The Centre for Ageing, Rehabilitation, Exercise & Sport (CARES) is a designated University Research Centre. The mission of CARES is to conduct high quality multidisciplinary research which focuses on understanding, maintaining and improving human health and function across the lifespan. Research is currently in progress in diverse groups such as children, elite sports performers, the disabled, the aged, and other special groups such as diabetics, cardiac patients and asthmatics. CARES has a commitment to the wider community and aims through its research to contribute to the enhancement of the health and wellbeing of all Australians.

CARES comprises members and associates from the School of Human Movement, Recreation and Performance and the Osteopathy Unit in the Faculty of Human Development, and the School of Biomedical Sciences in the Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology.

In addition to staff research, CARES has a major commitment to postgraduate research with over 60 associated doctoral and masters students.

The Centre consists of eight active research units:

• Alma Unit for Research on Ageing
• Biomechanics Unit
• Exercise Metabolism Unit
• Exercise Physiology Unit
• Exercise Rehabilitation Unit
• Recreation Unit
• Sport and Exercise Psychology Unit
• Sport Management and Policy Unit

Exercise metabolism researchers from the School of Biomedical Sciences have historically provided significant contributions to CARES research, involving members of academic staff and postgraduate research students participating in a range of collaborative studies with other members of the Centre. Other research at the Centre involves intra-University collaborations with the School of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts, and the School of Applied Economics in the Faculty of Business & Law.

CARES has well established research collaborations with many state, national and international research organizations, and is developing partnerships with commercial potential in both research and consultancy. Members have established ongoing relationships with other Australian universities, including the University of Melbourne, the University of Western Australia, the University of Queensland, Monash University, LaTrobe University and Deakin University. CARES also has external associations with researchers in a number of universities in the USA, the UK, Europe and Asia. These include Indiana University, Beijing Sports University, Korea University, Aarhus University, University of Southern Denmark, Switzerland Sports Science Institute, Tufts University and Deutscheschule in Germany.

Collaborative research has been undertaken with hospitals such as the Alfred, Austin and Repatriation, New Children's Sydney, Royal Children's, Royal Melbourne, Monash Medical Centre and Sunshine. In addition non-government o rganisations such as the Asthma Foundation, Australian Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust, Defence Scientific Technical Organisation (DSTO), National Aging Research Institute and Physiotherapy Research Foundation are actively engaged with CARES.