Anthony Nicholls is the Blakcademy Health Sciences Lead and a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health Sciences at the University of New South Wales. He holds a Bachelor of Sport & Exercise Science (First Class Honours) from James Cook University, as well as a Master of Physiotherapy and a Graduate Diploma of Indigenous Health Promotion from the University of Sydney. Anthony’s is currently undertaking a PhD focusing on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and physical activity.

Anthony is an accredited physiotherapist and has previously worked as an SMA Sports Trainer and ASCA Strength & Conditioning coach, with a total of seven years industry experience prior to entering academia. Within academia, he has served as an Academic Lead in the Graduate Diploma of Indigenous Health Promotion program in 2024 and 2025, whilst also teaching Indigenous health content across the Faculty of Medicine & Health. He now leads the implementation of the First Peoples Cultural Capability Health Curriculum framework within the School of Health Sciences at UNSW.

His professional background, along with lived experience in regional and remote Queensland has shaped his research interests in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Anthony is particularly passionate about research relating to physical activity, service delivery and pain experiences, with a focus on promoting health equity for First Peoples.