Project impact

The research team has published two systematic reviews and two empirical studies.

Their work showed that:

  • Increased autonomous motivation is linked to better mental health outcomes and higher levels of physical activity in children
  • Physical activity breaks in mainstream primary school classrooms can support children’s enjoyment of physical activity, specific self-beliefs and quality of life
  • With flexibility to meet the needs of the students, classroom-based physical activity breaks can be feasible in specialist school classrooms for children with disability
  • Few classroom-based physical activity breaks have been evaluated in specialist primary school classrooms

During their pilot research, the team delivered trial phases of the Joy of moving program in Australia.

So far, the Joy of moving program in Australia has reached:

  • 3,586

    students using movement to improve wellbeing

  • 24

    schools involved, including 9 specialist schools

  • 244

    teachers involved in the program’s delivery

  • 4,201

    people informed about the Joy of moving program in Australia

  • 100%

    of mainstream school students reported they enjoyed the program

Initial teacher feedback after delivering the program in schools is promising.

“Our findings showed that teachers recognised the value in the program, its alignment with the curriculum, and potential for integration into the school day. The flexibility of the program, allowing teachers to choose when and which movement break activities to use, emerged as a real strength.” - Dr. Nicole Papadopoulos, Clinical Psychologist and Chief Investigator