Research Assistant/Data manager, PhD student
BHlthSc MPH
Liz is a research assistant working with the PLAYCE (PLAY Spaces and Environments for Children’s Physical Activity, Health & Development) Research Group. Liz is committed to improving health outcomes for our future generations by developing and testing physical activity health promotion initiatives for young children in all settings. She also has a research interest in intergenerational research and health outcomes for children and adolescents.
Liz is currently a UWA PhD student investigating the implementation of physical activity policy and practice in early education and care centres, and won an Australian Government RTP Scholarship to undertake this research.
Liz has a Bachelor of Health Science and Master of Public Health from Edith Cowan University.
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Projects
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Publications
February 2024
Organizational readiness and implementation fidelity of an early childhood education and care-specific physical activity policy intervention: findings from the Play Active trial
Many children do not accumulate sufficient physical activity for good health and development at early childhood education and care (ECEC). This study examined the association between ECEC organizational readiness and implementation fidelity of an ECEC-specific physical activity policy intervention.
Published research Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Physical activity Child careApril 2023Play Active physical activity policy intervention and implementation support in early childhood education and care: results from a pragmatic cluster randomised trial
Policy interventions to increase physical activity in early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are effective in increasing physical activity among young children. However, a large proportion of ECEC services do not have nor implement a physical activity policy.
Published research Early Childhood Development Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Food and Nutrition Kids Rehab Research WAMay 2022A mobile health intervention to encourage physical activity in children: a randomised controlled trial
Despite immense benefits of physical activity on health and developmental outcomes, few children achieve recommended daily levels of physical activity. Given more than half of families with children own a dog, we investigated the effect of a mobile health (mHealth) intervention to encourage dog-facilitated physical activity through increased family dog walking and children's active play with their dog.
Published research Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentMarch 2021The relationship between dog ownership, dog play, family dog walking, and pre-schooler social-emotional development: findings from the PLAYCE observational study
Regular physical activity provides children with health and developmental benefits. This study investigated if active play and walking with the family dog was associated with better social-emotional development in young children.
Published research Early Childhood Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentFebruary 2022Association between preschooler movement behaviours, family dog ownership, dog play and dog walking: Findings from the PLAYCE study
Physical inactivity in childhood is a major public health issue. Dog ownership has been widely reported to lead to greater physical activity in adults and school-aged children. We examined if dog ownership and dog-facilitated physical activity were associated with higher physical activity in preschoolers. Secondary analysis of the 'Play Spaces & Environments for Children's Physical Activity' (PLAYCE, 2015-2018) study involving 1366, 2-5-year-olds from 122 long day-care centres in Perth, Australia was conducted.
Published research Early Childhood Development Playgroups Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentFebruary 2022Evaluating the effectiveness of the Play Active policy intervention and implementation support in early childhood education and care: a pragmatic cluster randomised trial protocol
Daily physical activity is critical during the early years of life for facilitating children's health and development. A large proportion of preschool children do not achieve the recommended 3 h of daily physical activity. Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are a key setting to intervene to increase physical activity. There is a significant need for ECEC specific physical activity policy, including clearer guidelines on the amount of physical activity children should do during care, and strategies for implementation of these guidelines.
Published research Early Childhood Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Playgroups Bacterial Respiratory Infectious Disease Group Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Food and NutritionJanuary 2021A study protocol for a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a dog-facilitated physical activity minimal intervention on young children's physical activity, health and development: the PLAYCE PAWS trial
Pet ownership brings many health benefits to individuals. In children developmental benefits can extend to improved self-esteem, better social competence and decreased loneliness. The majority of households with children own a dog, however only a small proportion of children gain the benefits of dog ownership through dog walking and play. There are few intervention studies investigating the impact of dog-facilitated physical activity in children. The PLAYCE PAWS study aims to test a minimal-contact intervention through the use of mobile health ("mhealth") strategies, i.e. text (SMS) messages, to parents to encourage their children to walk and play with their dog more, and evaluate the impact on children's overall physical activity and development.
Published research Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentJanuary 2020Nature play and fundamental movement skills training programs improve childcare educator supportive physical activity behavior
Both the Nature play and fundamental movement skills professional development programs were effective in improving educators’ self-efficacy to engage children
Published research Child Physical Activity, Health and Development -
Education and Qualifications
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Awards/Honours
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Active Collaborations