Supporting systems approaches to accelerate progress on physical inactivity in Australia

In this session, members of the Australian Systems Approaches to Physical Activity (ASAPa) team presented findings and insights on their research, implementing systems-based practice at the population level. Guest presenters included Associate Professor Melody Ding who is leading the next phase of the ASAP program, ASAP+.

About your presenters

Adrian Bauman is the Visiting Professor at the Steno Diabetes Centre in Copenhagen in 2022; he is also Emeritus Professor of Public Health at the University of Sydney, Co-Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre on Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity, and Lead Investigator for the ASAPa project. Professor Bauman has worked extensively in physical activity, obesity, smoking and cardiovascular disease prevention as well as other areas of health promotion and prevention science. He is a leading authority on research relating to the health consequences of physical activity, and is a committed advocate for scaling-up of evidence-based programs to achieve population-wide impact and health equity.

Bill Bellew is a professorial fellow and senior advisor of chronic disease policy and research, at the Prevention Research Collaboration, University of Sydney, and Co-Investigator for the ASAPa project. His extensive public health experience has involved working at senior levels with and within government, the public sector, academia, and organisations at local, state, and national levels in Australia, the UK, and internationally. Professor Bellew chaired the NHMRC technical group that developed the inaugural physical activity guidelines for Australia and co-chaired the global technical group to develop the WHO’s Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018–2030.

Tracy Nau is a research officer at the Prevention Research Collaboration, University of Sydney. Having previously trained and worked in law, she has since attained significant experience in physical activity and health promotion research. Her diverse experience and qualifications also include degrees in commerce and nutrition. These have given her a broad base from which to approach physical activity policy research and investigate systems and regulatory approaches in this field.

Melody Ding is a highly skilled and experienced epidemiologist and population behavioural scientist who works at the intersection of physical activity, epidemiology and chronic disease prevention. Her commitment to improving population health sees her reorienting her focus from investigating the causes of physical inactivity, to developing tools to support the implementation of strategies to improve this issue as lead investigator for ASAP’s new phase of work.

This session took place during the global week for action on NCDs. This movement aims to slow the increasing burden of NCDs, actions can be big or small. The power of the Global Week for Action comes through collaboration across countries and sectors towards a common goal: reducing preventable death and illness and increasing health and equity around the world. Follow the conversation at #ActOnNCDs