October 2024: Ferrero hosted the Joy of moving Symposium

Ferrero hosted the Joy of moving Symposium in partnership with Monash University in October 2024 at the Italian Cultural Institute in Sydney. The event brought together academics, institutional representatives and stakeholders to share perspectives on the Joy of moving program, an international initiative focused on supporting children’s development through movement. It also created a direct connection between the program’s global origins and its local application in Australia.

The session included contributions from Professor Caterina Pesce of the University of Rome, alongside Monash University researchers Professor Nicole Rinehart, Professor Shantha Rajaratnam and Dr Nicole Papadopoulos. The discussion covered the development of the program globally and its application in Australian school settings, including research exploring the relationship between physical activity and children’s wellbeing. In particular, the Australian program is contributing to a growing body of work examining how movement can support not only physical development, but also aspects of mental health.

The symposium also highlighted the role of collaboration between research institutions and industry in supporting ongoing study in this area. By enabling partnerships of this kind, programs such as Joy of moving can continue to evolve based on practical insights and research. The event concluded with a Q&A and networking session, allowing for further discussion among attendees.