After completing an undergraduate education in physical education at Sydney University, Australia, Dr. Faulkner went backpacking and spent 10 years in England studying and working in mental health services and then higher education.
After completing a PhD in exercise psychology in 2001 at Loughborough University, U.K., Dr. Faulkner worked for three years as director of the Exercise and Sport Psychology Unit at the University of Exeter in England. Eager to see more of the Commonwealth, Dr. Faulkner moved to Canada in August 2003.
Dr. Faulkner is also:
a mentor with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Strategic Training Program in Tobacco Research;
an investigator with the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit;
a research affiliate of the Alberta Centre for Active Living;
founding co-editor of the new Elsevier journal Mental Health and Physical Activity; and
co-editor of the book Exercise, Health and Mental Health published by Routledge in 2005.
Broadly, his research has focused on two interrelated themes:
the effectiveness of physical activity promotion interventions and
physical activity and psychological well-being.
His current research concerns:
the physical health needs of mental health service users in relation to antipsychotic medication, weight gain, diabetes and medication compliance;
mediated health messages; and
the role of physical activity in harm reduction and smoking cessation.
This research is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, CIHR, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and the Canadian Tobacco Control Research Initiative.
