Nicky Ridgers is an Associate Professor in Physical Activity and Health in Allied Health and Human Peformance. She is a member of the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) at the University of South Australia.
Nicky's research focuses on the assessment of children's and adolescents' physical activity and sedentary behaviour using a range of different methods. She is interested in the measurement of activity patterns and whether the way in which children accumulate their activity across the day impacts on their cardiometabolic health. Additionally, a major focus of Nicky's research is the promotion of physical activity using theory-based interventions within school settings, particularly... Read more
About me
Nicky Ridgers is an Associate Professor in Physical Activity and Health in Allied Health and Human Peformance. She is a member of the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) at the University of South Australia.
Nicky's research focuses on the assessment of children's and adolescents' physical activity and sedentary behaviour using a range of different methods. She is interested in the measurement of activity patterns and whether the way in which children accumulate their activity across the day impacts on their cardiometabolic health. Additionally, a major focus of Nicky's research is the promotion of physical activity using theory-based interventions within school settings, particularly school playgrounds. She is leading research that examines children's and adolescents' activity levels during school recess and lunchtime, and what factors influence students' recess and lunchtime behaviours.
Nicky has secured over $10m in competitive research funding, including from the Australian Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, the National Heart Foundation of Australia, and VicHealth. She has published over 190 peer review papers and 8 book chapters.
Nicky was a founding Director, Executive Committee Member and inagural Treasurer of the Asia-Pacific Society for Physical Activity (ASPA).
If you are interested in research opportunities (honours, masters, PhD), please contact Nicky to have a chat.
About me
About me
Doctor of Philosophy Liverpool John Moores University
Master of Science (Applied Sports Sciences) University of Wales, Bangor
Bachelor of Science (Sports Science) University of Wales, Bangor
My current research projects are examining:
1) Indicators of quality school recess.
2) Children's activity behaviours in school outdoor environments, particularly during recess and lunchtime.
3) Co-designing and trialling activity opportunities for parents.
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2023 |
Open access
8
8
5
|
| 2023 |
Open access
14
14
20
|
| 2022 |
Open access
18
15
11
|
| 2022 |
Open access
8
7
18
|
| 2020 |
44
45
11
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2020 |
|
| 2015 |
Open access
9
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2025 |
Open access
4
2
|
| 2024 |
Open access
8
5
16
|
| 2024 |
Open access
4
4
13
|
| 2024 |
Open access
1
1
2
|
| 2024 |
Open access
3
1
1
|
| 2024 |
Open access
1
|
| 2024 |
Open access
5
4
|
| 2024 |
Open access
1
1
7
|
| 2024 |
Open access
2
|
| 2024 |
Open access
1
1
4
|
| 2024 |
1
|
| 2023 |
Open access
3
3
5
|
| 2023 |
Open access
28
26
22
|
| 2023 |
Open access
18
16
92
|
| 2023 |
Open access
5
5
|
| 2023 |
Open access
2
2
8
|
| 2023 |
Open access
8
8
5
|
| 2023 |
Open access
14
14
20
|
| 2023 |
Open access
1
1
7
|
| 2023 |
Open access
2
2
5
|
| 2023 |
Open access
4
4
2
|
| 2022 |
Open access
5
4
93
|
| 2022 |
Open access
20
14
13
|
| 2022 |
Open access
8
7
12
|
| 2022 |
Open access
10
7
8
|
| 2022 |
Open access
11
11
29
|
| 2022 |
3
3
4
|
| 2022 |
Open access
5
6
11
|
| 2022 |
Open access
17
17
12
|
| 2022 |
4
4
6
|
| 2022 |
Open access
18
15
11
|
| 2022 |
Open access
2
3
13
|
| 2022 |
Open access
8
7
18
|
| 2022 |
Open access
3
3
|
| 2021 |
Open access
22
23
29
|
| 2021 |
Open access
20
11
|
| 2021 |
Open access
6
8
2
|
| 2021 |
Open access
48
40
8
|
| 2021 |
Open access
10
8
19
|
| 2021 |
Open access
151
131
25
|
| 2021 |
Open access
8
8
4
|
| 2021 |
Open access
19
13
17
|
| 2021 |
3
3
|
| 2021 |
Open access
5
6
6
|
| 2021 |
8
7
2
|
| 2020 |
6
5
4
|
| 2020 |
3
2
8
|
| 2020 |
Open access
40
39
7
|
| 2020 |
Open access
16
18
219
|
| 2020 |
Open access
17
16
12
|
| 2020 |
18
17
1
|
| 2020 |
Open access
122
106
141
|
| 2020 |
44
45
11
|
| 2020 |
Open access
9
9
12
|
| 2020 |
Open access
10
11
29
|
| 2020 |
Open access
1
2
|
| 2020 |
Open access
17
15
14
|
| 2020 |
Open access
8
8
2
|
| 2019 |
Open access
14
16
122
|
| 2019 |
Open access
17
16
7
|
| 2019 |
Open access
13
10
2
|
| 2019 |
Open access
22
21
7
|
| 2019 |
Open access
57
46
15
|
| 2019 |
12
12
7
|
| 2019 |
Open access
5
5
7
|
| 2019 |
Open access
22
22
13
|
| 2019 |
Open access
12
12
3
|
| 2018 |
Open access
15
13
1
|
| 2018 |
32
|
| 2018 |
Open access
36
34
96
|
| 2018 |
21
18
21
|
| 2018 |
Open access
13
12
3
|
| 2018 |
Open access
19
18
|
| 2018 |
Open access
7
5
|
| 2018 |
5
6
9
|
| 2018 |
17
19
41
|
| 2018 |
21
18
9
|
| 2018 |
15
16
1
|
| 2018 |
21
17
30
|
| 2018 |
Open access
81
71
14
|
| 2018 |
Open access
39
38
2
|
| 2018 |
Open access
13
14
1
|
| 2018 |
Open access
26
24
16
|
| 2018 |
Open access
49
47
18
|
| 2018 |
Open access
33
30
19
|
| 2018 |
14
10
8
|
| 2018 |
7
7
11
|
| 2018 |
Open access
31
27
|
| 2017 |
14
8
14
|
| 2017 |
Open access
81
77
1171
|
| 2017 |
68
62
8
|
| 2017 |
15
12
1
|
| 2017 |
Open access
41
35
12
|
| 2017 |
29
28
2
|
| 2017 |
Open access
71
66
13
|
| 2017 |
Open access
36
36
9
|
| 2017 |
Open access
30
28
12
|
| 2017 |
Open access
21
17
1
|
| 2017 |
Open access
23
21
10
|
| 2017 |
Open access
36
32
3
|
| 2017 |
Open access
39
39
397
|
| 2016 |
Open access
40
39
11
|
| 2016 |
Open access
578
488
35
|
| 2016 |
89
69
3
|
| 2016 |
Open access
10
12
8
|
| 2016 |
Open access
21
18
3
|
| 2016 |
Open access
77
73
80
|
| 2016 |
Open access
232
220
52
|
| 2016 |
Open access
34
28
35
|
| 2016 |
Open access
71
73
10
|
| 2016 |
53
56
30
|
| 2016 |
50
50
5
|
| 2016 |
Open access
9
8
|
| 2016 |
17
18
7
|
| 2016 |
Open access
188
165
30
|
| 2016 |
Open access
39
37
5
|
| 2016 |
Open access
31
30
|
| 2016 |
70
59
5
|
| 2016 |
22
17
2
|
| 2015 |
129
109
2
|
| 2015 |
Open access
28
16
|
| 2015 |
148
120
3
|
| 2015 |
33
25
|
| 2015 |
Open access
79
68
45
|
| 2015 |
Open access
82
73
49
|
| 2015 |
Open access
16
17
3
|
| 2015 |
56
52
11
|
| 2015 |
Open access
11
11
5
|
| 2015 |
97
73
|
| 2015 |
Open access
57
50
4
|
| 2015 |
Open access
33
32
9
|
| 2015 |
25
20
3
|
| 2015 |
9
10
1
|
Research
My current research projects are examining:
1) Indicators of quality school recess.
2) Children's activity behaviours in school outdoor environments, particularly during recess and lunchtime.
3) Co-designing and trialling activity opportunities for parents.
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Amsterdam University Medical Center | NETHERLANDS |
| ANZAC Research Institute | AUSTRALIA |
| Athlone Institute of Technology | IRELAND |
| Auburn University | UNITED STATES |
| Auckland University of Technology | NEW ZEALAND |
| Australian Catholic University | AUSTRALIA |
| Australian National University | AUSTRALIA |
| Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute | AUSTRALIA |
| Bradford Institute for Health Research | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Center for Children's Healthy Lifestyles and Nutrition | UNITED STATES |
| Central Queensland University | AUSTRALIA |
| Children’s Mercy | UNITED STATES |
| Children's Mercy Hospital | UNITED STATES |
| City of Hope | UNITED STATES |
| Curtin University | AUSTRALIA |
| Deakin University | AUSTRALIA |
| Department of Policy and Communications, Early Childhood Ireland | IRELAND |
| Early Childhood | IRELAND |
| Early Childhood Ireland | IRELAND |
| Eastern Health Partnership | AUSTRALIA |
| Edge Hill University | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Fiona Stanley Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
| Free University of Amsterdam | NETHERLANDS |
| Ghent University | BELGIUM |
| Glasgow Caledonian University | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Imaging at Olympic Park | AUSTRALIA |
| Iowa State University | UNITED STATES |
| James Cook University | AUSTRALIA |
| Jyväskylä University | FINLAND |
| Kaiser Permanente | UNITED STATES |
| Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute | UNITED STATES |
| Laude Lady Elizabeth Junior School | SPAIN |
| Liverpool Hope University | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Liverpool John Moores University | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Liverpool John Moore's University | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Loughborough University | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Louisiana State University | UNITED STATES |
| Macquarie University | AUSTRALIA |
| Marquette University | UNITED STATES |
| Massey University | NEW ZEALAND |
| Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
| Morriston Hospital | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Nanyang Technological University | SINGAPORE |
| Oxford Brookes University | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Public Health Agency of Canada | CANADA |
| Purdue University | UNITED STATES |
| Radboud University Nijmegen | NETHERLANDS |
| RMIT University | AUSTRALIA |
| Royal Melbourne Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| San Diego State University | UNITED STATES |
| Swansea University | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Swinburne University of Technology | AUSTRALIA |
| Texas A and M University | UNITED STATES |
| Ulster University | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University College Cork | IRELAND |
| University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Agder | NORWAY |
| University of Alberta | CANADA |
| University of British Columbia | CANADA |
| University of California | UNITED STATES |
| University of California San Diego | UNITED STATES |
| University of California System | UNITED STATES |
| University of Cambridge | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Canberra | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Chester | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Eastern Finland | FINLAND |
| University of Extremadura | SPAIN |
| University of Girona | SPAIN |
| University of Granada | SPAIN |
| University of Hong Kong | HONG KONG |
| University of Jyvaskyla | FINLAND |
| University of Liege | BELGIUM |
| University of Limerick | IRELAND |
| University of Maastricht | NETHERLANDS |
| University of Melbourne | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Michigan | UNITED STATES |
| University of Missouri | UNITED STATES |
| University of Münster | GERMANY |
| University of Newcastle | AUSTRALIA |
| University of North Dakota | UNITED STATES |
| University of Ottawa | CANADA |
| University of Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Southern Denmark | DENMARK |
| University of Southern Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Stuttgart | GERMANY |
| University of Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Tasmania | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Technology Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Utah | UNITED STATES |
| University of Western Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Wollongong | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Zagreb | CROATIA |
| VU Medical Centre | NETHERLANDS |
| VU University Medical Center | NETHERLANDS |
| West Virginia University | UNITED STATES |
| Western Sydney University | AUSTRALIA |
| Zhejiang University | CHINA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Founding Director, Treasurer and ExecutiveAustralasian Society for Physical Activity |
2022 |
Abstract ReviewerInternational Society for Behaviour Nutrition and Physical Activity Annual Conference |
2021 |
Founding Director, Treasurer and ExecutiveAustralasian Society for Physical Activity |
2021 |
Abstract ReviewerInternational Society for Behaviour Nutrition and Physical Activity Annual Conference |
2020 |
Award for Excellence and Innovation in Public Health Team ResearchCouncil of Academic Public Health Institutions Australasia (CAPHIA) |
2020 |
Founding Director, Treasurer and ExecutiveAustralasian Society for Physical Activity |
2020 |
Abstract ReviewerInternational Society for Behaviour Nutrition and Physical Activity Annual Conference |
2019 |
Founding Director, Treasurer and ExecutiveAustralasian Society for Physical Activity |
2019 |
Scientific Committee MemberInternational Conference on Ambulatory Monitoring of Physical Activity and Movement |
2019 |
Abstract ReviewerInternational Society for Behaviour Nutrition and Physical Activity Annual Conference |
2018 |
Abstract ReviewerInternational Society for Behaviour Nutrition and Physical Activity Annual Conference |
2017 |
Scientific Committee MemberInternational Conference on Ambulatory Monitoring of Physical Activity and Movement |
2017 |
Victorian Council MemberSports Medicine Australia |
2017 |
Teaching & student supervision
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| Associations between handgrip muscle function and match performance among Australian rules football athletes | Current |
| Examining athletes' rehabilitation journeys post-injury | Current |
| Exploring well-being in Australian athletes | Current |
| International normative reference values for handgrip strength in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years: A systematic review | Current |
| International temporal trends and cross-country comparisons in muscle fitness for children and adolescents | Current |
