Overview
Background
Dr Kathryn Fortnum is a Research Fellow at the Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation, a collaboration between the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Queensland, and Health and Wellbeing Queensland. Her research speciality is on the role of physical activity in the management of chronic health conditions. Dr Fortnum is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and has a particular interest in children and youth, and mental health. Dr Fortnum has worked clinically in inpatient and community settings for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service WA, and supported children impacted by neurological disorders including spina bifida and cerebral palsy to engage in community-based physical programs.
Availability
- Dr Kathryn Fortnum is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Research interests
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Physical activity and health
Utility of physical activity in the prevention and management of chronic health conditions across the lifespan
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Mental health and mental illness
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Physical activity interventions for children and youth
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Physical literacy
Research impacts
Dr Fortnum completed her PhD at the University of Western Australia. Her project centred on understanding the physical activity-related experiences of children with chronic and complex mental health disorders and using this information to design a physical activity-based program to meet children’s specific needs. The program was called, Fit for Play. Dr Fortnum integrated Fit for Play into an existing multidisciplinary model of care within a Tier 4, Government-funded, outpatient Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), and facilitated the creation of the first position for an Exercise Physiologist in CAMHS, WA. Following from the successful translation of Fit for Play into an outpatient service, Dr Fortnum supported the implementation of an Exercise Physiology-based service into the existing multi-disciplinary team on the inpatient Mental Health Unit at Perth Children’s Hospital, a role which she held for several years.
Works
Search Professor Kathryn Fortnum’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2022
Journal Article
Physical activity participation among children diagnosed with mental health disorders: a qualitative analysis of children’s and their guardian’s perspectives
Fortnum, K., Reid, S., Elliott, C., Furzer, B., Wong, J. and Jackson, B. (2022). Physical activity participation among children diagnosed with mental health disorders: a qualitative analysis of children’s and their guardian’s perspectives. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 14 (5), 724-743. doi: 10.1080/2159676X.2021.1961848
Featured
2018
Journal Article
The physical literacy of children with behavioural and emotional mental health disorders: a scoping review
Fortnum, Kathryn, Furzer, Bonnie, Reid, Siobhan, Jackson, Ben and Elliott, Catherine (2018). The physical literacy of children with behavioural and emotional mental health disorders: a scoping review. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 15, 95-131. doi: 10.1016/j.mhpa.2018.10.001
2025
Journal Article
An analysis of people with disabilities in Australia by age, sex, disability type and severity – Implications for leveraging the 2032 Paralympic games to increase physical activity participation
Tweedy, Sean, Fortnum, Kathryn, Thomas, George, Cole, Damien, Demetriou, Bridget, Dutia, Iain, Hill, Jessica, Cairney, John and Beckman, Emma (2025). An analysis of people with disabilities in Australia by age, sex, disability type and severity – Implications for leveraging the 2032 Paralympic games to increase physical activity participation. JSAMS Plus, 6 100110, 100110. doi: 10.1016/j.jsampl.2025.100110
2025
Journal Article
The utility of the MABC-2 for measuring motor impairment in children with ADHD: Examining measurement invariance in children with and without symptoms of ADHD
Bourke, M., Kwan, M.Y., Fortnum, K., O'Flaherty, M., King-Dowling, S. and Cairney, J. (2025). The utility of the MABC-2 for measuring motor impairment in children with ADHD: Examining measurement invariance in children with and without symptoms of ADHD. Human Movement Science, 103 103389, 103389-103. doi: 10.1016/j.humov.2025.103389
2025
Journal Article
Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep in sexual and gender minority adults: a systematic review with meta-analysis
Ross, Megan, Stylianou, Michalis, Simmich, Joshua, Duncombe, Stephanie, Fortnum, Kathryn, Perales Perez, Francisco and Gomersall, Sjaan (2025). Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep in sexual and gender minority adults: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 1-17. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2024-0659
2025
Journal Article
Association between 24-h movement behaviors and mental health in children and adolescents: a systematic review and compositional data meta-analysis
Bourke, Matthew, Wang, Hiu Fei Wendy, Fortnum, Kathryn, Thomas, George, O'Flaherty, Martin, Mulcahy, Samantha K., Gomersall, Sjaan R., Alsop, Tahlia, Trost, Stewart G., Bruijns, Brianne A., Phillips, Sophie M., Vanderloo, Leigh, Tucker, Patricia, Hesketh, Kylie D., Kwan, Matthew Y. W. and Cairney, John (2025). Association between 24-h movement behaviors and mental health in children and adolescents: a systematic review and compositional data meta-analysis. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 35 (8) e70120, e70120-8. doi: 10.1111/sms.70120
2025
Other Outputs
Promoting mental wellbeing and recovery across the lifespan: a review of evidence
Fortnum, Kathryn, Bourke, Matthew, Thomas, George, Mulcahy, Samantha, Alsop, Tahlia and Gomersall, Sjaan (2025). Promoting mental wellbeing and recovery across the lifespan: a review of evidence. doi: 10.31219/osf.io/y7uwj_v1
2025
Journal Article
Comorbid developmental coordination disorder and ADHD: the effects on emotional and behavioural problems in young children
Fortnum, Kathryn, Bourke, Matthew, Kwan, Matthew, O’Flaherty, Martin, Dowling, Sara King and Cairney, John (2025). Comorbid developmental coordination disorder and ADHD: the effects on emotional and behavioural problems in young children. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 1-10. doi: 10.1007/s10578-025-01858-8
2025
Journal Article
Children's and Adolescents' Actual Motor Competence, Perceived Physical Competence and Physical Activity: A Structural Equation Modelling Meta-Analysis
Bourke, Matthew, Wang, Hiu Fei Wendy, Wicks, Hughston, Barnett, Lisa M., Cairney, John and Fortnum, Kathryn (2025). Children's and Adolescents' Actual Motor Competence, Perceived Physical Competence and Physical Activity: A Structural Equation Modelling Meta-Analysis. Sports Medicine, 55 (8) e12953, 1-14. doi: 10.1007/s40279-025-02233-2
2025
Journal Article
Physical Literacy, Physical Activity, and Health: A Citation Content Analysis and Narrative Review
Fortnum, Kathryn, Weber, Meyene Duque, Dudley, Dean, Tudella, Eloisa, Kwan, Matthew, Richard, Veronique and Cairney, John (2025). Physical Literacy, Physical Activity, and Health: A Citation Content Analysis and Narrative Review. Sports Medicine - Open, 11 (1) 44, 44. doi: 10.1186/s40798-025-00827-8
2025
Journal Article
Unpacking the relationship between autism, sport participation, and adolescent health: a causal mediation analysis
O'Flaherty, Martin, Hill, Jessica, Bourke, Matthew, Fortnum, Kathryn, Thomas, George, Gomersall, Sjaan R. and Cairney, John (2025). Unpacking the relationship between autism, sport participation, and adolescent health: a causal mediation analysis. Disability and Health Journal, 18 (3) 101832, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101832
2025
Journal Article
Association between 24-hour movement behaviors and adiposity in children and adolescents: A compositional data meta-analysis
Bourke, Matthew, Harrison, Zoe, Fortnum, Kathryn, Thomas, George, O'Flaherty, Martin, Mulcahy, Samantha K., Gomersall, Sjaan R., Alsop, Tahlia, Trost, Stewart G., Koplin, Jennifer J., Bruijns, Brianne A., Phillips, Sophie M., Vanderloo, Leigh M., Tucker, Patricia, Hesketh, Kylie D., Kwan, Matthew Y. W. and Cairney, John (2025). Association between 24-hour movement behaviors and adiposity in children and adolescents: A compositional data meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews, 26 (5) e13884, e13884. doi: 10.1111/obr.13884
2024
Journal Article
24-hour movement behaviors of LGBTQA+ young people: a systematic review
Fortnum, Kathryn, Gomersall, Sjaan R., Ross, Megan H., Woodforde, James, Thomas, George, Wen, Yu-Shu, Perales, Francisco and Stylianou, Michalis (2024). 24-hour movement behaviors of LGBTQA+ young people: a systematic review. Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 21 (12), 1-17. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2024-0343
2024
Journal Article
Response to letter to the editor: Enhancing the discussion on physical fitness assessment in preschool children—A focus on the PREFIT battery
King‐Dowling, Sara, Fortnum, Kathryn, Kwan, Matthew Y. W. and Cairney, John (2024). Response to letter to the editor: Enhancing the discussion on physical fitness assessment in preschool children—A focus on the PREFIT battery. American Journal of Human Biology, 36 (2) e24017, 1-1. doi: 10.1002/ajhb.24017
2023
Journal Article
Reliability of field‐ and laboratory‐based assessments of health‐related fitness in preschool‐aged children
King‐Dowling, Sara, Fortnum, Kathryn, Chirico, Daniele, Le, Tuyen, Kwan, Matthew Y. W., Timmons, Brian W. and Cairney, John (2023). Reliability of field‐ and laboratory‐based assessments of health‐related fitness in preschool‐aged children. American Journal of Human Biology, 36 (2) e23987, 1-11. doi: 10.1002/ajhb.23987
2022
Conference Publication
Let’s get physical! Facilitating positive physical activity experiences for children with mental health disorders
Fortnum, K. (2022). Let’s get physical! Facilitating positive physical activity experiences for children with mental health disorders. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference , Gold Coast, Australia, 28-30 March 2022.
2020
Conference Publication
Fit for Play: integrating physical activity into children’s mental health recovery
Fortnum, K. (2020). Fit for Play: integrating physical activity into children’s mental health recovery. 2020 Child Health Symposium, Perth, Australia, 3-5 November 2020.
2019
Conference Publication
Fit for Play: Utilising physical literacy to improve outcomes for children with mental health disorders
Fortnum, K. and Reid, S. (2019). Fit for Play: Utilising physical literacy to improve outcomes for children with mental health disorders. International Physical Literacy Conference, Umea, Sweden, 11-13 September 2019.
2018
Conference Publication
The physical literacy of children with behavioural and emotional mental health disorders: a scoping review
Fortnum, K. , Furzer, B. , Reid, S. , Jackson, B. and Elliott, C. (2018). The physical literacy of children with behavioural and emotional mental health disorders: a scoping review. Research to Practice , Brisbane, Australia, 27-29 March 2018.
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Kathryn Fortnum is:
- Available for supervision
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Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Kathryn Fortnum directly for media enquiries about:
- adolescents
- children
- Chronic health management
- mental health
- mental illness
- Physical activity
- physical literacy
- youth
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