A/Prof Simon Rosenbaum’s research concerns the use of physical activity as a psychosocial strategy for trauma exposed populations including people living with mental illness, and people from a refugee and asylum seeker background. The central idea underpinning his research is that scalable, affordable and transcultural, physical activity-based interventions, can provide positive benefits for physical health (greater fitness, improved strength), mental health (reduced psychiatric symptoms, improved cognition) and societal wellbeing (improved social cohesion).
Simon’s research aims to: i) Generate evidence regarding the mental health benefits of physical activity for populations exposed to trauma and extreme adversity; ii) Build capacity among mental health workforces to incorporate sport and physical activity interventions; and iii) build capacity among sport and physical activity workforces to work with displaced and trauma-exposed groups as part of a cohesive mental health response.
2024