The CQUniversity Opal Awards

Engaged Research and Innovation

Finalist: ManUp Gladstone

Dr Mitch Duncan, Dr Comeel Vandelanotte, Dr Pierre Viljoen, Marcus Ellison, Kelly Corry, Anetta Van Itallie, Cindy Hooker, Kylie Connolly- ROCKHAMPTON & GLADSTONE

Manup Gladstone is a novel nutrition and physical activity intervention project designed to improve the health of men aged 35-54 years in the Gladstone community. It has been developed by a highly experienced team of health promotion researchers from CQUniversity Australia, University of Western Sydney, the Australian E-Health Research Centre, and the CSIRO Centre for Human Nutrition and is funded by Queensland Health.

Physical inactivity and poor dietary habits are modifiable lifestyle factors that have largely contributed to the ill health of Australian men by increasing the risk of overweight, obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Little is known about how to improve physical activity and diet in men specifically. Hence, the aims of ManUp are to critically review existing literature and use this information to inform new methods of delivering scientifically valid information to men in the Gladstone area. The ManUp project uses mobile phones and internet technology to enable men to receive educational material, motivational physical activity and nutrition information and to encourage men to monitor their physical activity and eating habits on a daily basis with the ultimate goal of improving these habits and their health.
This ManUp Project?s collaborative approach and knowledge sharing between Queensland Health and CQUniversity researchers and the way it addresses the community-identified need to improve the health of men in the Gladstone region is exemplary of Engaged Research and Innovation. Strong partnerships and working relationships have been formed with the key organisations involved with the potential for future collaboration. CQUniversity facilities have been used by community members as a result of this venture including a Community health summit where 100 community representatives including the Gladstone Mayor and Deputy Mayor meet to discuss strategies for achieving a healthier and more active Gladstone community. This utilisation of University facilities helped to familiarise the local community with the campus and increased the University?s profile due to media coverage of the event.
The ManUp Project supports the development of a healthy sustainable population, provides the Gladstone male community with the capacity to meet their health goals and local businesses and industry leaders will also benefit from having a healthier male workforce.
Reductions in the prevalence of chronic cardiovascular diseases will then deliver economic benefits to the Gladstone public health system which will in turn have a favourable effect on the wider community. By conducting this innovative research, CQUniversity can build on their reputation as one of Australia?s truly engaged universities, delivering high quality outcomes that improve the health and well being of both individuals and communities.