John Cairney
Source: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/25474 Parent: https://about.uq.edu.au/faculties-institutes/hmbs/about/leaders
Professor
John Cairney
Email: : j.cairney@uq.edu.au
Phone: : +61 7 336 56241
Positions
Centre Director of Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation : Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation : Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences
Head of School : Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences
Affiliate of Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation : Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation : Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences
Overview
Background
Professor John Cairney is the Head of School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences. He is an academic leader in the field of paediatric exercise medicine and child health research and is particularly well-known for his work on developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and its impact on the health and well-being of children. Prof John Cairney started at UQ in January 2020.
Until the end of 2019, he was the Director of Graduate Studies in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto and Director of the Infant and Child Health (INCH) Research Laboratory at both the University of Toronto and McMaster University. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Departments of Public Health Sciences and Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University and a core scientist with the Offord Centre for Child Studies, CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research at McMaster University, and the independent Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences.
Professor Cairney completed his PhD studies at the University of Western Ontario and has held academic appointments at Brock University, the University of Toronto and McMaster University before his current UQ role. He has held, among other research leadership positions, a Canada Research Chair in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, and a Professorship in Child Health, and subsequently a Research Chair, in the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University.
Professor Cairney has been the recipient of ~$A17 million in research grants as a principal investigator and has some 310 published works with a Scopus h index of 51 (Aug 2022).
Professor Cairney is a former President of the North American Society of Pediatric Exercise Medicine.
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Availability
Professor John Cairney is: : Available for supervision
Fields of research
Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Clinical sciences Epidemiology Health Sciences Paediatrics Sports science and exercise
Research interests
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Physical activity and health
Professor Cairney's broad interest is in the association between physical activity and health (physical and mental), with a specific interest in the role that physical activity plays in the health and quality of life of children with chronic disease.
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Research impacts
From 2012-2015, Professor John Cairney co-led the evaluation of the multi-ministerial Children’s Mental Health Strategy in Canada, and since 2013 he has been the Scientific Lead of the screening arm of the Special Needs Strategy for Children in Ontario. These roles have allowed him to influence policy development in Ontario.
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Works
Search Professor John Cairney’s works on UQ eSpace
All (425) Book (3) Journal Article (396) Other Outputs (3) Conference Publication (6) Book Chapter (17)
2026
Journal Article
Experiences, influencing factors, and perceived outcomes from physical literacy interventions: a qualitative meta-synthesis
Barratt, Jaime, Goss, Hannah, Erskine, Noah, James, Maeghan, Töpfer, Clemens, Pfeifer, Klaus, Cairney, John and Carl, Johannes (2026). Experiences, influencing factors, and perceived outcomes from physical literacy interventions: a qualitative meta-synthesis. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, 21 (1) 2613973. doi: 10.1080/17482631.2026.2613973
2025
Book Chapter
Trauma-Informed Partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
Hall, Emily, Louth, Sharon, Phillips, Murray, Cairney, John and Wheeler, Kai (2025). Trauma-Informed Partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Understanding and Implementing Trauma-Informed Practice in Schools. (pp. 166-186) London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003436034-9
Trauma-Informed Partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
2025
Book Chapter
Multi-Disciplinary Partnering in School-Based Trauma-Informed Active Play
Lawson, Ellie, Barratt, Jaime, Hall, Emily, Cairney, John and Wheeler, Kai (2025). Multi-Disciplinary Partnering in School-Based Trauma-Informed Active Play. Understanding and Implementing Trauma-Informed Practice in Schools. (pp. 210-224) London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003436034-11
Multi-Disciplinary Partnering in School-Based Trauma-Informed Active Play
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
Send in the Squad—Podsquad! Using Design Thinking as a Framework to Develop a Public Health Promotion Programme
Farletti, Rebecca, Walker, Jacqueline L., Chai, Li Kheng, Campbell, Miranda, Munro, Joanna, Thomas, George, Cairney, John and Littlewood, Robyn (2025). Send in the Squad—Podsquad! Using Design Thinking as a Framework to Develop a Public Health Promotion Programme. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 37 (1) e70136, e70136. doi: 10.1002/hpja.70136
2025
Journal Article
School-based strategies to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in students with disability: protocol of the TransformUs All Abilities hybrid type II implementation-effectiveness trial
Mazzoli, Emiliano, Contardo Ayala, Ana Maria, Koorts, Harriet, Timperio, Anna, Lander, Natalie, Lubans, David Revalds, Ridgers, Nicola D., Anderson, Kate Louise Mccann, Cairney, John, Barnett, Lisa Michele and Salmon, Jo (2025). School-based strategies to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in students with disability: protocol of the TransformUs All Abilities hybrid type II implementation-effectiveness trial. BMJ Open, 15 (11) e105311, 1-12. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-105311
2025
Journal Article
The role of lifestyle factors in type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents: a systematic review
Fortnum, Kathryn, Thomas, George, Too, Kiara, Tam, Athena, Tilley, Kate, Cairney, John, Healy, Genevieve N. and Gomersall, Sjaan (2025). The role of lifestyle factors in type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents: a systematic review. BMC Public Health, 25 (1) 3675, 1-11. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-23767-0
The role of lifestyle factors in type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents: a systematic review
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
Associations between screen time, sleep quality, diet quality and food selectivity among school-aged autistic children
Wang, Hiu Fei Wendy, Smith, Simon S., O’Flaherty, Martin, Trost, Stewart G., Thomas, George, Walker, Jacqueline L., Fortnum, Kathryn, McNaughton, Sarah, Cairney, John and Bourke, Matthew (2025). Associations between screen time, sleep quality, diet quality and food selectivity among school-aged autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1-14. doi: 10.1007/s10803-025-07064-8
2025
Journal Article
Bone health in autistic children: evidence from a population-representative Australian Cohort Study
O'Flaherty, Martin, Gomersall, Sjaan, Hill, Jessica, Fortnum, Kathryn, Bourke, Matthew, Cairney, John, Munns, Craig, Simm, Peter and Erlandson, Marta (2025). Bone health in autistic children: evidence from a population-representative Australian Cohort Study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. doi: 10.1007/s10803-025-07051-z
Bone health in autistic children: evidence from a population-representative Australian Cohort Study
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
Journal Article
Effectiveness of affordances on physical literacy and quality of life: investigating the nonlinear approach of fundamental movement skills and a selection of handball sports skills
Valadi, Saeed, Dehghanizadeh, Jalal, Gabbard, Carl and Cairney, John (2025). Effectiveness of affordances on physical literacy and quality of life: investigating the nonlinear approach of fundamental movement skills and a selection of handball sports skills. BMC Pediatrics, 25 (1) 575, 575-1. doi: 10.1186/s12887-025-05916-x
2025
Journal Article
How children with low motor competency cope in physical education lessons
Hannah, Sally A., Johnston, Leanne M., Cairney, John and Gard, Michael (2025). How children with low motor competency cope in physical education lessons. Education 3-13, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), 1-18. doi: 10.1080/03004279.2025.2520285
How children with low motor competency cope in physical education lessons
2025
Journal Article
Comparing trajectories of sport participation for autistic- and non-autistic-youth: a group-based multi-trajectory modelling approach
O’Flaherty, Martin, Hill, Jessica, Bourke, Matthew, Gomersall, Sjaan, Tweedy, Sean and Cairney, John (2025). Comparing trajectories of sport participation for autistic- and non-autistic-youth: a group-based multi-trajectory modelling approach. Autism, 29 (10) 13623613251345345, 13623613251345345-2587. doi: 10.1177/13623613251345345
2025
Journal Article
A systematic review of sample representativeness and homogeneity in exercise trials using group designs for people with cerebral palsy
Tweedy, S.M., Dutia, I.M., Caughey, L., Demetriou, B., Beckman, E.M. and Cairney, J. (2025). A systematic review of sample representativeness and homogeneity in exercise trials using group designs for people with cerebral palsy. JSAMS Plus, 5 100103, 100103. doi: 10.1016/j.jsampl.2025.100103
2025
Journal Article
Clusters of healthy lifestyle behaviours are associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
Bourke, Matthew, Wang, Hiu Fei Wendy, McNaughton, Sarah A., Thomas, George, Firth, Joseph, Trott, Mike and Cairney, John (2025). Clusters of healthy lifestyle behaviours are associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Clinical Psychology Review, 118 102585, 102585. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2025.102585
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, 1-17. doi: 10.1186/s40798-025-00827-8
Physical literacy, physical activity, and health: a citation content analysis and narrative review
2025
Journal Article
Developmental coordination disorder and early childhood trajectories of physical activity
King-Dowling, Sara, Veldhuizen, Scott, Wellman-Earl, Sarah, Price, David, Timmons, Brian W., Kwan, Matthew Y. W. and Cairney, John (2025). Developmental coordination disorder and early childhood trajectories of physical activity. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 57 (4), 800-806. doi: 10.1249/mss.0000000000003598
Developmental coordination disorder and early childhood trajectories of physical activity
Funding
Current funding
- 2025 - 2026
Digitalisation of the Support Needs Assessment Tool Sports and Exercise
Beyond Sports Foundation
Open grant - 2024 - 2026
The 360-Kids community Network to support children with neurodevelopment challenges (HERA 2.0 partnership)
Health and Wellbeing Queensland
Open grant - 2024 - 2027
Health Economist Support for Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation
Health and Wellbeing Queensland
Open grant - 2024 - 2027
AI-Empowered and Video-Based uplift of Paralympic classification systems (AQIRP project administered by Follow Me AI)
Follow Me AI Pty Ltd
Open grant - 2023 - 2027
Implementation and scale-up of a consumer co-designed physical activity promotion program for people with moderate-to-profound disabilities
NHMRC MRFF PPHR - Effective Treatments and Therapies
Open grant - 2021 - 2027
Health and Wellbeing Research Innovation Lab
Health and Wellbeing Queensland
View all 6 current funded projects View less
Past funding
- 2022 - 2023
Design of a First Nations Community Impact Framework for Athletics Australia
Athletics Australia
Open grant - 2022
Mob Moves: Co-designing a program to empower socioemotional learning through physical activity
UQ Indigenous Research Engagement and Partnerships Fund
Open grant - 2021 - 2024
CATCHing up: A continuation of the Coordination and Activity Tracking in Children cohort study (CIHR Project Grant led by Brock University)
Brock University
Supervision
Availability
Professor John Cairney is: : Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
- Doctor Philosophy
##### Examining the Efficacy of Attentional Focus Instruction on Typically and Atypically Developing Young Learners Performing a Postural Control Task
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy, Dr Gregore Iven Mielke - Doctor Philosophy
##### Interventions to increase physical activity in children and youth with Autism
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stewart Trost, Dr Michalis Stylianou, Dr Jessica Hill - Doctor Philosophy
##### The motor development of preschool children in the digital age
Principal Advisor - Doctor Philosophy
##### Movement is not Separate from Culture, but is Culture: Yarning about Physical Literacy with the Yarrabah Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Murray Phillips, Dr Kai Wheeler - Doctor Philosophy
##### Co-designing trauma informed practices for Exercise Physiologists working with children
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kai Wheeler - Doctor Philosophy
##### Health literacy of rheumatic heart disease within non-family based care
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kai Wheeler - Doctor Philosophy
##### Investigating the Cultural Determinants of Physical Literacy in Diverse Communities
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kai Wheeler, Dr Veronique Richard - Doctor Philosophy
##### Developing a Motor Assessment Tool that is Feasible for Autistic Children with High Support Needs
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sean Tweedy, Associate Professor Emma Beckman
View all 8 current supervisions View less
Completed supervision
- 2024
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Michalis Stylianou
Media
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