Overview
Background
Dr Kathryn Fortnum is an Early Career Researcher working as a Post-doctoral Research Fellow in the Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation (School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences), a collaboration between The University of Queensland and Health and Wellbeing Queensland; and affiliate researcher in the Queensland Centre for Olympic and Paralympic Studies (UQ). As an ESSA Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Dr Fortnum has extensive experience working with children and young people living with mental illness, neurological conditions, and neurodevelopmental disorders across inpatient and community settings.
Her research focuses on enhancing physical health, mental wellbeing, and participation outcomes for children and young people, with a commitment to improving equitable access to the tools and opportunities that foster lifelong health and resilience.
Dr Fortnum’s areas of expertise include:
- Physical activity and physical literacy
- Clinical and applied research
- Qualitative methodologies
- Systematic reviews and evidence synthesis
- Co-design and participatory approaches including engaging consumers with lived experience
- Program design and evaluation
- Rapid translation of research into evidence-based practice through partnerships with community and clinical services
- Implementation science, centred on scaling effective interventions into real-world contexts (emerging)
Her work aims to bridge the gap between evidence and practice, producing research that is both scientifically robust and directly meaningful for the individuals, families, clinicians, and organisations she collaborates with.
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
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
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
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Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation - Multiple opportunities available
We currently have opportunities available for multiple higher degree research (HDR) students to join the Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation (HWCRI). In 2022, UQ received foundation funding from Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HWQld) to co-fund the creation of the Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation (HWCRI). In partnership with HWQld, HWCRI provides clinical and research expertise in in the fields of physical activity and nutrition with a population and preventative health focus, to inform HWQld’s program design, delivery and evaluation. HWCRI conducts innovative and novel high impact transdisciplinary research in community health and wellbeing across the lifecourse, to reduce health inequities and improve the health and wellbeing of all Queenslanders. The UQ HWCRI aims to translate research and evaluation findings into concepts and products for population level, state-wide implementation; and to build and sustain capacity in health promotion expertise by providing ‘real world’ training opportunities for undergraduate, post-graduate and higher degree research (HDR) students and fellows.
Successful applicants will be part of the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences which is consistently ranked in the world’s Top 5 and is highly regarded nationally and internationally for its teaching, research and community outreach programs. The 2021 QS World Rankings by subject area ranked UQ first in Australia and second in the world in sports-related subjects. They will also be supported and conduct research in partnership with Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HWQld) which is a Queensland Government prevention agency aimed at improving population health and reducing health inequities by reducing the burden of chronic disease across the state. The health and wellbeing of the next generation of Queensland children is a key focus for HWQld and offers a once in a life-time opportunity to change the lives of the next generation where every Queenslander can live their best life, regardless of where they live.
This opportunity would suit students with a background in allied health, health promotion, public health, health psychology, implementation science, or human movement studies. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential. Experience working with industry stakeholders and knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods and behaviour change would be of benefit. First Nations applicants are particularly encouraged to apply. This is a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of this exciting new research centre and engage with industry partners and government and specific programs of research can be tailored based on the applicant’s interest and previous experience and expertise.
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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