YEAR 12 VCE PE BIOLAB

Year 12 VCE PE students put science into action at BioLAB

On Friday 9th May, our Year 12 VCE Physical Education students took their learning beyond the classroom with an excursion to BioLAB: The Victorian BioScience Education Centre in Belmont. This unique opportunity allowed students to apply their understanding of energy systems and acute responses to exercise using the same cutting-edge technology available to elite athletes and sport scientists.

One of the key highlights was the chance to witness a live VO₂ max test—an experience only around 10% of VCE PE students typically get. One student volunteered to complete the challenging test on a stationary bike and delivered an outstanding performance, achieving a superior relative VO₂ max score. It was an amazing learning moment that sparked great interest and discussion amongst the class.

Throughout the day, students engaged in practical investigations, measuring their own acute responses to exercise including blood pressure, vital capacity, and muscle temperature. These real-time results helped bring textbook theory to life in a meaningful way.

Students also participated in a fast-paced netball activity as part of BioLAB’s Eye in the Sky program. Using GPS devices and HR monitors, they collected live and post-match data to explore how gameplay changes affect physical output. This activity was designed to support students in:

• Identifying ways that technology can be used to improve athletic performance.
• Monitoring workload in both training and competition settings, including applications for return-from-injury protocols.

By analysing their GPS data, students were able to link their movement patterns and intensity levels to the contributions of the three energy systems (ATP-PC, anaerobic glycolysis, and aerobic). This added an important layer of understanding, reinforcing how different game scenarios and physical demands influence energy system interplay during sport.

The session encouraged students to think critically about data-driven performance analysis and highlighted the real-world relevance of the VCE PE curriculum.

Overall, the BioLAB experience was an invaluable opportunity for students to connect theory to practice and gain insight into the tools and technology shaping modern sport science.