Overview
Background
Dr Wheeler is a proud Ngarabal person and Accredited Exercise Scientist (ESSA). Dr Wheeler specilises in implementation science in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.
Dr Wheeler was the first Aboriginal person to graduate with a PhD from the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Dr Wheeler’s research examines how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities can co-design programs that build community capacity and engage children and young peoples in a broad range of development areas. Dr Wheeler’s research strengths consist co-designing physical movement-based programs, ensuring a trauma informed and culturally-responsive approach towards community engagement and empowerment.
Dr Wheeler has led high performing teams working on education programs that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families through a strength-based and holistic framework. Extending this work, Dr Wheeler's research focuses on developing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce to better address the complex health needs of community. Dr Wheeler has provided FIrst Nations leadership to a range of projects that have catered for the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and through this experience has partnered to deliver diverse governance solutions and educational engagement frameworks.
Dr Wheeler also specialises in biomechanics, sport analytics and performance analysis as well as strength and conditioning research. Dr Wheeler works currently with a range of sporting organisations to implement best-practice sport servicing, testing and athlete management to achieve excellence. Dr Wheeler is the lead researcher in partnership with Indigenous Basketball Australia. Dr Wheeler has worked with a variety of professional sporting organisations and teams such as the Wallabies, Brumbies Rugby and World Rugby as well as the Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra Raiders, Canberra Comets, Canberra Meteors and GWS Giants. Dr Wheeler co-design training programs to promote optimal performance in a range of sports. Dr Wheeler is a passionate about how sport and exercise can be used to enrich community as well as health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Dr Wheeler is the Chair of the ESSA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy Working Group for Exercise and Sport Science Australia.
Dr Wheeler is the Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy for the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences.
Dr Wheeler is the Program Convenor for Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Sciences, the University of Queensland.
Dr Wheeler was named in the top 52 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people changing the world from COSMOS.
Awards
2022 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Award from the Australian Academy of Science
2022 LSQ Merck Life Science Rural and Regional Service Award from Life Sciences Queensland
2020 Accredited Exercise Scientist of the Year Award from Exercise and Sport Science Australia
2021 Science Peoples Choice Award from National Science Week
2021 Outreach Award from National Science Week
2020 Science Leadership Excellence Award from National Science Week
2017 NAIDOC Award from Fraser Coast NAIDOC Committee
Availability
- Dr Kai Wheeler is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Applied Science, University of Canberra
- Bachelor (Honours) of Applied Science, University of Canberra
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Sunshine Coast
Research interests
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Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing
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Aboriginal and Torres Stait Islander health and wellbeing
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Child development and inclusive sport and exercise systems
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Engaging diverse peoples in education
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Fundamental movement skills in children
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Trauma-informed movement and physical activity
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Sport analytics and performance analysis
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Biomechanics and movement analysis
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Strength and conditioning
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Sport coaching and education
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Wearable technology in the assessment of human movement
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Strategic leadership
Research impacts
Dr Wheeler has authored/co-authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications in high impact journals as well as one book that examined the practical use of wearable technology in sport, which was published by Springer.
Dr Wheeler has over 680 citations attributed to his work, with an H-index of 13 according to Google Scholar.
Dr Wheeler is also a peer reviewer of several high ranked Sport and Exercise Science journals.
Dr Wheeler has presented extensively at a range of national and international conferences. Dr Wheeler has demonstrated strong capacity in the development, implementation, management and completion of funded research projects in human movement disciplines. Dr Wheeler is leading collaborations for improved health outcomes, in particular for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Dr Wheeler has applied his research widely in human movement science, including innovative studies investigating the biomechanics of human gait specific to sport.
Dr Wheeler has worked extensively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to engage in meaningful learning experiences and activities. Dr Wheeler is skilled at translating his work into training programs and seminars aimed at improving theory and practice of human movement, including culturally responsive physical activity. His work challenges traditional views of child development and has been adopted by sport and exercise scientists working in a range of settings. Dr Wheeler’s innovative work in the Fraser Coast Aboriginal and Torres Strait community included implementing gender specific engagement programs for secondary school students, various homework clubs, and traditional Indigenous games in primary schools led to him being awarded the 2017 NAIDOC Business award from the Fraser Coast community.
Works
Search Professor Kai Wheeler’s works on UQ eSpace
2009
Conference Publication
Factors influencing scoring efficiency in the Australian Football League
Francis, J. and Wheeler, K. (2009). Factors influencing scoring efficiency in the Australian Football League. 3rd Evolution of the Athlete Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, November 2009 .
2009
Conference Publication
Tackle height and the influence on tackle outcome in rugby league
Ibbott, P. and Wheeler, K. (2009). Tackle height and the influence on tackle outcome in rugby league. 3rd Evolution of the Athlete Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, November 2009 .
2009
Conference Publication
Attacking phases in rugby league
Wiseman, R. and Wheeler, K. (2009). Attacking phases in rugby league. 3rd Evolution of the Athlete Conference, Brisbane. , Brisbane, QLD Australia, November 2009 .
2009
Conference Publication
Fending in elite rugby league
Donaldson, S. and Wheeler, K. (2009). Fending in elite rugby league. 3rd Evolution of the Athlete Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, November 2009 .
2009
Conference Publication
Elite serve in tennis: right vs left hand players
Hynes, A. and Wheeler, K. (2009). Elite serve in tennis: right vs left hand players. 3rd Evolution of the Athlete Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, November 2009 .
2009
Conference Publication
The importance of expertise when analysing sport
Wheeler, K. (2009). The importance of expertise when analysing sport. International Symposium on Computer Science in Sport, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, ACT, Australia, September 2009 .
2009
Conference Publication
Agility Skill Execution in Rugby Union
Wheeler, K., Askew, C. and Sayers, M. (2009). Agility Skill Execution in Rugby Union. Asian Pacific Conference on Biomechanics, Christchurch, New Zealand , 14-17 April 2009.
2009
Conference Publication
The use of notational analysis to examine agility skill execution in Rugby Union
Wheeler, K., Askew, C. and Sayers, M. (2009). The use of notational analysis to examine agility skill execution in Rugby Union. 13th International Association of Sport Information World Congress, Canberra, ACT Australia, 11-13 March 2009.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Kai Wheeler is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the Cultural Determinants of Physical Literacy in Diverse Communities
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor John Cairney, Dr Azhar Potia
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Doctor Philosophy
Trauma-informed education in partnership with First Nations communities
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jessica Lee
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Doctor Philosophy
Tackling the Nutrition Burden with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Led and Co- Designed Healthy Living Program
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Robyn Littlewood, Dr Jacki Walker
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Doctor Philosophy
Health literacy of rheumatic heart disease within non-family based care
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor John Cairney
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Doctor Philosophy
Co-designing trauma informed practices for Exercise Physiologists working with children
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor John Cairney
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Doctor Philosophy
Strengthening Wellbeing: Exploring the Role of Resistance Training in Enhancing Social and Emotional Wellbeing Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Shelley Keating, Professor Kym Rae
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Master Philosophy
Evaluating the association between perinatal cultural connectedness and socioemotional wellbeing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kym Rae
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Doctor Philosophy
Innovating physical literacy in childhood through the co-design of the MobMoves program
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Murray Phillips, Professor John Cairney
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Doctor Philosophy
Health literacy of rheumatic heart disease within non-family based care
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor John Cairney
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the Cultural Determinants of Physical Literacy in Diverse Communities
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Azhar Potia, Professor John Cairney
-
Doctor Philosophy
Opportunities for the management of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kym Rae, Dr Shelley Keating
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Doctor Philosophy
Movement Interventions to improve mental well-being in individuals who have experiences trauma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor John Cairney
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Doctor Philosophy
Transition to secondary school: Supporting successful educational pathways of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karen Thorpe, Dr Azhar Potia
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Doctor Philosophy
Opportunities for the management of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kym Rae, Dr Shelley Keating
-
Doctor Philosophy
Deadly Fit Mums: yarning about health and wellbeing of mums and their families.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Judith Dean, Associate Professor Federica Barzi
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Doctor Philosophy
Deadly Fit Mums: yarning about health and wellbeing of mums and their families.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Judith Dean, Associate Professor Federica Barzi
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Kai Wheeler directly for media enquiries about:
- aboriginal
- biomechanics
- business leadership
- child development
- child movement
- embedding indigenous perspectives
- exercise
- first nations
- indigenous
- indigenous health
- performance analysis
- physical activity
- sport
- trauma-informed education
- wearable sensors
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