Healthy Campuses

The habits formed during university years often shape long-term health outcomes, making this a critical period for establishing positive behaviours. However, this period is also marked by shifts in movement-related behaviours (such as physical activity and sedentary time) and increased substance use, often in unhealthy directions. Physical inactivity, prolonged sedentary behaviour, and alcohol use are […]

Since the iPhone’s launch in 2007, smartphones have shifted from being a luxury to a daily necessity. However, growing overdependence on technology—particularly smartphones—may carry health risks. A recent systematic review spanning 12 countries examined the relationship between smartphone addiction and physical activity among university students. The findings revealed a clear inverse relationship: students with higher […]

The Victorian International Student Sports Festival (VISSF) returned for its second year, bringing vibrant culture and energetic competition to life at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre last Saturday. The festival welcomed 470 international students from 26 nations and 12 universities for an action-packed day of badminton, basketball, and table tennis. Hosted by UniSport Australia […]

The University of Melbourne Supporting established programs and providing new and emerging activities: Water Safety Program When Lucy arrived in Melbourne from Beijing to begin her Master of Marketing and Communications, she didn’t know a single person. Everything was unfamiliar, from the language to the lifestyle, and while it was exciting, it was also overwhelming. […]

Research on campus green spaces emphasises their important role in supporting student health and well-being. These spaces provide restorative benefits, offering students a chance to disconnect from academic pressures, recover from mental fatigue, reduce stress, and improve concentration. Access to nature helps maintain a balanced lifestyle by supporting both physical and mental well-being. Additionally, green […]

Sedentary behaviour among university students, linked to health risks from prolonged sitting and lack of physical activity, has raised increasing concern. This research examines how campus environments influence students’ activity levels. Utilising photovoice, students captured photos to identify movement barriers and opportunities. This study, conducted at two German universities, reported that underused green spaces, inadequate […]

Research shows that university students who have access to green spaces and sustainable transport options are more likely to engage in physical activity. Exercising outdoors, particularly in green areas or near water, enhances enjoyment and encourages regular movement. Many students are also motivated by the environmental benefits of active transport, such as walking or cycling, […]

Bond University has muscled up for global health and wellbeing, joining the prestigious FISU Healthy Campus initiative — an international program designed to make university life healthier, more active, and more connected. And we’re not just dipping a toe in — we’ve already hit a major milestone, earning the International University Sports Federation’s (FISU), Bronze […]

Competitive sport versus social-cultural clubs in campus life. Research indicates that students’ participation in university-based extracurricular activities contributes to their graduate attributes such as leadership, teamwork, communication and resilience. However, it has yet to be determined which types of extracurricular activities are more impactful. Carmel Foley, Simon Darcy, Anja Hergesell, Barbara Almond, Matthew McDonald, Lan […]

As traditional sport participation stagnates or declines, flexible informal sporting forms are increasingly a focus for those with a vested interest in maximising participation in sport and physical activity. This study critiques existing definitions of informal sport as overly binary, largely unhelpful, and conceptually diffuse. We propose a more nuanced understanding of informal sport that […]