Ivan Au is a Research Fellow in the Healthy Child program. He has a background in physiotherapy and completed his PhD in the Curtin School of Allied Health, where his research focused on understanding the interactions between movement, pain or disability, and pain‑related thoughts and beliefs in people with chronic low back pain.
Ivan’s work in the Digital Child Centre focuses on the application of sensor‑based technologies with young children, examining the physical impacts of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), and analysing long‑term patterns of children’s digital technology use. This includes longitudinal research using data from the Australian Children of Digital Environments (ACODA) study. Through this work, Ivan aims to generate evidence that supports healthy movement, safe technology use, and positive wellbeing outcomes for children growing up in increasingly digital environments.

Earliest digital memory

Playing Pokémon Red and Green on a GameBoy Color, where I never reached the final stage but definitely mastered the art of curiosity‑driven digital play.