SPORT
If a student is suspected of having a concussion, Scotch have implemented an‘ if in doubt, sit it out’ rule, whereby the student is immediately removed from play and won’ t return to activity that day.
Working with the experts
Recognising that concussions are a complex topic, Scotch collaborated with an industry specialist.
Great Scot | Issue 172 | 2025
Taking control of concussion
Concussions are not new, nor are they on the rise, but effective procedures and the commencement of baseline testing allows us to stay informed when it comes to managing students who show symptoms of concussions.
Stuart Powell, Director of Sport, has been heavily involved with the policy updates.
‘ A key motivation for the changes was the Australian Institute of Sport’ s( AIS) new guidance, including adjusting the minimum 21-day return-to-play time for competitive contact sports, and implementing key recommendations for returning to school after a concussion’, Stuart says.
Research shows that young people recover from concussions more slowly than adults, therefore Scotch’ s approach prioritises‘ return to learn’ before‘ return to play’. Healing takes time, and it is important to ensure students are fully recovered before stepping back into sport.
Right now, there’ s no single scan or blood test that can confirm a concussion, so the more information we have, the better decisions can be made to protect our students.
Why concussion management matters
Concussions aren’ t always obvious right away. Symptoms can appear hours or even days after an injury, making them tricky to diagnose on the spot. If a concussion isn’ t properly managed, it can lead to prolonged recovery, persistent symptoms( postconcussion syndrome), and potentially severe complications. This is where baseline testing comes in.
Baseline concussion testing is a mix of simple tasks pertaining to balance, reflex, and decision-making, conducted using a student’ s own mobile device. It provides a pre-season( non – concussed) measure of an athlete’ s individual brain function. If a concussion is suspected, post-injury results are compared with the baseline data giving medical professionals a clearer picture of recovery.
Principal Dr Scott Marsh says the school is committed to ensuring Scotch students have access to the best possible care and support, both on and off the field.
‘ Whether students play football, rugby, basketball, hockey, soccer, or any other sport, they have the option to take part in baseline testing. This initiative is about Scotch staying ahead of the game and taking a proactive response to an unfortunate sporting reality.’
‘ We’ ve been fortunate to work closely with Dr David Munro, a leading concussion professional and physiotherapist at the Melbourne Physiotherapy Concussion Clinic,’ said Stuart.
‘ Dr Munro has been an amazing resource for our program and has assisted with the delivery of our updated policies and organisation of the baseline testing.’
With over 25 years of experience, Dr Munro is an accredited ImPACT-trained Concussion Physiotherapist and played a key role in shaping the latest AIS concussion guidelines.
‘ Stuart and I started discussing this topic in late 2022. Given the rapidly changing environment of concussion management, Stuart was keen to ensure the most up to date return-to-sport and return-to-school protocols were being implemented.’ said Dr Munro.
Dr Munro has since addressed teachers, coaches, parents and boys to educate them on concussion management and the benefits of participating in baseline testing.
‘ Education is the key. There has been a significant shift in the culture and recognition of concussion in recent years,’ he said.
‘ Parents and boys are increasingly seeking to understand the latest evidence-based protocols and guidelines and how to best protect their sons whilst they continue to play the sports they love. It is important to be guided by recognised information and education from organisations such as the AIS, always be cautious with suspected concussions, and to seek clinical advice from appropriately trained healthcare providers when required.’
Starting off on the right foot
Although the risk of concussion cannot be eliminated entirely, it is now possible to manage it better than ever before.
‘ We still have important work ahead in refining the next steps for diagnosis and supporting boys when they are injured, but we can now provide a more informed decision around boys readiness to return to sport,’ said Stuart.
Scotch is proud to champion awareness and lead the way in concussion management, ensuring our students can play with confidence, knowing their health is our top priority.
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