HER Future: Women in Motion is for women at every stage of life — and for those who support women to move, feel and live well. Whether you are wanting to better understand your body and health, or you work across sport, health, fitness, wellness, education or community, this morning will bring the latest research to life through practical, relevant insights you can use.No matter where you are on your journey, come along to learn, connect and take away practical ideas that can make a difference — for yourself or the women you support.
What happens when we finally study women? And what does the research tell us about how women should move?
Women have historically been underrepresented in health and sport research, meaning much of what we have learned about exercise, performance and health has been based on evidence that doesn't always reflect the female experience. That is changing.
Join Bond University’s Research Collaborative for Women and Children’s Health and Sport (RCWCHS) and the HER Sport & Health Collective Gold Coast for a two-hour, research-informed community session exploring why movement matters for women, what the research tells us about being active, and how we can support women to move more throughout life.
From the menstrual cycle through pregnancy and postpartum, midlife and beyond, researchers and practitioners will unpack the evidence around the physical, mental and social benefits of physical activity for women, how women's needs and experiences can change across different stages of life, and what we are still learning about women’s health and performance. Most importantly, this session will translate the research into practical insights: Why should women be more active?
What does the evidence say about how much and what type of activity is beneficial? How can women keep moving through different stages of life? And what can we do to make movement more achievable, enjoyable and sustainable?
Expect engaging conversations, practical strategies and plenty of opportunities to challenge what you think you know about women and exercise. We will also explore the research gaps that remain and ask: What do women need researchers to understand next? Because better research can lead to better practice, better support and a future where every woman has the opportunity to move, perform and live well.
This 2-hour practical research informed community session is offered jointly by Bond University Research Collaborative for Women and Children’s Health and Sport (RCWCHS) and HER Sport and Health Collective Gold Coast. Attendees will discover new research relating to the importance of women staying physically active for and during pregnancy, through menopause and beyond. Practical strategies for supporting women to thrive through pregnancy and postpartum, as well as through menopause will be shared.
Date: Tuesday 20 October 2026
Time: 6:30am - 8:30am
Where: Bond Institute of Health and Sport North, Level 1, Room 21
Breakfast will be provided.
Schedule
6:30 – 7.00am | Arrival and Breakfast
7.00 – 7:10am | Introduction to RCWCHS and HER Sport and Health Collective Gold Coast (Nikki Milne & Samantha Hughes)
7.10 – 7.25am | Dr Gabriela Mena (PhD) - Active Beginnings: the role of physical activity in women’s reproductive health, pregnancy and beyond.
7:30 – 7:45am | Dr Hayley O’Neil (PhD) - Active Through Midlife: Evidence-Based Nutrition, Movement and Menopause Strategies for Healthy Ageing.
7:50 – 8:00am | Women’s Health Physiotherapist (Liz Murphy) - Women’s Health Physiotherapy for keeping women active
8.00 – 8:10am | Dr Gabi Gildea (PhD) - Mapping the Pathway: The Journey of Working with an Accredited Exercise Physiologist for Women's Health.
8:10 – 8:30am | HER Panel