Assoc. Prof. Renata Cinelli

Renata Cinelli is a Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education (HPE) at Australian Catholic University (ACU), Strathfield Campus (Renata has also taught on the Melbourne, Ballarat, and Rome campuses). Following teaching experience as a HPE teacher in both primary and secondary schools in Sydney, Renata has taught both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Health, Physical Education, Outdoor Education, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures, and Social Justice and Change for a Global World. Renata is an active researcher with both qualitative and quantitative research experience and extensive experience leading international teaching and engagement trips for preservice teachers (Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Italy). Renata is passionate about teacher education and creating excellent teaching and learning experiences, both for her preservice teachers and the students they teach.

Busija, L., Cinelli, R., Toombs, M., Easton, C., Hampton, R., Holdsworth, K., Macleod, A., Nicholson, G., Nasir, B., Sanders, K., & McCabe, M. (2020). The role of Elders in the wellbeing of a contemporary Indigenous Australian Community. The Gerontologist, 60(3), 513-524. doi:10.1093/geront/gny140

Vasconcellos^, D., Parker, P. D., Hilland, T., Cinelli, R., Owen^, K. B., Kapsal, N., Ntoumanis, N., Ryan^, R., & Lonsdale, C. (2019). Self-Determination Theory Applied to Physical Education: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Educational Psychology. Advance online publication.

Jones, M., & Cinelli, R. L. (2019). Teacher education in the Solomon Islands. In C. Wolhuter (Ed.), International Handbook of Teacher Education Worldwide: second edition (volume 3). Athens: HM Studies and Publishing.

Peralta, L., Cinelli, R. L., & Bennie, A. (2018). Mentoring as a tool to engage Aboriginal youth in remote Australian communities: A qualitative investigation of community members, mentees, teachers, and mentors' perspectives." (2017-3967). Mentoring and Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 26(1), 30-49.

Cinelli, R. L., & Jones, M. (2017). 'We were the real teacher': Outcomes of an international practicum in the Solomon Islands for Australian preservice teachers. The International Education Journal: Comparative Perspective, 16(1), 64-77.

Lonsdale, C., Sanders, T., Cohen, K. E., Parker, P., Noetel, M., Hartwig, T., Cinelli, R.L. ... & Moodie, M. (2016). Scaling-up an efficacious school-based physical activity intervention: Study protocol for the &lsquoInternet-based Professional Learning to help teachers support Activity in Youth&rsquo(iPLAY) cluster randomized controlled trial and scale-up implementation evaluation. BMC Public Health, 16(1), 873.

Cinelli, R. L., & O&rsquoDea, J. A. (2016). Obesity Prevention Programs in Children: Impact on Weight, Shape and Food Concern. Current Obesity Reports, 5, 88-96.

O&rsquoDea, J. A., & Cinelli, R. L. (2016). Use of drugs to change appearance in girls and female adolescents. In M. Hall, S. Grogan, & B. Gough (Eds.), Chemically Modified Bodies: The use of diverse substances for appearance enhancement (pp.51-76). London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Cinelli, R. L., & Peralta, L. R. (2015). 'Achievement, pride and inspiration': outcomes for volunteer role models in a community outreach program in remote Aboriginal communities. Rural and Remote Health, 15, 3482.

Peralta, L. R., & Cinelli, R. L. (2015). An evaluation of an Australian Aboriginal controlled-community organization&rsquos remote sports-based programme: a qualitative investigation. Sport in Society, 1-17.

O&rsquoDea, J., & Cinelli, R. L. (2012). Eating disorder prevention programs on the university campus. In J. O&rsquoDea (Ed.), Current Issues and Controversies in School and Community Health, Sport and Physical Education (pp.91-103). New York: Nova Science.

Cinelli, R. L, & O&rsquoDea, J.A. (2011). Body Image among Aboriginal Children and Adolescents in Australia. In S. Greene (Ed.), Body Image: Perceptions, Interpretations and Attitudes (pp.14-28). New York: Nova Science.

Cinelli, R. L., & O&rsquoDea, J. A. (2009). Body image and obesity among Australian adolescents from Indigenous and Anglo-European backgrounds: implications for health promotion and obesity prevention among Aboriginal youth. Health Education Research, 24(6), 1059-1068.

Key areas of interest

International engagement, cross-cultural research, Indigenous Australians, body image, health, physical education, teacher education. 

Research experience and projects

Current projects: Outcomes of International Engagement in the Solomon Islands and The iPLAY Project &ndash an evidence-based teacher professional development research program aimed at improving the quality of PE and school sport in NSW primary schools.

2015: Research Fellow (0.2 FTE): Institute for Health and Ageing. Project: The role of Elders in the wellbeing of a contemporary Indigenous Australian Community.

2013-2014: Researcher on &lsquoAn evaluation of an Indigenous community organisation&rsquos remote outreach program: an ethnographic study&rsquo (Peralta & Cinelli).

2009-2013: PhD Research. Cinelli, R. L. Perceptions of body weight, shape, obesity and body image among generations of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women in Australia.

2012: Supervisor- National Fieldwork Research Team on the ARC Discovery Grant ($450,000) of O&rsquoDea et al titled &ldquoFollow up to the National Nutrition and Physical Activity Surveys of Schoolchildren conducted in 2000 and 2006 - An Investigation of Ethnicity, Socio-Economic Status and Social Networks as Drivers of Childhood Obesity and Body Image among Children and Adolescents.&rdquo

2011-2013: Research Assistant on a Commonwealth Department of Sport Grant ($68,000) titled &ldquoNutritional supplements and weight gain behaviours in male adolescents from 2000-2010: Implications for Anti-Doping Interventions.&rdquo

2011: Research Assistant on an ARC Discovery Grant ($460,000) conducted in CEO primary and secondary schools titled &ldquoThe well-rounded person: the role of sport in shaping physical, emotional and social development&rdquo (Lumby, Probyn, & O&rsquoDea).

2008: Honours Research Cinelli, R. L. Body image of Indigenous adolescents (Hons 1).

Teaching experience

Renata has taught in primary and secondary schools, as well as across three tertiary institutions. 

Taught subjects include:Identifying health determinants Community health issues Physical education pedagogy Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment Personal development, health, and physical education in primary schools Indigenous perspectives in secondary schools Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures Nutrition education Diet and nutrition for health and sport Outdoor education and recreation in the primary school Social Justice and Change in a Global World Cultural Competence and Health and Movement Education. 

International Field Experience

Renata has extensive international field experience. Renata has lead over 180 students on international experiences, ranging from 2-5 weeks in duration, in countries including Italy, Solomon Islands and Kiribati. Renata also has extensive international travel experience- both group travel and independent, including Europe, the UK, Asia, South America and the Pacific Islands.