ACHPER Academic Advisory Group

The role of the AAG is to assist in advancing ACHPER's engagement with academic communities relevant to the Health and Physical Education, Recreation and Sport fields and professional contexts, and to thereby support work aligned with ACHPER's identified strategic priorities. More specifically, the Charter established for the AAG reflects recognition of a number of ways in which ACHPER’s connections with the tertiary education and teacher education sectors can be strengthened, and the potential for ACHPER to develop professional leadership of collaborative research that addresses contemporary on issues that are priorities for ACHPER and industry partners. Members of the AAG particularly recognise the important role that ACHPER can play in fostering connections between university-based researchers and professionals working in HPE and related fields. 

Details of members are provided below. The AAG Charter can be located here and will be reviewed annually. If you have any questions about the AAG’s work or if wish to join the Academic Reference Group associated with the AAG, please contact Sue Whatman at [email protected]


The ACHPER Academic Advisory Group 

Chair: Sue Whatman 

Sue Whatman is a senior lecturer in Health, Physical Education and Sports Coaching in the School of Education and Professional Studies at Griffith University and a Fellow of ACHPER. Sue has lectured in teacher education in several universities since 1992 and, prior to that, in Queensland secondary schools as a HPE teacher. Sue has been a member of ACHPER since 1999 and was previously the Editor of ACHPER QLD's state journal, ACHPER ACTION, from 2002 until 2010.

Sue's research focuses on curriculum development in HPE and PETE, holistic sports coaching pedagogy, health education for Indigenous students, and pre-service teacher curriculum leadership. Sue's research has been presented internationally in the UK, USA, Europe and South America and extensively across Queensland and Australia. Her work has been published in many national and international peer reviewed journals, books, reports and book chapters and also in numerous professional articles for members via ACHPER's journals.

Members of the AAG
  • Dawn Penney is a professional research fellow in Health and Physical Education at the School of Education, Edith Cowan University. Dawn's research addresses policy and curriculum development in health and physical education, and the provision of physical activity and sport for young people.
  • Deana Leahy has specialist expertise in Health Education and works in the Faculty of Education at Monash University. Deana is seeking to help strengthen ACHPER’s work with, and relevance to, Health Education in teacher education, and its connections with other national and international tertiary networks associated with health. 
  • Drew Miller works in Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy at University of Newcastle and specialises in quantitative research, including randomised controls to support evidence based practice. Drew sees the AAG as having an important role to play in enhancing links between researchers and teachers in schools and the development of a stronger evidence base to inform future policy and practice. 
  • John Quay, from the University of Melbourne, is another experienced teacher educator who also brings expertise in Outdoor Education and links to other associated academic and professional communities to the AAG. Many members will also know John from his longstanding work with ACHPER Victoria. 
  • Lisa Hunter is a senior lecturer in the School of Curriculum Teaching and Inclusive Education at Monash University. Lisa's research and teaching focuses on health education and wellbeing practices in formal and informal settings, including sex/gender/sexuality as identities that are included/excluded in society, relationships and sexuality education. 
  •  Brendon Hyndman is the Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Arts and Education at Charles Sturt University. Brendon is the expert spokesman for a national “Let’s Play” campaign and publishes on children's playground research and the use of social media for professional learning.
  •  Justen O'Connor is a Senior Lecturer in Curriculum and Pedagogy at Monash University. Justen has research experience that utilises systems thinking, social ecology and strengths-based approaches to explore curriculum and pedagogy associated with health, physical education, sport and lifetime physical activity.
  •  Jorge Knijnik, who is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at Western Sydney University. Jorge is an inaugural committee member of Women in Football Australia, a national association whose mission is to support gender equity within the Australian sport context.

  • Alison Wrench is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the University of South Australia Education Futures. Dr Wrench has research expertise in critical and relational pedagogies, teacher’s work, and inclusion and justice effects of schooling.

  •  The work of the advisory group is supported by a broader reference group. Members of the reference group are: 

    • Vaughan Cruickshank (University of Tasmania)
    • Narelle Eather (University of Newcastle)
    • Sam Elliott (Flinders University)
    • Rachael Jefferson-Buchanan (Charles Sturt University)
    • David Smyth (Casual staff member with VCAA, Water Polo Victoria, Water Polo Australia)
    • Colin Yarham (Health Education and Promotion International Inc.)