The Physical activity and sedentary behaviour from infancy to young adulthood group focuses on understanding and influencing physical activity (including fundamental motor skills and physical literacy) and sedentary behaviour (including screen time) in the early years of life from infancy through to young adulthood.
Health and wellbeing outcomes associated with these behaviours are also a priority, including cognitive development, musculoskeletal health, obesity, and other cardiometabolic risk factors. In particular, we focus on the key transitions during early childhood, into primary school, secondary school and school leavers.
We design and test ‘real world interventions’ using cost-effective strategies that can be adopted by health, education, or other systems at scale. We work extensively with key stakeholders who represent all levels of government, non-government organisations, education sector, and parent groups. Our group has expertise in health promotion, public health, psychology, implementation science, behavioural epidemiology, human movement sciences, and musculoskeletal health.
This group covers:
- Physical activity and sedentary behaviour assessment, patterns and health
- Understanding how physical activity behaviours change including key transition periods
- Understanding the influences on physical activity and sedentary behaviour
- Fundamental movement skills and physical literacy
- Designing and evaluating programs in early childhood settings, schools, homes and communities to help children and adolescents be more active and less sedentary
- Implementation and scale up of effective programs in populations.