Dr Corey Cunningham gave time out of his busy schedule of being the team doctor for the Wanderers FC, Australasia PGA Golf Tour, Australian Olympic/Paralympic/Commonwealth team, and the NSW Institute of Sport to come and present on his expertise on concussion in sport.

After welcoming the audience with a montage of big rugby hits likely to cause damage, he brought us back to the facts about concussion. Corey was able to cut through the media hype and describe the reality of concussion prevalence, concussion testing, and return-to-play management. He was also able to share how the introduction of the Barker College Concussion Clinic has been a highly effective means of managing player concussions, particularly beneficial in the prevention of secondary concussions.

The highlight of the night was the 20 minutes of answers to questions where Corey was asked about all manner of issues on concussions, especially about our young people. He was able to explain that while it’s difficult to determine who is likely to be more susceptible to concussions or more severe concussions, care needs to be taken to ensure that all people are treating concussion similar to other injuries. This involves resting the brain and seeking medical support to map out the gradual return to competitive sport.

We were delighted to welcome teachers, coaches, and parents from neighbouring schools.

Corey has generously shared his PowerPoint slides here.

If you would like access to further information from this presentation, please contact the Barker Institute.

Dr Matthew Hill

Dr Matthew Hill is the Director of The Barker Institute with a focus on professional learning, research, and innovation in the school.  He teaches Physics and the new Science Extension course at the School which introduces students to scientific academic research. Matthew's doctorate reflects his passion for science education focussing on Representational Fluency amongst physics students at school and university. He has published in leadership, education, and science journals and been involved in course development and teaching at The University of Sydney and The University of Western Sydney. He has also completed a Graduate Diploma in Divinity at Ridley College in Melbourne.