‘I just didn’t find time to exercise’: Co-designed physical activity resources for young Australian shiftworkers

Shiftworkers are vital to essential industries yet often experience adverse health impacts, including barriers to regular physical activity. Young shiftworkers face additional challenges due to the transitional life stage and the increase of unhealthy behaviours. This study aimed to co-design tailored, evidence-based physical activity resources to support the health and wellbeing of young shiftworkers. A participatory co-design approach was undertaken, involving 48 co-designers, including young, experienced, and former shiftworkers, workplace health and safety professionals, science communicators, and academic experts. Participants attended 1-2 of eight online workshops. Data from the recorded and transcribed workshops informed resource development and included the identification of key physical activity topics and effective communication strategies. A combined inductive and deductive thematic analysis identified 22 unique codes, which were synthesized into five major themes: physical activity basics, impacts of insufficient physical activity, physical activity for shiftworkers, strategies and actions for shiftworkers, and recommendations for workplaces. These themes guided the development of a public-facing website containing evidence-based, context-relevant physical activity resources tailored specifically for young shiftworkers. A motivational and positive framing was consistently endorsed to enhance engagement and support behaviour change. The final resources reflect the diverse perspectives of co-designers and offer a scalable and practical tool to promote physical activity in this priority population. Further research should investigate resource uptake, usability, and behavioural outcomes over time.