Michael Inskip

Dr Michael Inskip is a Senior Lecturer and Clinical Educator in Exercise Physiology at James Cook University (JCU), where he coordinates the Honours and Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology programs. Since joining JCU in 2020, he has established an emerging nationally-recognised research program focused on healthy ageing, frailty, residential aged care and dementia, with a strong emphasis on translating research into clinical practice, education and workforce development.

Michael completed his Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise Physiology) at the University of Sydney in 2014 and is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist with more than 10 years of clinical experience. He completed his PhD at the University of Sydney in 2020, investigating the relationship between physical activity, cognition and progressive resistance exercise in people living with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Lewy Body Dementia. He continues to be a research associate with the University of Sydney.

His research focuses on multidisciplinary approaches to frailty prevention and management, integrating exercise medicine, medication optimisation and nutrition to improve outcomes for older adults. He was Exercise Lead and a Chief Investigator on the FRIEND (Frailty Reduction via Implementation of Exercise, Nutrition and Deprescribing) project, a landmark translational frailty program delivered in partnership with The Good Shepherd Home, James Cook University and the University of Sydney. The project evaluated the implementation of progressive resistance and balance training, medication optimisation and nutritional support to reduce frailty and improve quality of life for residential aged care residents while building workforce capability to deliver evidence-based frailty care. The partnership was recognised nationally through a HESTA Team Excellence Award (2024), acknowledging its collaborative approach to improving care for older Australians. His broader research spans implementation science, health services research, exercise physiology workforce development and healthy ageing policy, with a particular interest in expanding the role of Accredited Exercise Physiologists within residential aged care.

Michael has secured competitive funding through Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA), industry and government-supported initiatives, and currently supervises Higher Degree by Research candidates across exercise physiology, pharmacy and interdisciplinary healthy ageing research. His work has informed national discussions surrounding frailty care and aged care workforce development and align with the implementation of the strengthened Australian Aged Care Act.

His research has been presented nationally and internationally at conferences including the American College of Sports Medicine, the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, the International Lewy Body Dementia Conference and Exercise & Sports Science Australia. He also contributes to the advancement of the profession through national leadership roles, including serving on Exercise & Sports Science Australia's working group responsible for the review and redevelopment of the Accredited Exercise Physiologist Accreditation Standards, helping shape the future of exercise physiology education and professional practice in Australia.

A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), Michael is passionate about preparing the next generation of exercise physiologists. Through innovative teaching, industry partnerships and authentic clinical experiences, he aims to strengthen the profession's contribution to healthy ageing, frailty management and dementia care while helping shape both the future workforce and the national standards that underpin exercise physiology practice.

Michael welcomes enquiries from potential research students, academics and industry professionals who are interested in supervision or collaboration on projects.

• Cognitive impairment and dementia; Aged care; Frailty and sarcopenia
• Robust anabolic exercise and exercise physiology
• Movement disorders, Neurodegenerative disorders

Exercise prescription for cognitive impairment, dementia, neurodegenerative disorders, frailty, sarcopenia, and ageing