Senior Research Officer, PLAYCE
BHlthSc (hons), PhD
Andrea is a Senior Research Officer in the ‘Child Physical Activity, Health and Development’ team at the Telethon Kids Institute. She completed her PhD in public health at The University of Western Australia on built and social environmental correlates of physical activity in retirement village residents. She has worked across Australia in postdoctoral, research management and research and evaluation roles in universities and not-for-profit organisations. Andrea’s interests are in developing and evaluating multi-level, intergenerational interventions improving health and wellbeing in children and older adults.
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Publications
Jun 2023
Adaptations to scale-up an early childhood education and care physical activity intervention for real-world availability — Play Active
Adaptations for scale-up are ubiquitous but are rarely described in detail. Adaptations may be a key reason for the "scale-up penalty" which is when there is a reduction in intervention effect size following scale-up. The Play Active intervention consists of a physical activity policy for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services, with accompanying implementation support strategies.
Published research Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Kids Rehab Research WA Child and adolescent health Physical activityMay 2023The moderating role of parent perceptions in relationships between objectively measured neighbourhood environment attributes and pre-schooler's physical activity: Findings from the PLAYCE study
We examined the moderating effects of parent perceptions of the neighbourhood environment on associations between objectively measured neighbourhood environment attributes and physical activity among pre-schoolers. The number of neighbourhood parks was positively associated with pre-schooler energetic play when parents had above average perceptions of access to services.
Published research Early Childhood Development Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentMay 2022Parents' Perceptions of the Neighbourhood Built Environment Are Associated with the Social and Emotional Development of Young Children
The influence of the neighbourhood built environment on young children's physical development has been well-documented; however, there is limited empirical evidence of an association with social and emotional development. Parental perceptions of the neighbourhood built environment may act as facilitators or barriers to young children's play and interactions in their local environment. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between parents' perceptions of the neighbourhood built environment and the social-emotional development of children aged two-to-five years.
Published research Early Childhood Development Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentNovember 2021Built Environments and Child Health: A Policy Review’, Life Course Centre Working Paper Series, 2021-22
Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century and is affected not only by individual choice but also by societal and environmental influences. Childhood obesity is higher in children living in regional and remote compared with major cities, in one-parent families and for those with a disability.
Published research Nutrition Human Development and Community Wellbeing Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Geospatial Health and DevelopmentNovember 2021The relationship between physical activity, self-regulation and cognitive school readiness in preschool children
Limited research exists on the pathways through which physical activity influences cognitive development in the early years. This study examined the direct and indirect relationships between physical activity, self-regulation, and cognitive school readiness in preschool children.
Published research Early Childhood Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing School Attendance Child Physical Activity, Health and Development -
Education and Qualifications
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Awards/Honours