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), 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
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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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Improving physical activity measurement for the secondary prevention of heart disease: accelerometer cut-points for physical activity intensities
FREENE, N. (CI), DAVEY, R. (CoI), Back, M. (CoI), PUMPA, K. (CoI), CLARK, B. (CoI), Lo, W. (CoI), Tan, R. (CoI) & NIYONSENGA, T. (CoI)
1/02/23 → 13/12/23
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)
1/02/23 → 30/06/25
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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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 Access -
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
1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus) -
Integrating physical activity into chemotherapy care: Recommendations from a qualitative analysis using the behaviour change wheel
Cesnik, R., Kunstler, B., Toohey, K., Freene, N. & Semple, S., 2026, In: European Journal of Oncology Nursing. 81, p. 1-16 16 p., 103140.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Moving beyond cardiac rehabilitation: A qualitative study exploring patient and clinician preferences for incorporating physical activity advice during and after phase II cardiac rehabilitation
Seymour, J., Freene, N. & Tyack, Z., Jul 2026, In: Patient Education and Counseling. 148, p. 1-8 8 p., 109582.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
The Burden of Responsibility: Exploring the Social and Emotional Challenges Faced by Informal Caregivers of People With Heart Failure in Australia
Carleton-Eagleton, K., Semple, S., Walker, I., Gibson, D. & Freene, N., 2026, In: Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. p. 1-7 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review