Exercise and Youth Mental Health Service Transitions
A new UWA-led review examines how exercise could support young people as they move between child and adolescent and adult mental health services
Exercise in the treatment and management of mental health and illness
In collaboration with
Exercise is beneficial for people across multiple areas of health and wellbeing, but how to support individuals to be active, improve health outcomes and build exercise opportunities within health and community care pathways is still being established.
The MHEX group conducts research, and supports researchers, whose focus is on individuals living with, or at risk of, mental ill health.
Our work includes:
- Exploration of the role of exercise to support physical and mental health
- Establishing evidence-based practices for the promotion and delivery of physical activity programs for mental health
- Developing innovative strategies to support and sustain health outcomes of individuals and communities
The Team
Featured Publications
Current Projects
Latest News
Eating Disorder Treatment Outcomes in Trans and Gender Diverse People
New systematic review co-authored by UWA researchers examines eating disorder treatment outcomes in trans and gender diverse people. Read the key findings.
Thriving in Motion: A Therapeutic Exercise Model for Kids
Inside the Thriving in Motion Kids & Teens program: 4000+ enrolments, the M.A.G.I.C framework, and 15 years of community-based therapeutic exercise.
Exercise for Trans Young People: New Qualitative Study
What 20 trans young people, parents, and clinicians told us about barriers and enablers to exercise in gender-affirming care. New MHEX research.
Current Projects
We conduct projects across a range of populations, presentations and alongside a variety of community partners – including health services, support organisations, Universities, and funding agencies.
Led by clinically-aligned exercise and health researchers at the University of Western Australia (UWA) and University of New South Wales (UNSW), with the aim to ensure that all knowledge is created in partnership with community and for the benefit of communities.
Projects Include:
- Move your mind: exercise to support the physical and mental health outcomes of individuals in a transdiagnostic mental health service
- Stride: A referral-based exercise program for tertiary students with mental health challenges
- Supporting Healthy Exercise and Eating Behaviours in Trans & Gender Diverse Folk
- Human Thriving in Recurring Potentially Traumatic, Elevated Threat and High Stress Work Environments
- Exercise interventions to support youth with mental illness transitioning between child, adolescent, and adult mental health services.
- Disordered Eating and Exercise Behaviours in Mental Health Care
- Auditory Cued Exercise (ACE) Therapy for Children with Listening Difficulties
- Girls in Motion: barriers to physical activity in at-risk young girls
- Physical Literacy, Physical Activity and Wellbeing in Children and Adolescents with Hypothalamic Dysfunction Induced Weight Changes
- Chest Binding & Physical Performance
Recent Publications
Thriving in Motion: a community-based therapeutic physical literacy programme for children experiencing barriers to being active.
Furzer, B., Austin, F., Kramer, B., Almarjawi, A., Edwards, G., Hilston, J., Quick, B., Davies, M., & Wright, K. (2026).Â
British Journal of Sports Medicine. Advance online publication.Â
The Role of Exercise Physiologists in Mental Health Support and Recovery: 2026 Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) Consensus Statement
Lederman, O., Chapman, J., Fibbins, H., Haywood, D., Hart, N., Furzer, B., Wright, K., McKeon, G., Brinsley, J., Mastrogiovanni, C., Semaan, A., Llana, A., Rosenbaum, S., & Stanton, R. (2026).
British Journal of Sports Medicine , 60(8), 568-582.
Exercise experiences of adolescents engaged with gender diversity services: A qualitative approach
Austin, F., Lin, A., Wright, K., Jackson, B., Simpson, A., & Furzer, B. (2026).
Exercise experiences of adolescents engaged with gender diversity services: A qualitative approach.
Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 85, Article 103148. Advance online publication.
Eating and exercise motivation and behaviors in trans and gender diverse adults: A mixed methods study
Schweizer, K., Mundt, M., Austin, F., Buist, B., Wright, K., Strauss, P., Lin, A., Jackson, B., Wilkinson, K., & Furzer, B. (2026).
Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. In Press.Â
Recent Grant + Funding Success
Recent grants that MHEX members are leading or contributing to include:
2024 – 2028, Medical Research Futures FundÂ
‘Improving health outcomes via the Australian Research Consortium for Trans Youth and Children'($4.9mil)
2023-2026, Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (WA) + Stan Perron Foundation ‘Youth Moves: inclusive, community-based active recreation program for disengaged and/or vulnerable WA adolescents and young people (12-25yrs)‘ ($600,000)
2023 Medibank Strategic Support Fund – UNSW: ‘Feasibility evidence and program expansion of an on-campus exercise program for students with mental health problems’ ($140,000)
MHEX Team Leads
Associate Professor Bonnie Furzer (she/her)
Accredited Exercise Physiologist
Associate Professor + Graduate Research Coordinator – University of Western Australia (School of Human Sciences)
CEO – Thriving in Motion
Senior Exercise Physiologist and Service Coordinator – Fremantle Hospital Mental Health Service
Honorary Research Associate – The Kids Research Institute
Associate Professor Kemi Wright (she/her)
Accredited Exercise Physiologist
Associate Professor- University of New South Wales (School of Health Sciences)
COO – Thriving in Motion
Adjunct Senior Lecturer – University of Western Australia
MHEX Team
Clinical + Research Team
- Professor Ben Jackson (he/him) - Professor (UWA), Theme Head (The Kids Research Institute)
- Dr Robyn Choi (she/her) - Clinical Audiologist, Senior Lecturer (UWA), Honorary Research Associate (The Kids Research Institute)
- Brett Buist (he/him) - Sport + Exercise Physiotherapist, Clinical Research Fellow (UWA)
- Dr Marion Mundt (she/her) - Research Fellow (ECU Nutrition + Health Innovation Research Institute)
- Dr Claire Munsie (she/her) - Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Senior Lecturer (UWA)
- Dr Aaron Simpson (he/him) - Lecturer (UWA), Honorary Research Associate (The Kids Research Institute)
- Ashley Almarjawi (she/her) - Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Senior Project Officer (Thriving in Motion)
- Felicity Austin (she/her) - Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Research Fellow (UWA), Operations Manager (Thriving in Motion)
- Ben Quick (he/they) - Community Engagement Officer (Thriving in Motion)
- Dr Caleb McMahen (he/they) - Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Senior Lecturer (CDU)
PhD Candidates
- Kai Schweizer (he/they) - UWA + The Kids Research Institute
- Sally Edmondson (she/her) - UWA
- Ben Kramer (he/him) - UWA, Fremantle Hospital Mental Health Service + The Kids Research Institute
- Anna Hilyard (she/her) - UWA, The Kids Research Institute + Perth Children's Hospital
- Sarah Ford (she/her) - UWA
- Wenbo (Chris) Zhou - UWA
- Yucai (Kevin) Gao - UWA
Completed PhD Students
- Dr Kemi Wright - 2020
- Dr Ivan Jeftic - 2023
- Dr Aaron Simpson - 2024
- Dr Caleb McMahen - 2025
- Dr Felicity Austin - 2026
Research Partners + Collaborators
Research Partners
- University of Western Australia (School of Human Sciences)
- University of New South Wales (School of Health Sciences)
- Fremantle Hospital Mental Health Service
- The Kids Research Institute, Australia
Community Partners
- Thriving In Motion
- Perth Children's Hospital
- Psychology of Active, Healthy Living Group
- Next Step Drug and Alcohol Youth Service
Contact Us or Sign Up for News
The MHEX Team acknowledges all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Custodians of Country and recognises their continuing connection to land, sea, culture and community. We pay our respects to Elders past, and present.
We are committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination through education and inclusive communities. We welcome all people and are respectful of individual identities.