Talk N Walk is unique in that Nature Play WA is working directly with 11-14-year-old girls to find a physical activity option that suits them and the stage they’re at in life.
At its very core, the program is about collaboration and the Talk N Walk team extends well beyond the staff at Nature Play WA.
Our Program Advisors
We are privileged to have the expert advice and input of two experts in the field – Professor Leon Straker and Jacqueline Reid - who have generously given their time to Talk N Walk on a pro-bono basis.
Talk N Walk External Scientific Consultant,
John Curtin Distinguished Professor Leon Straker
Leon Straker is a John Curtin Distinguished Professor at Curtin University School of Allied Health.
He has an international reputation for prevention research related to the potential impacts of evolving technology on the health and well-being of children and adults. This has included examining the impacts on aspects of physical health (such as muscles, bones, joints, motor coordination, heart rate, energy expenditure, and adiposity), as well as mental health (such as depression and anxiety) and social outcomes (academic achievement and work productivity). He is experienced in a wide variety of research methods including epidemiological studies, laboratory studies, clinical trials and qualitative studies. He has published over 340 peer-reviewed articles and has been cited over 19,000 times in academic papers, with over 13,000 social media, policy etc mentions.
Talk N Walk Education and Mental Health Advisor,
Jacqueline Reid M Ed (Educational and Developmental Psychology); B Psych; BEd; BSc; PGC Leadership
CEO MENTALLY HEALTHY SOLUTIONS
Chartered Developmental and Educational Psychologist (BPS, HCPC UK); Associate Fellow BPS; Registered General Psychologist (APS, AHPRA); PGC Leadership. CHURCHILL FELLOW 2018
Jacqueline has worked for over 35 years with children, young people and families in disability and mental health in Australia and United Kingdom. Her various roles include: Chartered Developmental and Educational Psychologist; School Principal; Consultant (Mental Health); Manager Disability WA Department of Education leading disability support and reform; Deputy Chair of Ministerial Advisory Council on Disability; and Strategic Leader (system wide initiatives); Student Services Manager with Catholic Education (WA) managing School Psychology and Disability Consultant teams. Jacqueline also ran a state-wide trauma informed project with schools across WA and she is passionate about improving understanding and support for trauma in the education system. Her Churchill Fellowship (2018) took her overseas where she examined the role of governments and schools in supporting the mental health of children and young people.
Jacqueline started her business Mentally Healthy Solutions in 2021 and she supports children, young people and their families as well as working at system level with organisations to improve mental health and wellbeing in the workforce.
Our Program Consultants
We also have the experience of WA 2021 Women in Tech WA (WiTWA) Award Winner, Bec Nguyen, behind us in our planning and delivery of the Talk N Walk app pilot.
Digital Project Manager, Bec Nguyen
BCom(Curtin), BA Information Systems and Technology
Bec Nguyen is a Digital Project Manager and WA 2021 Women in Tech (WiTWA) Award Winner. Her background in digital health project management, UX (user experience) design thinking and community engagement has enabled her to collaborate with a number of digital health projects across multiple research focus areas to support the translation of research to the wider community through digital technology and smartphone apps.
She advocates strongly to include the involvement of the community, especially children and young people, to be co-designers and co-researchers within each project.
Our Program Supporters
The following organisations and individuals have also played a role in Talk N Walk through the sharing of ideas, experiences and letters of endorsement for the program.
- Desiree Silva, Professor of Paediatrics, University of Western Australia
- Your Move Schools, a free program helping students get active by increasing walking, scooting and riding to school
- Act, Belong, Commit, WA’s longest running mental health promotion campaign
- BeYou, the national mental health in education initiative delivered by Beyond Blue, in collaboration with Early Childhood Australia and headspace.
- Heart Foundation - the trusted peak body working to improve heart disease prevention, detection, and support for all Australians
- Telethon Kids Institute - one of the largest, and most successful medical research institutes in Australia
- Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries - Regional Directorate - 11 offices across 9 regions play an important role in the provision of enlivened and successful regional communities.
Our Program Partners
Talk N Walk is a program of Nature Play WA Inc. with funding support from Healthway - to co-design and pilot the app - and from Telethon to expand the app pilot and launch it to the broader public. Nature Play WA is a Western Australian not-for-profit proudly supported by the Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries. We thank our funding partners for their support.
We also acknowledge and thank the students and staff at Mt Lawley Senior High School, Central Midlands Senior High School and St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls for working with us to develop the Talk N Walk app from the initial concept through to how it looks, feels and functions. We are so proud of what we have achieved together with you!
And it’s just the beginning – our goal is to continue to work with girls and young women to iterate and improve the app over time. The first step was our app pilot (completed in April/May 2022) with both schools and community invited to take part. Step two was to use this pilot feedback to refine the app and add additional development before the official launch at the end of October 2022. Talk N Walk app is now live in app stores!
Our Talk N Walk App Developers
Also most worthy of a mention is our award winning app development agency, Humaan, who have collaborated with us and our student project team every step of the way.
