sports (specialization: sport management) from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey.

Memberships

• Australian Fitness Industry Standards Council – Chairperson
• Governance Institute of Australia
• Sports Medicine Australia
• European College of Sports Science
• European Association of Sport Management

Publications

Dr Sekendiz is a thought leader in her field having published more than 50 papers including in leading academic and industry peer-reviewed journals and invited international conferences.

1. Sekendiz, B. (2021). Incidence, bystander emergency response management and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest at exercise and sport facilities in Australia. Emergency Medicine Australasia, 33: 100-106. https://doi.org/10.1111/1742-6723.13595

2. Sekendiz, B. (2020). An epidemiological analysis of yoga-related injury presentations to emergency departments in Australia. The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 1-5. https://doi:10.1080/00913847.2020.1717395

3. Sekendiz, B. (2018). Fit for kids: Risk management for health/fitness facilities. ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal, 22(3), 33-36. https://doi:10.1249/FIT.0000000000000382

4. Sekendiz, B., Norton, K., Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Coyle, I. R., Gray, S., & Finch, C. F. (2018). Emergency preparedness in fitness facilities: Bridging the gap between policy and practice. International Journal of Business Continuity and Risk Management, 8(1), 71-85. http://www.inderscience.com/info/inarticle.php?artid=90595

5. Sekendiz, B. (2018). The time is now. Australasian Leisure Management, (129), 40-43. https://www.ausleisure.com.au/magazine/

6. Sekendiz, B. (2018). Utilisation of formative peer-assessment in distance online education: a case study of a multi-model sport management unit. Interactive Learning Environments, 26(5), 682-694. https://doi:10.1080/10494820.2017.139622

7. Del Vecchio, L., & Sekendiz, B. (2017). Managing risks of training with kettlebells to achieve optimum benefits. ACSM’s Health and Fitness Journal, 21(2), 8-12. https://doi:10.1249/FIT.0000000000000279

8. Gray, S., Sekendiz, B., Norton, K., & Finch, C. (2017). A comprehensive observational audit tool for use in Australian fitness facilities. Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, 18(4), 306-317. https://doi:10.1080/1463922X.2016.1265692

9. Sekendiz, B., Ammon, R., & Connaughton, D. P. (2016). An examination of waiver usage and injury-related liability claims in health/fitness facilities in Australia. Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport, 26(2), 144-161. https://doi:10.1123/jlas.2014-0025

10. Sekendiz, B., Gray, S. E., Norton, K., Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Eickhoff-Shemek, J. M., & Finch, C. F. (2016). Safety alert for treadmills in health & fitness facilities in Australia: Results from a pilot study of an observational audit tool. Journal of Fitness Research, 5(1), 24-28.

11. Sekendiz, B. (2016). Risks of treadmills in health/fitness facilities: ready, steady, go?. ACSM`s Health and Fitness Journal., 20(4), 10-14. https://doi:10.1249/FIT.0000000000000216

12. Gray, S., Sekendiz, B., Norton, K., Dietrich, J., Keyzer, P., Coyle, I., & Finch, C. (2016). The development and application of an observational audit tool for use in Australian fitness facilities. Journal of Fitness Research., 5(1), 29-38.

13. Gray, S., Keyzer, P., Norton, K., Dietrich, J., Sekendiz, B., Coyle, I., & Finch, C. (2015). The role of equipment, the physical environment and training practices in customer safety within fitness facilities: The perspectives of fitness industry employees. Journal of Fitness Research, 4(2), 26-33.

14. Sekendiz, B., Gass, G., Norton, K., & Finch, C. (2014). Cardiac emergency preparedness in health/fitness facilities in Australia. The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 42(4), 14-19. https://doi:10.3810/psm.2014.11.2087

15. Sekendiz, B. (2014). Implementation and perception of risk management practices in health/fitness facilities. International Journal of Business Continuity and Risk Management., 5(3), 165-183. https://doi:10.1504/IJBCRM.2014.066148

16. Keyzer, P., Coyle, I., Dietrich, J., Norton, K., Sekendiz, B., Jones, V., & Finch, C. (2014). Legal risk management and injury in the fitness industry: The outcomes of focus group research and a national survey of fitness professionals. Journal of Law and Medicine, 21, 826-844.

17. Sekendiz, B. (2014). Personal fitness trainers giving tough love: Risks and consequences. ACSM’s Health and Fitness Journal, 18(3), 8-11. https://doi:10.1249/FIT.0000000000000032

18. Sekendiz, B. (2013). Book review : W. Jennings, Olympic Risks, Palgrave MacMillan (2012). p. 263, ISBN: 978-0-230-30006-4. Sport Management Review, 16, 409-410. https://doi:10.1016/j.smr.2013.01.004

19. Dietrich, J., Keyzer, P., Coyle, I., Norton, K., Sekendiz, B., Jones, V., & Finch, C. (2013). Train the trainers: Maintaining standards to minimise injuries and avoiding legal liability in the fitness industry. ANZ Sports Law Journal, 8(1), 89-106.

20. Sekendiz, B., & Quick, S. (2011). Use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in managing risk and liability in health/fitness facilities. International Journal of Sports Management and Marketing, 9(3-4), 170-184. https://doi:10.1504/IJSMM.2011.041570

21. Sekendiz, B., Cuğ, M., & Korkusuz, F. (2010). Effects of Swiss-ball core strength training on strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance in sedentary women. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(11), 3032-3040. https://doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181d82e70

22. Sekendiz, B., Kocak, M., & Korkusuz, F. (2009). The status of the professional development programmes of the health and fitness industry in Turkey. International Journal of Sports Management and Marketing, 5(4), 465-476. https://doi:10.1504/IJSMM.2009.023372

23. Sekendiz, B., Altun, O., Korkusuz, F., & Akın, S. (2007). Effects of Pilates exercise on trunk strength, endurance and flexibility in sedentary adult females. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 11(4), 318-326. https://doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2006.12.002

Industry Reports/Publications

24. Exercise and Sport Sciences Australia (ESSA). (2019). 2019 Future Workforce Report. ESSA. Retrieved from https://www.essa.org.au/

25. Dietrich, J., Eickhoff-Shemek, J., Finch, C., Keyzer, P., Norton, K., & Sekendiz, B. (2014). The Australian Fitness Industry Risk Management Manual. Retrieved from https://fitness.org.au/articles/exercisesafe/exercisesafe/72/689/19

Conference Presentations

26. Sekendiz, B., & Scanlan, A. (2020). An investigation of the quality and safety of work-integrated learning programs in exercise and sport sciences. 25th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science [virtual conference COVID19]

27. Sekendiz, B., & English, P. (2019). An analysis of the efficacy of incident reporting systems for sustainable development in the health/fitness industry: the case of a public multipurpose fitness facility. [Paper presented at Sports Medicine Australia (SMA) Conference, Twin Waters, Queensland, 2019]. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 22, S17–S74. https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2019.08.276

28. Seger, D., Millett, C., Shim, A., & Sekendiz, B. (2019). Does a relationship exist between core endurance and static balance scores in adult female college women?. In V. Bunc, & E. Tsolakidis (Eds.), 24th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science: Book of abstracts (pp. 367). http://ecss-congress.eu/2019/19/

29. Sekendiz, B. (2019). Privacy and confidentiality in exercise and sports sciences work placements: Legal and ethical considerations. In V. Bunc, & E. Tsolakidis (Eds.), 24th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science: Book of abstracts (pp. 108). http://ecss-congress.eu/2019/19/

30. Sekendiz, B. (2018). Emergency response management and outcomes of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest patients at exercise and sport facilities in Queensland, Australia. [Paper presented at European Resuscitation Council Conference, Bologna, Italy, 2018]. In Resuscitation Vol. 130 (pp. e55). Europe: Elsevier. https://doi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2018.07.100

31. Sekendiz, B. (2018). Incidence of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest at exercise and sport facilities in Queensland, Australia. [Paper presented at European Resuscitation Council Conference, Bologna, Italy, 2018]. In Resuscitation Vol. 130 (pp. e88-e89). https://doi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2018.07.182

32. Sekendiz, B. (2017). How to improve quality of pre-exercise screening in the fitness industry?. 13th Australasian Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Conference: book of abstracts (pp. 246). Ballarat, Victoria: Australian Injury Prevention Network. https://http://event.icebergevents.com.au/

33. Sekendiz, B., & Finch, C. (2017). An analysis of injury risks associated with yoga: A silent time bomb?. [Paper presented at Sports Medicine Australia (SMA) Conference, Melbourne, 2016]. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 20(S1), e54-e55. https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2017.01.146

34. Norton, K., Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Jones, V., Sekendiz, B., Gray, S., & Finch, C. (2014). Development of a web-based pre-exercise screening tool to support risk management in the fitness industry. In Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 18 (pp. 1). https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2014.11.022

35. Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Jones, V., Norton, K., Sekendiz, B., Gray, S., & Finch, C. (2014). Sharpening appreciation of scope of practice limits in the Australian fitness industry. [Paper presented at Sports Medicine Australia Conference, Canberra, 2014]. In Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 18 (pp. e4). https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2014.11.018

36. Sekendiz, B., Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Norton, K., Jones, V., Gray, S., & Finch, C. (2014). Supervision and instruction in fitness facilities: A safety and legal risk management framework. [Paper presented at Sports Medicine Australia Conference, Canberra, 2014]. In Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 18 (pp. e5). https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2014.11.020

37. Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Jones, V., Norton, K., Sekendiz, B., Gray, S., & Finch, C. (2014). The Australian fitness industry risk management (AFIRM) project: Building best practices. [Paper presented at Sports Medicine Australia Conference, Canberra, 2014]. In Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 18 (pp. e3). https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2014.11.016

38. Gray, S., Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Jones, V., Sekendiz, B., Norton, K., & Finch, C. (2014). The development and application of an observational health and safety audit tool for use in Australian fitness facilities. [Paper presented at Sports Medicine Australia Conference, Canberra, 2014]. In Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 18 (pp. e4). https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2014.11.019

39. Dietrich, J., Keyzer, P., Jones, V., Norton, K., Sekendiz, B., Gray, S., & Finch, C. (2014). Train the trainers: Maintaining standards to minimise injuries and avoiding legal liability in the fitness industry. [Paper presented at Sports Medicine Australia Conference, Canberra, 2014]. In Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 18 (pp. e3). https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2014.11.017

40. Sekendiz, B., Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Norton, K., Jones, V., Eickhoff-Shemek, J. M., . . . Finch, C. (2014). Treadmills: Are our backs against the wall?. [Paper presented at Sports Medicine Australia Conference, Canberra, 2014]. In Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 18 (pp. e5) https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2014.11.021

41. Perera, N., Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Norton, K., Sekendiz, B., Jones, V., . . . Finch, C. (2014). Awareness and use of the adult pre-exercise screening system (APSS) in the Australian fitness industry [Abstract of paper presented at IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport, Monaco, 2014]. In British Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 48 (pp. 651). https://doi:10.1136/bjsports-2014-093494.243

42. Sekendiz, B., Norton, K., Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Coyle, I., Jones, V., & Finch, C. (2014). An evaluation of emergency plans and procedures in fitness facilities in Australia: implications for policy and practice. In International Disaster and Risk Conference (IDRC 2014), Integrative risk management: The role of science, technology and practice, 24-28 August 2014, Davos, Switzerland: Book of abstracts. (pp. 180). Davos, Switzerland: Global Risk Forum.

43. Gray, S., Keyzer, P., Norton, K., Dietrich, J., Sekendiz, B., Coyle, I., & Finch, C. (2014). Equipment and environment of fitness facilities: the perspective of fitness industry employees. [Abstract of paper presented at IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport, Monaco, 2014]. In British Journal of Sports Medicine. Vol. 48 (pp. 601-602). https://doi:10.1136/bjsports-2014-093494.113

44. Keyzer, P., Finch, C., Norton, K., Dietrich, J., Sekendiz, B., & Coyle, I. (2014). Key issues influencing the management of risks in the Australian fitness industry: combining legal perspectives with injury prevention approaches. [Abstract of paper presented at IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport, Monaco, 2014]. In British Journal of Sports Medicine. Vol. 48 (pp. 618). https://doi:10.1136/bjsports-2014-093494.157

45. Keyzer, P., Finch, C., Norton, K., Dietrich, J., & Sekendiz, B. (2014). The findings of the Australian fitness industry risk management (AFIRM) project. [Abstract of paper presented at IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport, Monaco, 2014]. In British Journal of Sports Medicine. Vol. 48 (pp. 618). https://doi:10.1136/bjsports-2014-093494.158

46. Sekendiz, B., & Ammon, R. (2013). An analysis of the use of waivers, sources of injuries and liability claims in the health and fitness facilities. In 21st European Association for Sport Management Conference (EASM 2013): Sport management for quality of life, Istanbul, Turkey, 11-15 September 2013: Book of abstracts (pp. 37). Istanbul, Turkey: EASM.

47. Keyzer, P., Dietrich, J., Finch, C., Norton, K., & Sekendiz, B. (2013). Risk management in the Australian fitness industry: The results of the first national survey. [Paper presented at Sports Medicine Australia Conference, Sydney, 2013]. In Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. Vol. 16 (pp. 23). https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2013.10.057

48. Sekendiz, B. (2012). An investigation of risk management practices in the health and fitness facilities in Queensland: minimising the likelihood of legal liability. In 27th Annual Conference of the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM): Book of abstracts (pp. 181). Seattle, WA: NASSM.

49. Sekendiz, B. (2012). Emergency preparedness in the health and fitness facilities in Queensland. [Paper presented at Sports Medicine Australia Conference, Sydney, 2012]. In Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. Vol. 15 (pp. 109-110). https://doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2012.11.267

50. Sekendiz, B., & Quick, S. P. (2010). Is the Australian health and fitness industry going to be the biggest loser?. In 15th European College of Sport Sciences (ECSS) Congress: Book of abstracts (pp. 199-200). Turkey: ECSS.

51. Sekendiz, B., & Quick, S. (2009). Use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in the health and fitness industry. In European Association for Sport Management (EASM) Conference 2009: Book of abstracts (pp. 385). Netherlands: EASM.