Green Steps - Walking outdoors to reduce and learn to refuse plastic waste

A PhD research program is offered in line with the currently planned Green Steps intervention project. The proposed Green Steps project will utilise activity trackers, smartphone apps and social media (a Facebook group) to engage Australian families to increase physical activity and reduce plastic waste. Specifically, this family-based intervention aims to increase outdoor physical activity (walking, running, active play) whilst picking up plastic litter in the neighbourhood. In addition, the Green Steps project will motivate families to reduce plastic waste in their households to tackle their own 'plastic footprint'. The Green Steps project will promote outdoor physical activity, the value of the natural environment and strategies to reduce plastic waste in the natural and home environment. The specific aims of the Green Steps project are to:

1. Develop a novel family-based program (Green Steps) to increase outdoor physical activity and reduce plastic waste in the neighbourhood and household (program development).
2. Test the effectiveness of the Green Steps program to increase outdoor physical activity and reduce plastic waste in the neighbourhood and household (6 months, 2 groups randomised controlled trial).
3. Examine the feasibility of the Green Steps program in terms of intervention delivery, acceptability, satisfaction and engagement with the program in children, adolescents and adults (6 months, 2 groups randomised controlled trial).

The proposed PhD research program will include systematic literature reviews, formative research and data collection as part of the development, implementation and evaluation of the Green Steps project.

The PhD student will develop skills in conducting systematic reviews, conducting online surveys; development, implementation and evaluation of a behaviour change intervention; statistical analyses, qualitative research methods, as well as time management, autonomous working and project management. PhD applicants for this project should have expertise and experience in areas such as health promotion, physical activity promotion, plastic waste reduction, health psychology and/or public health.