Addi Moves: Exercise for People from Refugee and Asylum Seeking Backgrounds
Associate Professor Simon Rosenbaum
Associate Professor Simon Rosenbaum
Associate Professor Simon Rosenbaum
Simon Rosenbaum is an academic exercise physiologist and Scientia Associate Professor in the Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, UNSW Sydney.
Simon’s research focuses on physical activity, trauma and mental illness, including physical health co-morbidities. He has published more than 230 peer-reviewed publications including a textbook and a Lancet Commission. He is the President of the Australasian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, co-chair of the Olympic Refuge Foundation Think Tank on sport and humanitarian settings, and an Associate Editor of the journal, Mental Health and Physical Activity.
Simon has led international research and capacity building projects, including working in the Rohingya refugee crises in Bangladesh, and has consulted to the United Nations Migration Agency in North-east Nigeria. Since 2019, he has been recognised by the Clarivate Highly Cited list for mental health.
People from refugee backgrounds, as well as people experiencing homelessness, food insecurity and mental illness, are at risk of experiencing poor mental and physical health. Reasons include difficulties with post-migration adjustment, reduced access to clinical and preventative services, challenges with language and the stress of visa insecurity.
There is a critical need to understand and support the health and well-being of refugees in Australia, as they are particularly susceptible to deteriorating health outcomes, including metabolic disorders such as diabetes.
Addi Moves is an inclusive exercise facility tailored to the needs of people from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds.
About the project
In partnership with Mindgardens and Addison Road Community Organisation, UNSW Sydney established a free, mental health-informed exercise facility at Addison Road Community Centre, Marrickville. The facility supports people already using services such as the food pantry at Addison Road, including people from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds, to engage in meaningful physical activity.
Modelled on the Keeping the Body in Mind program for people living with severe mental ill health, Addi Moves is an exercise service co-facilitated by exercise physiologists and people from similar backgrounds to their clients, to ensure cultural as well as physical safety.
To learn more about the background and ethos of Addi Moves, watch this video featuring Associate Professor Simon Rosenbaum.
Media and Publications
Paper: Prevalence of food insecurity in community-dwelling people living with severe mental illness
Media release: Addi Moves Open Day: Celebrating Progress and Looking Ahead
Media release: Exercise program to support refugee and asylum seeker mental and physical health
Project Status
This project is ongoing.
Funding Sources
- Mental Health Commission of NSW
- NSW Ministry of Health
- Mindgardens Neuroscience Network
Keeping the Body in Mind: Vaccines
Keeping the Body in Mind: Primary Care
Addi Moves: Exercise for People from Refugee and Asylum Seeking Backgrounds
Keep Quitting in Mind: Smoking & Vaping Support
Keeping the Body in Mind(gardens): Resources
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Mindgardens Neuroscience Network acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respect to them and their cultures, and to Elders past, present and emerging.
We acknowledge the voices of people with lived experience, their carers, families and kinship groups. We recognise the expertise acquired through living with a mental health, drug and alcohol or neurological disorder and acknowledge those who care for people on their recovery journey. We place lived experience at the heart of all that we do.
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