Rich Johnston

Dr. Rich Johnston is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University (ACU), based at the Brisbane Campus. His expertise spans sport science, training load management, muscle fatigue, athlete profiling, microtechnology, and data analysis. He holds HDR Supervisor accreditation and has conducted research across rugby league, rugby union, soccer, and Australian football.

Johnston completed his PhD at ACU in 2015, investigating fatigue, recovery, and performance in rugby league players. His current research focuses on integrating technology (e.g., microtechnology devices) to enhance athlete performance, sleep monitoring, and recovery from concussions. He has authored influential publications on playerload metrics, collision demands, and injury risk in team sports.

His accolades include a visiting position at Leeds Beckett University since 2018. Johnston provides consultancy services to Queensland Rugby League and international teams, automating data analysis to optimize performance operations. His projects include validating microtechnology devices for team sports, studying sleep variability in athletes, and monitoring return-to-play protocols post-concussion.

Johnston’s applied experience includes roles as a sport scientist with Heart of Midlothian Football Club, Scottish Rowing, and Livingston Football Club, as well as a strength and conditioning coach for Norths Devils Rugby League Football Club.