Australian universities cement themselves as world leaders

Deakin University becomes 10th signatory to FISU’s Healthy Campus Programme

Deakin University recently became the tenth higher education institution in Australia to sign up to the Federation of International University Sport (FISU) Healthy Campus Programme. Notably this registration made Australia one of the leading countries in this global platform with the largest % of member institutions (24%) to have now signed up for this internally recognised and accredited program.  

Launched in 2020, the FISU Healthy Campus Programme aims to enhance all aspects of well-being for students and the campus community. Looking to reverse the well-established trend of young adults compromising their health during their academic careers, the initiative is already having a positive impact on the lives and lifestyles of university students around the world. The link between regular physical activity and improved mental health has been widely accepted for many years with an increasing body of evidence demonstrating how critical this link is to the success of university students around the world. 

In response to this link, UniSport Australia has committed to driving this key global programme to enhance well-being for students and the entire campus community on Australian universities.  

Underpinning this commitment UniSport recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with FISU to promote FISU’s Healthy Campus Programme and has set a target of 20 members to become signatories to this program by the end of 2025. This ambitious target reflects reports from existing signatories of the increased value the entire university sector can expect to receive from broader participation in Healthy Campus Programme by Australian universities. 

The University of Western Australia’s (UWA) project, The Living Room, offers check-ups, assessments and evaluations about mental and social health by professionals to the campus community, has been listed by FISU as a Best Practice example of a Healthy Campus Programme. 

Positioned as a welcoming, inclusive and student- focused space that promotes well-being through early intervention, peer support and low barrier access to UWA health services. Students can visit for varying concerns such as feeling stressed, lonely or just a chat, The Living Room acknowledges the University’s place in promoting, supporting and sustaining positive mental health and well-being, while addressing common stressors for students and facilitating timely connection to services at times of adversity. 

With the commencement of university studies often coinciding with students reaching physical maturity, this time represents a critical juncture in the development of long-term health-seeking behaviours in the cohort. 

As such, universities have a unique opportunity to assist their students in incorporating regular physical activity into their lives, a behaviour that is being repeatedly demonstrated as benefiting academic outcomes and directly improving a student’s likelihood of graduating. 

Mark Sinderberry, CEO of UniSport Australia said that the experience of Australian universities participating in FISU’s Healthy Campus Programme has been self-reported as overwhelmingly positive. “We are seeing universities benefit from the Healthy Campus programme through collaboration and shared learning, but also opportunities within their own organisation to nurture and build on existing initiatives,” added Sinderberry. 

“We know Australian universities already understand the role they must play in developing the student as a whole person and that the benefits in doing that flow back to the university and the wider community,” said Sinderberry. “Healthy Campus is a way of UniSport Australia supporting Members in capitalising on that understanding and goodwill.” 

“We would like to congratulate Deakin University on becoming a signatory to this globally significant programme and by joining the other Australian Healthy Campus Programme signatories; Latrobe University, the University of New England, Bond University, Queensland University of Technology, the University of Adelaide, Australian Catholic University, the University of Western Australia, Murdoch University and Macquarie University highlighting the commitment across the sector to building Healthier communities,” concluded Sinderberry. 

For more information on UniSport Australia’s commitment to driving healthier campuses visit our new and improved innovative healthy campus web-platform healthycampus.unisport.com.au for research, case studies and content relevant to Australian and international university programmes.