Keywords
Biography
Associate Professor Kemi Wright is an accredited exercise physiologist and researcher in the School of Health Sciences at UNSW, Faculty of Medicine & Health. Her research examines how exercise can be used therapeutically to improve physical and psychological outcomes for underrepresented and clinical populations, particularly people living with mental illness, and children and youth. She has published widely on embedding exercise physiology...view more
Associate Professor Kemi Wright is an accredited exercise physiologist and researcher in the School of Health Sciences at UNSW, Faculty of Medicine & Health. Her research examines how exercise can be used therapeutically to improve physical and psychological outcomes for underrepresented and clinical populations, particularly people living with mental illness, and children and youth. She has published widely on embedding exercise physiology services within mental health and hospital settings and exercise interventions for people experiencing mental health difficulties . A further core thread, grounded in her doctoral research, is physical literacy and motor competence in children with neurodevelopmental, emotional, or behavioural difficulties, which underpins the Thriving Kids + Teens program. Beyond research, she directs Thriving in Motion, a national community exercise charity for children and young people with complex needs, reflecting a strong translational, community-partnership focus alongside her academic publishing record of 30+ peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers, supported by more than $4 million in career research and service funding.
My Grants
2022: Healthway- Physical activity for trans and gender diverse young people ($ 96000; Service and Research)
2013– 2022: Telethon7 Trust Grants (confidential amount), including Thriving: Building strong and healthy young people through exercise (service & research grants), Auditory processing and rhythmic exercise (ResearchGrant), Thriving Mental Health First Aid Training (Service), Mental Health Movement Program (Service)
2020: Youth Engagement Grant ($9,500), Department of Communities
2017: Commonwealth Bank Community Grant ($27,900) “Thriving – Drug & Alcohol Youth Services Exercise Collaboration”
2016: Evaluating physical activity outcomes of children following a physical literacy intervention utilising parent coaches. ESSA Clinical Exercise Physiology Grant, AU$16,000
My Qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy (University of Western Australia, 2021) Thesis Title- “Thriving Families: Improving physical literacy outcomes in children with neurodevelopmental, emotional and/or behavioural problems”
Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching (University of Western Australia, 2018)
Master’s Preliminary by Research (University of Western Australia, 2012)
BSc. Exercise Rehabilitation (University of Western Australia, 2011)
BSc. Exercise & Health (University of Western Australia, 2010)
My Awards
2018- Winner – Thriving DAYS Exercise Program, WA Alcohol and Other Drug Excellence Awards – Youth
2012- Robin Moss Prize – University of Western Australia
My Research Activities
Publications:
- McMahen, C., Wright, K., Stanton, R., Lederman, O., Rosenbaum, S., McKeon, G., & Furzer, B. (2022) Outcome assessments used in studies examining the effect of prescribed exercise interventions for people living with severe mental illness, a scoping review. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 22, 100438.
- Furzer, B., Rebar, A., Dimmock, J. A., More, A., Thornton, A. L., Wright, K., Colthart, A., & Jackson, B. (2021). Exercise is medicine… when you enjoy it: Exercise enjoyment, relapse prevention efficacy, and health outcomes for youth within a drug and alcohol treatment service. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 52, 101800.
- Lederman, O., Furzer, B., Wright, K., McKeon, G., Rosenbaum, S., & Stanton, R. (2021). Mental Health Considerations for Exercise Practitioners Delivering Telehealth Services. Journal of Clinical Exercise Physiology, 10(1), 20–28.
- Wright KE. ‘Exercise for Kids: Mental Health Chapter’ E-book by Exercise & Sports Science Australia. (2020)
- Wright, K. E., Furzer, B. J., Licari, M. K., Dimmock, J. A., Jackson, B., & Thornton, A. L. (2020). Exploring associations between neuromuscular performance, hypermobility, and children’s motor competence. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 23(11), 1080–1085.
- Furzer, B. J., Wright, K. E., Edoo, A., & Maiorana, A. (2020). Move your mind: embedding accredited exercise physiology services within a hospital-based mental health service. Australasian Psychiatry, 103985622094303.
- Wright, K. E., Furzer, B. J., Licari, M. K., Dimmock, J. A., & Jackson, B. (2019). The effect of parental logistic support on physical activity in children with, or at risk of, movement difficulties. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 23(4), 372–376.
- Fibbins, H., Lederman, O., Morell, R., Furzer, B., Wright, K., & Stanton, R. (2019). Incorporating Exercise Professionals in Mental Health Settings: An Australian Perspective. Journal of Clinical Exercise Physiology, 8(1), 21–25.
- Wright, K. E., Furzer, B. J., Licari, M. K., Thornton, A. L., Dimmock, J. A., Naylor, L. H., Reid, S. L., Kwan, S. R., & Jackson, B. (2018). Physiological characteristics, self-perceptions, and parental support of physical activity in children with, or at risk of, developmental coordination disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 84, 66–74.
- Furzer, B. J., Bebich-Philip, M. D., Wright, K. E., Reid, S. L., & Thornton, A. L. (2018). Reliability and validity of the adapted Resistance Training Skills Battery for Children. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 21(8), 822–827.
- Bebich-Philip, M. D., Thornton, A. L., Reid, S. L., Wright, K. E., & Furzer, B. J. (2016). Adaptation of the Resistance Training Skills Battery for Use in Children Across the Motor Proficiency Spectrum. Pediatric Exercise Science, 28(3), 473–480.
- Furzer, B. J., Ackland, T. R., Wallman, K. E., Petterson, A. S., Gordon, S. M., Wright, K. E., & Joske, D. J. L. (2016). A randomised controlled trial comparing the effects of a 12-week supervised exercise versus usual care on outcomes in haematological cancer patients. Supportive Care in Cancer, 24(4), 1697–1707.
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ORCID as entered in ROS
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7146-0835