Part of Victoria University's Healthy and Inclusive Communities Research Program, the Active Living and Public Health research group examines epidemiological aspects of chronic disease prevention and promotion of well-being through healthy use of time.

Active Living & Public Health research

Our research has broad implications for public policy and interventions to improve population health and well-being. We make important contributions to public health by:

  • developing methods for measurement and analysis of health-related time use compositions
  • increasing the understanding of public-health aspects of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and other health-related components of time use
  • designing, implementing, and evaluating interventions to promote active living.

We contribute to major international initiatives and networks for the promotion of active living, such as:

  • Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance
  • Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!)
  • International Network of Time-Use Epidemiologists (INTUE)
  • Sports Club for Health (SCforH) consortium
  • World Leisure.

We have expertise in:

  • time-use epidemiology
  • physical activity and sedentary behaviour research
  • muscle-strengthening exercise
  • leisure research
  • health policy
  • health promotion
  • chronic disease prevention
  • health surveillance
  • applied statistics.

Our research is focused on the following topics:

  • prevalence, determinants and outcomes of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and muscle-strengthening activity
  • interventions to increase physical activity, reduce sedentary behaviour, and improve outcomes of muscle-strengthening activities
  • delivery of community sport and recreation services
  • national- and subnational-level policies that may impact physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the population
  • measures and methods for assessment and population surveillance of physical activity and sedentary behaviour
  • statistical methods for time-use epidemiology.

Staff

Research students

  • Si-Tong Chen, Social Media Manager
  • Raja Ram Dhungana
  • Kathryn McDonald
  • Aamir Raoof Memon
  • Angela Paredes Castro, Social Media Manager
  • Jayasekara Ranatunge
  • Ruirui (Rainie) Xing.
Find a researcher
Search for VU researchers by name or provide keywords e.g. areas of expertise, publications, projects.