Forty-seven university representatives from Australia, New Zealand and Fiji came together on Tuesday 22 September for the latest UniSport Healthy Campus Community of Practice (CoP), focused on the role of physical activity and sport in supporting healthy campus environments.
The CoP sessions bring FISU Healthy Campus members together to share approaches and practical examples to implement Healthy Campus criteria on campus.
This session covered criteria #34-66 across Inclusive Sport and Equal Access, Health Promotion and Active Campaigns, Campus Facilities and Active Infrastructure, and Targeted Programs and Academic Integration.
With university students facing increasingly sedentary lifestyles and barriers to traditional sport settings, attendees explored how universities can provide flexible and accessible opportunities for movement beyond organised sport.
The session opened with Mark Howell from Murdoch University sharing the university’s experience delivering the AUSactive Million Moves Campaign across 2025 and 2026.
The initiative takes an inclusive approach to physical activity, encouraging students and staff to think about movement beyond traditional sport and structured exercise. Through free and accessible activities, the campaign has sought to address barriers including cost, confidence, access and social connection.
Nicola Carty and Brett Garland from Macquarie University presented the university’s parkrun initiative, a free weekly activity that brings together students, staff, volunteers and members of the local community.
Participants can walk, jog, run or volunteer, with the initiative making use of the university campus. Participation has grown beyond initial expectations, strengthening links between Macquarie University and its surrounding community.
Kate Sims and Nhung Nguyen from the University of Tasmania presented the Local Learning Leaders: Inspiring Learning Through Trusted Sporting Communities initiative.
The project works with trusted sporting clubs and community leaders across North West Tasmania to strengthen educational aspirations and awareness of tertiary pathways. It demonstrates how established sporting and community networks can help universities connect with regional, rural and remote communities, using sport as a platform for engagement beyond physical activity.
Ryan Davies from The Australian National University shared insights from the 2026 FISU World Forum in Östersund, exploring international approaches to Healthy Campus and the role of physical activity and sport in supporting cognitive and social wellbeing.
The presentation also covered preventative approaches, dual-career support and auditor development, alongside opportunities to further strengthen the Healthy Campus Program.
The Physical Activity and Sport CoP prompted strong engagement from university representatives, with discussion and questions throughout providing an opportunity to delve deeper into the approaches being shared.
UniSport Australia also introduced the Aussie Healthy Campus Best Practice Project, a new initiative being developed to identify and showcase leading Healthy Campus initiatives from universities across Australia. The project will create further opportunities to highlight work underway in the sector and support knowledge sharing across the growing Healthy Campus network.
The next UniSport Healthy Campus CoP will be held on Tuesday 17 November 2026 and focus on Risk Behaviour (FISU Healthy Campus Criteria #90-94), exploring university approaches to prevention and education around alcohol, drugs, doping, tobacco, sexual health, bullying and violence.
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