Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Nicole is a physical activity researcher and clinical physiotherapist. She is currently the Associate Dean Research (Health) at the University of Canberra.
Prof Freene leads a research group - ‘Active Heart’ - in response to a major health challenge: physical inactivity. Her research leadership has resulted in >$5.7M in grant funding (e.g. CIA MRFF#2015953, CIA ACT Health, CIA Canberra Health Services). In 2025 she won the University of Canberra Faculty of Health Research Excellence Award.
Nicole founded and co-chaired (2022-2025) the Asia-Pacific Society of Physical Activity Special Interest Group ‘Physical Activity in Healthcare’ and co-led the first Cardiac Society of Australia & New Zealand Position Statement on exercise and physical activity in cardiac rehabilitation (2023). In 2024 her very brief physical activity intervention (Measure It!) was adopted by Qld Health and is being implemented in all mental health services across the state.
Research Interests
- Improving physical activity & sedentary behaviour in people with coronary heart disease
- Physical activity promotion in healthcare settings
- Improving physical activity & sedentary behaviour in adults
- Cardiac Rehabilitation for people who have had a TIA or mild stroke
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, PhD (Health)
Award Date: 29 Aug 2014
Bachelor, BAppSc (Physiotherapy), The University of Sydney
Award Date: 1 Mar 1997
Bachelor, BSc (Hons), Monash University
Award Date: 1 Mar 1992
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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A very brief intervention for Physical Activity behaviour change (Measure It!) during Chemotherapy Cancer Care: a pilot randomised controlled trial
FREENE, N. (CI), Cesnik, R. (CoI), SEYMOUR, J. (CoI), Kunstler, B. (CoI) & TOOHEY, K. (CoI)
1/07/26 → 30/06/27
Project: Research
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Feasibility of parkrun prescriptions to support people living with cognitive impairment in their quality of life: a pilot study
CHELBERG, G. (CI), D'CUNHA, N. (CoI), O'Connor, C. (CoI) & FREENE, N. (CoI)
1/01/26 → 31/12/27
Project: Research
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CRAMS 2: From research to practice: piloting clinical implementation strategies for CRAMS (Cardiovascular Rehabilitation for transient ischaemic Attack and Mild Stroke)
FREENE, N. (CI), Walton, L. (CoI), Chadwick, H. (CoI), Austin, K. (CoI), Cowans, S. (CoI), Strahan, J. (CoI), Scott, P. (CoI), Kashkavij, S. (CoI), FLYNN, A. (CoI), NIYONSENGA, T. (CoI), MOHANTY, I. (CoI), Tyack, Z. (CoI), Stirling, M. (CoI), Poulsen, V. (CoI), Mandhan, V. (CoI), Patel, R. (CoI), Park, P. (CoI) & Piechowski, B. (CoI)
1/07/25 → 30/06/27
Project: Research
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A very brief intervention for physical activity behaviour change in cardiac rehabilitation: the ‘Measure It!’ trial
FREENE, N. (CI), DAVEY, R. (CoI), McPhail, S. (CoI), Tyack, Z. (CoI), Kunstler, B. (CoI), NIYONSENGA, T. (CoI), Abhayaratna, W. (CoI), Gallagher, R. (CoI) & KEEGAN, R. (CoI)
1/02/23 → 31/01/25
Project: Research
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(SOLVE-CHD_ Synergy project with _A very brief intervention for physical activity behaviour change in cardiac rehabilitation: the ‘Measure It!’ trial
FREENE, N. (CI)
1/02/23 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
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2026 Update of the Core Components of Cardiovascular Rehabilitation: A Position Statement From the Australian Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation Association (ACRA)
Candelaria, D., Redfern, J., Zecchin, R., Brown, R., Freene, N., Fukumori, S., Gallagher, R., Gauci, S., Goodman, A. G., Hicks, D., Hollings, M., Kocanda, L., Livori, A., Maiorana, A., Moneghetti, K., Parker, H. M., Phillips, S., Poulsen, V. K., Rawstorn, J. C. & Rees, C. & 6 others, , 2026, In: Heart Lung and Circulation. p. 1-20 20 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access5 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Agreement between self-report of coronary heart disease by participants in the 45 and Up Study and hospital administration data: A record linkage study
Freene, N., Carroll, S., Lönn, A., Niyonsenga, T. & Bauman, A., Feb 2026, In: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. 50, 1, p. 1-4 4 p., 100305.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Barriers to physical activity levels in people with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy: a narrative systematic review with mapping to the capability, opportunity, motivation behaviour (COM-B) model
Cesnik, R., Kunstler, B., Toohey, K., Freene, N. & Semple, S., Jan 2026, In: Supportive Care in Cancer. 34, 1, p. 1-26 26 p., 20.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access5 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Development of Digital Resources to Support the Implementation of the Physical Activity Advice Continuum: The Right Advice, in the Right Setting, at the Right Time
Hill, J., Barrett, S., Seymour, J., Szeto, K., Cox, E. R., Lay, R., Capio, C. M., Freene, N. & Gomersal, S., Aug 2026, In: Journal of Physical Activity Health. 23, 8, p. 1087-1096 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Frequency of a very brief intervention to increase physical activity levels in cardiac rehabilitation attendees: The 'Measure It!' Multicentre randomised trial
Freene, N., Seymour, J., McPhail, S. M., Tyack, Z., Patterson, K., Niyonsenga, T., Kunstler, B., Hartono, S., Keegan, R., Gallagher, R., Abhayaratna, W. P., Verdicchio, C., Chadwick, H., Bowen, S., Calo, C., Simmonds, P., Stirling, B., Gordon, N. & Davey, R., 15 Jul 2026, In: International Journal of Cardiology. 455, p. 1-8 8 p., 134480.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus)6 Downloads (Pure)
Press/Media
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Reports from University of Canberra Describe Recent Advances in Heart Disease (Validating hip- and wrist-ActiGraph accelerometer cut-points for physical activity intensities in people living with coronary heart disease)
FREENE, N., PUMPA, K., DAVEY, R., Clark, B. & NIYONSENGA, T.
15/06/26
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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International Clinical Trial: Does a 6-month very brief physical activity intervention during chemotherapy increase the physical activity levels of people with cancer compared to usual care?
11/05/26
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Cancer Council ACT Funds Breakthrough Canberra Cancer Study
21/04/26
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Investigators at University of Canberra Report New Data on Heart Disease (Frequency of a very brief intervention to increase physical activity levels in cardiac rehabilitation attendees: The 'Measure It!' Multicentre randomised trial)
FREENE, N., KEEGAN, R., NIYONSENGA, T. & HARTONO, S.
16/04/26
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Researchers at Health Research Institute Release New Data on Heart Failure (The Burden of Responsibility: Exploring the Social and Emotional Challenges Faced by Informal Caregivers of People With Heart Failure in Australia)
FREENE, N., GIBSON, D. & SEMPLE, S.
5/03/26
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment