Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER)

The discussion topic we have is on teachers as health workers. As teachers are increasingly engaging in work related to the health and wellbeing of children, it becomes critical in understanding how this work is undertaken in the work of teachers. This Australian Research Council (ARC) project. In this interview, we understand what teachers’ health work is about and how it is enacted in schools. Lastly, we ask Tony on the significance of this research to teachers. 

Interviewer: Melisa Chong is a lecturer in Health and Physical Education from the University of Southern Queensland. She is a member of the Australian Health Promoting Schools committee and researches in the area of teachers’ health work in primary schools. 

Interviewee: Professor Tony Rossi is a deputy dean in the School of Health Sciences from Western Sydney University. He is one of the team members of the Australian Research Council project on Teachers as health workers. The team has published a book titled ‘Teachers as Health workers’ and multiple journal articles from the project.

In this podcast, A/Prof Sue Whatman interviews Luke Parker from Outdoors Victoria about their toolkit for outdoor education. A new element of the toolkit assists teachers to make use of the outdoors to support better mental health and wellbeing. Outdoors Victoria partnered with ACHPER's Victorian branch in developing the toolkit to help not only HPE teachers to see the opportunities of teaching outdoors, but teachers across the curriculum.

Luke  is a former teacher and is the current Education advisor for Outdoors Victoria for over 4 years where he works with numerous stakeholders including teaching organisations, Schools, and the Department of Education to encourage outdoor learning across the curriculum. Furthermore, he is a University Lecturer at Australian Catholic University in Outdoor Education, PE, Health and ICT. Luke is the founder of one of Western Victoria’s first Aerial (drones) & VR imaging companies with clients including Universal Studios Hollywood, Warner Brothers Hollywood and the AFL to name a few.

You can find the toolkit here: https://www.outdoorsvictoria.org.au/outdoor-learning/ 

Natalie McMaster talks with Associate Professor Michael Nagel from the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Michael has coauthored a book titled Becoming Autistic: How technology is altering the minds of the next generation. Today's discussion focusses on the consequences of developmental changes in young people due to screen use and how they are increasingly being expressed as psychological and behavioural changes that very much resemble known disorders such as autism spectrum disorder.

 More information is available at:

https://www.booktopia.com.au/becoming-autistic-rachael-sharman/book/9781922607140.html 

Dr Drew Miller is the Deputy Director of the Teachers and Teaching Research Centre at the University of Newcastle. Drew’s research interests involve the study of motor development through games based methodologies and pedagogical quality more broadly in education.

Ms Tammie Jakstas is a qualified Accredited Practice Dietitian and Secondary teacher current PhD candidate at The University of Newcastle, focusing on Food and Nutrition-related Health and Wellbeing in Schoolteachers.

Those interested in knowing more about the study: 
https://uninewcastle.questionpro.com.au/t/ARnRcZRs4K 

Natalie McMaster talks with Donna Pendergast, Director Engagement in the Arts, Education and Law Group, and the former Dean and Head of School of Education and Professional Studies (2009-2023) at Griffith University.

Listen to learn more about a global MOOC for professional development which explores the social and emotional wellbeing of young adolescents.  Use this URL to access the MOOC https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/supporting-adolescent-learners 

Natalie McMaster talks with Alison Willis a lecturer in curriculum and pedagogy at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Alison has a chapter in the book titled Health and Well-Being in the Middle Grades: Research for Effective Middle Level Education. Today's discussion focusses on how to create environments in schools that support the psychological safety of teachers.

More information is available at:
https://www.infoagepub.com/products/Health-and-Well-Being-in-the-Middle-Grades 

ACHPER Board Director and University of Canberra Associate Professor John Williams speaks with Natalie McMaster Lecturer of Education at the University of Sunshine Coast along with Dr Hugh Shannon Senior Lecturer HPE at Queensland University of Technology.

Today's subject is the ACHPER Health Promoting Schools Committee, what they do and how it came about.