
Testing physical activity and physical literacy measurement tools for use in schools
Researchers are testing a new website system to help schools measure the necessary skills for children to lead an active life.
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Real-world solutions to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in the community.
This domain focuses on real-world solutions to increase population levels of physical activity and consists of three research groups:
Researchers in this domain come from a wide range of disciplines including health promotion, education, public health, psychology, epidemiology, human movement and sports science, physiology and endocrinology of stress, musculoskeletal health, motor development, geography, and implementation science.
From pregnancy and early childhood to adulthood, researchers have expertise in:
Researchers are testing a new website system to help schools measure the necessary skills for children to lead an active life.
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Associate Professor Natalie Lander is on a mission to transform pre-service teacher education programs to create confident, capable, and classroom-ready graduates who drive positive learning and health outcomes for students.
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IPAN researchers are developing the next phase of the Let's Grow program to support parents with their toddlers' active play, sedentary/screen time, nutrition and sleep behaviours.
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Primary schools in regional Victoria are participating in a trial intervention to prevent childhood obesity by targeting multiple health behaviours.
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One size does not fit all when it comes to physical activity for vulnerable children. Dr Emiliano Mazzoli is exploring ways to provide a more equitable approach.
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A better understanding of the combined effect of children's movement behaviours throughout the day will lead to the development of new and effective ways to optimise their health.
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Scalability of the TransformUs program to promote children’s physical activity and reduce prolonged sitting in Victorian primary schools.
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IPAN’s Professor Jenny Veitch’s project, funded by the National Heart Foundation of Australia via a Future Leader Fellowship, is examining how parks can be designed to encourage physical activity for the prevention of heart disease.
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Dr Katherine Downing is investigating whether children up to five years maintain sedentary habits into later childhood.
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Group leader: Dr Lauren Arundell
Group members: Deakin Distinguished Professor Jo Salmon, Deakin Distinguished Professor Anna Timperio, Professor Lisa Barnett, Professor Kylie Hesketh, Professor Jenny Veitch, Associate Professor Harriet Koorts, Associate Professor Natalie Lander, Associate Professor Claudia Strugnell, Associate Professor Megan Teychenne, Dr Johannes Carl, Dr Ana Maria Contardo Ayala, Dr Paddy Dempsey, Dr Katherine Downing, Dr Jill Hnatiuk, Dr Amanda Machell, Dr Emiliano Mazzoli, Dr Susan Paudel, Dr Shannon Sahlqvist, Dr Simone Verswijveren, Dr Michael Wheeler
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:
Group leader: Deakin Distinguished Professor Anna Timperio
Group members: Deakin Distinguished Professor Jo Salmon, Professor Lisa Barnett, Professor Jenny Veitch, Associate Professor Kristy Bolton, Dr Jill Hnatiuk, Dr Susan Paudel, Dr Shannon Sahlqvist, Dr Anne Turner, Dr Anthony Walsh
The Built and natural environments for healthy living group focuses on understanding how the built and natural environments in which people live, work, learn and play can be designed to support opportunities for physical activity via incidental activity, active play, active transport, sport and recreational physical activity, as well as healthy eating.
Elements of the built and natural environment we focus on include urban design and accessibility, streetscapes, park design, school environments, play spaces and community food environments.
This group covers:
Group leader: Associate Professor Luana Main
Group members: Professor Brad Aisbett, Professor David Dunstan, Dr Clint Miller, Dr Spencer Roberts, Dr Jamie Tait, Dr Anne Turner
The Optimising workers’ health group focuses on optimising human performance in the workplace; understanding the behavioural, physiological, physical and psychological factors that contribute to workers’ physical and mental health and wellbeing, both within and beyond their job.
For many people, a particular challenge to their health is the impact of work behaviours and practice on the short and long-term health outcomes. For these reasons, our research also focusses on quantifying the workers’ physical activity and sedentary behaviour (including incidental activity), physically demanding tasks, formal exercise training, and engagement with leisure time activity including sport.
This group covers: