The Monash University Sports Nutrition & Exercise Clinic provides specialised sports nutrition consulting and advanced exercise testing services to support active individuals of all ages and abilities. Whether you're an elite athlete or a recreational exerciser, our team draws on university-based research and evidence-informed practice to help you reach your goals.
Led by Associate Professor Ricardo Costa, our team consists of Accredited Practising Dietitians, Sports Dietitians, Exercise Physiologists and Sports Medicine Researchers from Monash University’s Department of Nutrition, Dietetics & Food.
Our practitioners are actively involved and are world leaders in cutting‑edge research (i.e., publishing exploratory, methodological, and translational practice research) across areas such as:
This integration of research into clinical practice ensures our guidance is informed by contemporary scientific evidence and tailored to your individual needs and training demands.
Our practitioners offer comprehensive services, including:
Whether you're preparing for competition, building fitness for general health, or working towards personal training goals, we provide personalised, data-driven guidance to support your exercise performance.
Located within Monash University’s modern clinical and exercise research environments, our facilities include:
Our clinic combines university-based research capability with a supportive, client‑focused environment.
Location
Monash University BASE (Be Active Sleep Eat) Facility Level 1, 230-264 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting HIll, VIC 3168 Parking and public transport options are available for easy access. |
Mon–Fri: 9:00am – 5:00pm*
All services are provided by appointment and require a referral.
*Limited appointments outside standard clinic hours may be available on request.
All costs for services listed below are GST exclusive. GST will be added to all costs on the invoice.
| Service name | Service details |
|---|---|
| Body composition assessment (MBIA) | A Multi-Frequency Bioelectrical Impedance Assessment (MBIA) is a quick, non-invasive way to assess body composition. Using low-level electrical currents, the device estimates key measures such as muscle mass, fat mass, and hydration status. The assessment takes just a few minutes, you simply stand on the device while measurements are taken. You’ll then receive a clear, easy-to-understand report summarising your results. Duration: 15min Cost: $20 (+ GST). |
| Resting metabolic rate & MBIA |
A Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) assessment, combined with Multi-Frequency Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (MBIA), provides useful insight into your baseline energy needs and body composition. The RMR test estimates the amount of energy your body uses at rest, helping to guide personalised nutrition planning. The MBIA assessment is a quick, non-invasive scan that estimates muscle mass, fat mass, and hydration status. Together, these assessments offer practical information to support individualised nutrition and training decisions. Duration: 90 mins Cost: $250 (+ GST) |
| Full performance assessment | A full performance assessment provides a comprehensive evaluation of the key physiological, metabolic, and physical qualities that underpin athletic performance. This integrated assessment includes anthropometry, resting metabolic rate (RMR), multi‑frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (MBIA), hydration status, VO₂ max testing with lactate response and fuel‑use kinetics, which may also include strength and power profiling. The assessment also includes a sports dietetic consultation to translate your results into personalised, actionable strategies that support your training, recovery, and performance goals. Cost: $650 (+ GST) |
| Sports Dietetic support Initial Appointment | Our dietitians offer practical, evidence‑based guidance to help you perform at your best. We tailor nutrition advice to your individual athletic goals. During your consultation, our practitioners will review key aspects of your profile including medical history, symptoms, body composition goals sporting demands, and eating patterns to develop personalised strategies to support your goals. Duration: 1 hour Cost: $150 (+ GST) |
| Review Appointments | For clients who have already completed an initial consultation to review progress. Duration: 30 mins Cost: $90 (+ GST) Duration: 45 mins Cost: $120 (+ GST) |
| VO₂ Max |
Maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂ max) is a measure of aerobic capacity and reflects the body’s ability to transport and use oxygen during exercise. It is one of several physiological markers that can inform endurance performance and training prescription.
Our VO₂ max assessment also provides insight into fuel utilisation across intensities. Medical clearance via a health certificate is required prior to testing. Duration: 1 hour Cost: $200 (+ GST). Testing is completed using an incremental protocol tailored to your sport or preference:
*Athletes completing the cycling protocol must bring their own bike (Kickr-compatible). |
| VO₂ Max with lactate & fuel kinetics |
A VO₂ max test with lactate response and fuel‑use kinetics provides a comprehensive assessment of your aerobic capacity, metabolic efficiency, and endurance performance. This advanced protocol measures how your body utilises oxygen and produces lactate under increasing workloads, offering valuable
insight for athletes aiming to optimise training intensity and recovery. Medical clearance via a health certificate is required prior to testing. Duration: 1.5 hours Cost: $240 (+ GST). The assessment can be completed using one of the following incremental protocols:
*Athletes completing the cycling protocol must bring their own bike (Kickr‑compatible). |
| Submaximal exercise test with fuel kinetics | A submaximal exercise test with fuel‑use kinetics provides valuable insight into how your body utilises different energy sources at progressively increasing workloads. This assessment helps identify aerobic efficiency, metabolic flexibility, and optimal training zones without requiring you to reach maximal exertion. The test is performed using an incremental protocol tailored to your preferred mode of exercise. Duration: 1 hourCost: $180 (+ GST) |
| Heat stress test | A heat stress test evaluates how your body responds to exercising in a controlled hot environment, providing insight into your thermoregulatory function, hydration needs, and heat‑tolerance capacity. This assessment helps identify how effectively you manage heat during training and competition, supporting safer and more efficient performance in hot conditions. The protocol involves exercising at a steady workload while core temperature, heart rate, and sweat responses are monitored throughout. Duration: 2 hours Cost: $300 (+ GST) |
| Hydration and fluid balance assessment | In a laboratory-controlled setting, a full hydration and fluid balance assessment provides a detailed understanding of your body’s hydration status and how effectively you maintain fluid balance during training and daily activity. This assessment evaluates key markers such as total body water, electrolyte balance, and sweat losses to help identify your individual hydration needs. The results offer practical guidance to support optimal performance, recovery, and overall wellbeing. Duration: 2 hours Cost: $300 (+ GST) |
|
Gut assessment During exercise | A gut assessment evaluates how your gastrointestinal system responds to the demands of exercise, helping identify gastrointestinal tolerance, potential triggers, and strategies to support fuelling during training and competition. This protocol involves a controlled gut‑challenge test performed during exercise, following methods described in the scientific literature (Costa et al., 2017; Gaskell et al., 2022). The assessment provides practical insight into your individual gut comfort, carbohydrate tolerance, and hydration needs to optimise performance and help to manage gastrointestinal symptoms during sport. Duration: 4 hours Cost: $650 (+ GST) |
| Feeding-tolerance during exercise assessment | A feeding‑tolerance assessment evaluates how well your gastrointestinal system handles fuel intake during exercise, helping to identify the types and amounts of nutrition you can comfortably tolerate under race‑specific conditions. This protocol involves consuming planned fuel sources while exercising at a controlled intensity, allowing us to monitor symptoms, gut comfort, and overall tolerance. The results provide clear, personalised guidance to inform your race‑day nutrition strategy and reduce the risk of gastrointestinal disturbance during competition. Duration: 4 hours Cost: $650 (+ GST) |
| Power and strength assessment | A power and strength assessment provides a detailed evaluation of your neuromuscular performance, helping identify your ability to generate force, produce explosive power, and sustain high‑intensity efforts. This assessment typically includes measures such as maximal strength, rate of force development, and sport‑specific power outputs. The results offer clear insight into your physical capabilities and guide targeted training strategies to enhance performance, reduce injury risk, and support long‑term athletic development. Cost: $200 (+ GST) |
| Full day sports dietetics and/or extremes physiology internship | We offer full‑day sports dietetics and/or extreme‑physiology internships for sport and exercise professionals, tailored to your chosen area of interest. These immersive programs provide hands‑on experience with our research‑informed methodologies, covering assessment, analysis, and intervention procedures that can directly enhance your professional practice. Internships are priced at $1600, with final cost dependent on the selected topic. Please enquire for details. Price on Application |
| Ultra endurance / expedition support | Ultra‑endurance and expedition support provides a tailored approach to fuelling athletes undertaking prolonged or extreme challenges. This service includes a resting metabolic rate (RMR) assessment and total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) estimation to determine your individual energy requirements under demanding conditions. We also develop personalised meal and fuelling strategies informed by current research and practical field considerations. Our approach aligns with methodologies described in the scientific literature (Alcock et al., 2018, Wilderness & Environmental Medicine), ensuring your nutrition plan is both evidence‑based and performance‑focused. Price on Application |