This course provides practical experience and business management techniques to assist students with future nutrition, sport & physical activity industry opportunities. During a 50-hour practical fieldwork placement, you will have the opportunity to build important relationships and networks with potential employers, test possible career outcomes, and apply knowledge and skills developed within the degree to a real-life context.
Nutrition, Sport, and Physical Activity Managers and Administrators Operate in a Rapidly Changing Commercial and Cultural Environment
Managers and administrators in nutrition, sport, and physical activity are now operating within an environment marked by significant change. The rise of monetarism, free-market economic policies, privatisation, an enterprise culture, and globalisation has reshaped political power dynamics, altered trade patterns both globally and regionally, and transformed organisational management practices. These shifts—amplified by innovations in media and technology—are reflected in the operational strategies of private, commercial, and governmental agencies within these sectors. As a result, performance is increasingly scrutinized through rigorous appraisals, detailed reviews, public oversight, and the professionalisation of management practices.
It is therefore incumbent upon managers and administrators working in this dynamic environment to operate their organisations effectively, efficiently, equitably, and with a high degree of accountability. HMST3103 explores the management of nutrition, sport, and physical activity businesses, preparing students for careers in these industries. The course provides both foundational knowledge and practical techniques in researching, planning, marketing, operating, and evaluating organisations and programs. Although the primary focus is on an Australian context, comparative models from other countries are also examined.
Teaching and Learning Modes
This course is delivered through whole-group workshops, assessed small group active activities, and a pass/fail practical placement component. A dedicated Blackboard site provides access to key learning resources and assessment materials. The emphasis of the assessments is on equipping students with demonstrable skills that can be included in their curriculum vitae.
Workshops
The purpose of the workshops is to contextualise pre-read course theory, present insights from academic staff and guest experts, and engage students in real-life case scenarios through small group active learning sessions. Active participation in both the workshops and these interactive activities is expected. Note that capturing the nuances of group work on recordings can be challenging; please refer to your Si-Net timetable for accurate lecture times and venues.
Note:
Students are reminded that attendance at all scheduled workshops is essential for several reasons. Firstly, the outputs generated during group activities are assessed in-class. Secondly, this course is substantially groupwork. Therefore, workshop recordings are of little value and are insufficient to meet the full learning objectives. Teaching materials are provided solely as a supplement, not as a substitute for regular class attendance.
Pre-Readings
Prior to attending workshops, students must complete the required readings. These readings serve in place of a traditional textbook for this course.
Blackboard
The HMST3103 Blackboard site hosts all course materials, including PowerPoint summary slides and assignments. All assessments are administered through Blackboard, and important announcements will be posted on the site; students should check it regularly to remain updated.
This course is unsuitable for first-year students.
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
#8 UQ courses
The course coordinator does not have an office on campus but is available for course content questions or drop-in sessions on the following days and times:
To speak with me face-to-face or via Zoom please Book a Consultation.
For any other issues, please email the course coordinator at: graham.lee@uq.edu.au
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
This programme aims to:
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Identify and appraise the structures and governance of Australian nutrition, sport and/or physical activity industries
LO2.
Analyse and apply management skills and theory necessary to working within the Australian nutrition, sport and/or physical activity industry
LO3.
Build professional practices and relationships, and independently engage with stakeholders
LO4.
Utilise theoretical frameworks to promote healthy living to organisations and the broader community
LO5.
Critique organisational decisions within an ethical decision-making framework
LO6.
Identify and appraise the issues facing contemporary nutrition, sport and/or physical activity organisations within an analytic framework
LO7.
Examine the end-to-end customer service journey utilising a human-centred design framework
LO8.
Reflect on experiences to engage in continuing professional development
LO9.
Work effectively within a team in order to develop communication and process management skills, and facilitate peer-assisted, collaborative learning
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation |
Group assessments
|
36% (Each worth 12%) |
Assessment 1 19/08/2025 12:00 pm Assessment 2 9/09/2025 12:00 pm Assessment 3 23/09/2025 12:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Strategic Analysis Report (2,000 words) | 40% |
7/10/2025 5:00 pm |
| Presentation, Poster, Reflection |
Capstone Event Poster
|
24% |
28/10/2025 12:00 pm |
| Placement |
Industry placement
|
Pass/Fail |
8/08/2025 - 31/10/2025
Completion of 50 placement hours with your designated host organisation can occur throughout the semester. |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment 1 19/08/2025 12:00 pm
Assessment 2 9/09/2025 12:00 pm
Assessment 3 23/09/2025 12:00 pm
For this assessment students will be allocated to groups. Each group will choose a nutrition, physical activity or sport scenario to contextualise their work over the following 8 weeks.
Assessment 1
During weeks 2, 3 and 4, each group will work to conceptualise and analyse an experiential concept related to nutrition, physical activity or sport. It can be a product or service experience. In Week 4, each group will present a status report on the preceding weeks. All group members are not expected to speak, but must play an active role in its delivery.
Assessment 2
During weeks 5, 6 and 7, each group will work to bring their concept to life. A status report will be presented in Week 7 by each group. All group members who did not speak in the week 4 presentation are expected to speak, all others must play an active role in its delivery.
Assessment 3
During weeks 8 and 9, each group will work on making their concept human resource and financially viable and sustainable. In week 9 the group will pitch their concept to an audience of their peers.
Use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT)
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Students are expected to undertake all assessable workshop group activities at the scheduled dates and times. Submission is via oral group presentation in-class. Each group member must speak at least once during their group's presentation in either Week 4, Week 7 or Week 9. However, they are expected to play an active role in the presentation's delivery when not speaking.
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Extensions for group work assessment may be available and will require a single request submitted with agreement from at least 50% of the members of the group, and recognition of potential impacts on the other group members. Download and complete the form below, and attach this form to your extension request: Extension of Group Assessment - Group Member Acknowledgement (PDF, 144.9 KB)
Student Access Plans for an individual student do not guarantee an extension for the assessment item. Extension Verification Letters cannot be used for group-based assessments and activities.
Dysfunctional group dynamics, poor performance by individual group members, or illness or other issues of a group member are generally not considered sufficient grounds for an extension on submission of a group assessment item. These issues should be actively managed by the group and the Course Coordinator as appropriate, during semester.
7/10/2025 5:00 pm
This assessment challenges you to draw directly from your industry placement experiences to critically evaluate the structures, governance, and contemporary issues within Australian nutrition, sport, or physical activity organisations. Your report will synthesise theoretical management literature, and the practical skills developed in weekly workshops, with practical insights gained during your placements.
Use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT)
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. Therefore, to pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of literature independent of AI and MT tools.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To be submitted via the relevant Turnitin submission portal on the course Blackboard site.
You may be able to apply for an extension.
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
28/10/2025 12:00 pm
For this assessment, you will design a visually engaging poster that serves as a reflective showcase of how the course content and industry placement experiences have enriched your overall university journey. It will emphasize not only academic learning from your theoretical studies (across Weeks 1–9) and practical experiences during your industry placement, but also professional growth, stakeholder engagement, and continuous development.
You will then prepare for a capstone event where industry representatives and academics will interact with your poster; this includes an oral component to discuss your work in detail against the provided rubric.
Use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT)
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of literature and placement experiences independent of AI and MT tools.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
A poster is required to be presented in-class for this assessment item. There are many effective materials to use for your poster, ranging from printing individual slides on paper mounted on thin poster board, to having the entire display printed on a large paper or fabric scroll. Avoid mounting material with thick or heavy backing, as the push pins will be unable to secure it to the display boards. Although push pins will be available on-site, you are advised to bring your own pins.
Posters will be viewed from about 3 feet distance, so choose large type or print font and points that can be easily read from that distance. One example that works well: a Times font in 18 point that results in 11 characters and spaces per 2.5 centimetres horizontal, and 4 lines per 2.5 centimetres vertical.
Strong visual contrast is a must. Many people have difficulty distinguishing closely related colors, like green from blue, or among subtle shades of a primary color, particularly against incompatible background colors. Up to 10% of the people who view your work will have some degree of color blindness.
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Part of this assessment's marking criteria involves class presentation. This presentation criteria are 15% of this assessment's total marks. Therefore, late assessments will be marked out of 85%.
8/08/2025 - 31/10/2025
Completion of 50 placement hours with your designated host organisation can occur throughout the semester.
Students are required to complete their 50-hour Course Placement before 5:00 pm, Friday, October 24, 2025 (Week 13). With no Workshops held in Weeks 10, 11 and 12, students have ample time to complete this assessment requirement. All course assessments relate to this placement. Placement supervisors cannot complete the confidential supervisor report, which is the assessable item for this placement, until these hours are completed. Students must note that this placement is a Pass/Fail Hurdle for this course.
Use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT)
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
You may be able to apply for an extension.
NB: applications for extensions on this assessment item may not allow the School sufficient time to finalise your mark for this assessment item and subsequently your grade for the course. Your grade may be held as incomplete (INC) on the finalisation of grades. Your grade will be finalised once all marks for the course have been finalised. Please be mindful of the impacts this may have on your graduation eligibility should you be undertaking this course in your expected graduation semester.
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
As this task is Pass / Fail, students who submit beyond the specified due date/time without an approved extension, will fail this task.
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A grade of 1 fails to satisfy most or all of the basic requirements of the course. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A grade of 2 fails to satisfy some of the basic requirements of the course. Clear deficiencies in performance, but evidence that some basic requirements have been met. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: A grade of 3 represents a failure to satisfy all basic requirements for passing the course, but is close to satisfactory overall and has compensating strengths in some aspects. |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A grade of 4 represents a satisfactory understanding of the basic learning requirements for the course, such as knowledge of fundamental concepts and performance of basic skills; demonstrates sufficient quality of performance to be considered satisfactory or adequate or competent or capable in the course. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A grade of 5 demonstrates ability to use and apply fundamental concepts and skills of the course, going beyond mere replication of content knowledge or skill to show understanding of key ideas, awareness of their relevance, some use of analytical skills, and some originality or insight. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A grade of 6 demonstrates awareness and understanding of deeper and subtler aspects of the course, such as ability to identify and debate critical issues or problems, ability to solve non-routine problems, ability to adapt and apply ideas to new situations, and ability to invent and evaluate new ideas. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A grade of 7 demonstrates imagination, originality or flair, based on proficiency in all the learning objectives for the course; work is interesting, surprising, exciting, challenging or erudite. |
A final percentage mark will be rounded to the nearest whole number (e.g. 64.50 and above will be rounded to 65 and 64.49 and below will be rounded down to 64.)
This course contains a ‘must pass’ assessment item, specifically the Industry placement. Students must pass this assessment item to pass the course overall, i.e. even if your final percentage mark is 50% or higher, if the individual ‘must pass’ assessment items are not passed, a student cannot achieve a grade higher than a 3.
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (28 Jul - 03 Aug) |
Workshop |
Workshop 1 The nutrition, physical activity and sport industries |
Week 2 (04 Aug - 10 Aug) |
Workshop |
Workshop 2 The end-to-end customer experience |
Week 3 (11 Aug - 17 Aug) |
Workshop |
Workshop 3 Business planning |
Week 4 (18 Aug - 24 Aug) |
Workshop |
Workshop 4 Law & ethics |
Week 5 (25 Aug - 31 Aug) |
Workshop |
Workshop 5 Management principles & application |
Week 6 (01 Sep - 07 Sep) |
Workshop |
Workshop 6 Contribution to society |
Week 7 (08 Sep - 14 Sep) |
Workshop |
Workshop 7 Promotion & communication |
Week 8 (15 Sep - 21 Sep) |
Workshop |
Workshop 8 Resourcing & financing |
Week 9 (22 Sep - 28 Sep) |
Workshop |
Workshop 9 Business sustainability |
Week 13 (27 Oct - 02 Nov) |
Workshop |
Workshop 10 My Placement presentation |
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: