Ready for a fresh start in the 2nd half of 2025? Join a free, 1-to-1 physical activity program with Southern Cross Uni

Open to Move is a free, 12-month program designed to support people to increase their physical activity and stick with a more active lifestyle long-term. It’s designed by some of the world’s leading physical activity researchers, and is delivered entirely online for eligible adults aged 18 to 69 at any fitness level.

Participants can be based anywhere in Australia and will receive 12 months of free support, including online one-to-one meetings with a physical activity researcher for the first 6 months. Participants will also receive access to an app to help them track their activity over the 12 months.

The lead researcher on Open to Move is Professor Christian Swann who also leads the Physical Activity, Sport and Exercise Research (PASER) group at Southern Cross University. He said:

“We’re really proud to offer Open to Move for free to people living across Australia, and it’s a great time of year to sign up and start receiving support to help you get more active.”

“The one-to-one meetings with our researchers – which happen fortnightly for the first 6 months – ensure that the program is individualised for each participant’s own journey. And by providing support for a whole year there’s a much better chance of helping people build habits and stick with a more active lifestyle long-term.”

As a participant, you will:

• receive guidance from leading experts on how to increase your physical activity
• have regular online one-to-one meetings with a researcher
• access the Open to Move app to help you track your progress
• provide feedback via surveys and interviews to build the evidence base for Open to Move
• receive gift vouchers at the six-month and 12-month milestones as a thank you for your involvement

How to take part in the study

If you are aged between 18 to 69 years, living in Australia, own a smartphone, and are able to join meetings via Zoom, this program may be the right fit for you.

To find out more and to check your eligibility, visit the Open to Move website (www.opentomove.com.au) or email EOI.opentomove@scu.edu.au  

This research is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council's Discovery Project scheme (DP240101163).

Open to Move is led by Southern Cross University in partnership with the University of Wollongong, the University of Southern Queensland, University of New South Wales, the University of British Columbia, the University of Lincoln, the University of South Carolina, and the 10,000 Steps Program.

This study has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at Southern Cross University (HREC 2024/088).