2025 ACHPER Victoria State Conference program is now live!
2025 State Conference program released, early bird closing soon and details of a scholarship for small, regional and remote schools!
As you may know, this year our 2018 ACHPER Victoria Conference has a new format that’s replacing our traditional keynote address. This new format is designed to give you the flexibility to tailor conference content to suit your specific teaching and learning needs, filling gaps in your knowledge.
This means, on each conference day you will be able to select from one of five inspiring feature presentations. We’re excited to have some outstanding presenters joining us this year, and would like to take this opportunity to shine a light on a few of these below:
FP01: HELPING HAPPINESS: SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN WAYS TO INCREASE EMOTIONAL VITALITY with Dr Darren Morton, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Education, Business and Science, Avondale College of Higher Education
While Australia is ranked among the top 10 happiest countries in the world, an increasing number of Australians, young and old, are struggling with their mental health and emotional wellbeing. This presentation will explore evidence–based strategies for improving emotional vitality that have emerged over the past decade from the disciplines of Lifestyle Medicine and Positive Psychology.
About Darren:
Darren has over 25 years’ experience in higher education and is the recipient of an Australian award for “outstanding contributions to student learning”. He is considered the world expert on the “runner’s stitch” and is an internationally recognised Lifestyle Medicine expert. Darren has presented to hundreds of audiences around the world and has developed Lifestyle Medicine interventions that are used in over 10 countries. Click here to learn more about Darren’s work.
FP02: THE CRITICAL VALUE OF BUILDING CONNECTIONS BEFORE CONTENT with Mark Collard, playmeo Founder & Director, Experiential Trainer & Author
Research shows that the most successful schools in the world are those which intentionally develop positive and trusting relationships among their students and one of the most powerful factors which determine a young person’s success in life is their ability to form and sustain healthy relationships. This interactive, fun and inspiring feature presentation will share some of the latest research which underpins the critical role building connections and related social skills has on a student’s wellbeing.
About Mark:
Mark is an experiential trainer, author and founder of playmeo, a small professional development business best known for hosting the largest online database of group games & activities in the world. His training and resources help teachers learn the skills and strategies they need to invite students to have fun, engage and connect with others. He has written three top-selling activity books including No Props, Count Me In and Serious Fun which are sold worldwide. Click here to learn more about Mark’s work.
FP07: MORE VALUABLE AND HEALTHFUL LEARNING IN HEALTH EDUCATION: EXPLORING THE PROPOSITIONS AND CURRICULUM POSSIBILITIES with Dr Donna Barwood – Coordinator and Lecturer for HPE, Edith Cowan University
Across Australia, Health and Physical Education (HPE) is now underpinned by five interrelated propositions. These propositions are a specific attempt to inform pedagogy and pedagogical delivery and stem from the rich consultative processes that occurred with the development of the Curriculum for HPE from 2012-2015. Within the delivery of health education in all schools, the propositions are a strong platform for teachers to support the 21st century student to access, question, validate and produce new health understandings.
About Donna:
Donna Barwood is Coordinator and Lecturer for HPE at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia. Donna’s teaching and research has focused on HPE curriculum and the delivery of health education in schools. Her recent research found that 50% of health education in WA secondary schools was delivered by teachers from outside of the HPE learning area. Donna is passionate about engaging classroom activities and has extensive experience as a curriculum writer, with roles for ACARA (the Australian Curriculum for HPE) and WA (the HPE Syllabus and Protective Behaviours Curriculum). Since joining ECU, Donna has been pivotal in realigning the course for pre-service teachers with contemporary HPE developments. Click here to learn more about Donna’s work.
FP10: HOW TEACHING OUTDOOR EDUCATION MAKES A CONTRIBUTION TO HELPING PEOPLE AND THE PLANET with Associate Professor John Quay – Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne and Sandy Allen-Craig – Senior Lecturer in Outdoor Leadership, Outdoor Education and Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University
Increased screen time combined with protective parenting means less time outdoors for today’s young people. In this feature presentation we shall share ways in which outdoor education programs offer opportunities for young people to actively engage in the natural world to enhance their health and wellbeing and ultimately the wellbeing of the planet. Why have an outdoor education program? If your school already has a well-functioning program, how might it be improved in this direction?
About John:
John Quay is associate professor in the Graduate School of Education at the University of Melbourne. After graduating from teachers’ college, John worked at the Outdoor Education Group and then as Head of Outdoor Education at St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School. After that he made the leap to university teaching and researching. His research focuses on understanding experience so that we can better understand education. John enjoys being outdoors skiing, cycling and walking. Click here to learn more about John’s work.
About Sandy:
Sandy Allen-Craig is a senior lecturer in Outdoor Leadership, Outdoor Education and Exercise Science at the Melbourne campus of Australian Catholic University. She is responsible for the curriculum development and program delivery of Outdoor Leadership units across multi campuses. She has been awarded an Australian Learning and Teaching Council citation, for outstanding contribution to student learning and the ACU Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Community Engagement. She is passionate about sharing her love of the outdoors with students, friends and family. Click here to learn more about Sandy’s work.
2025 State Conference program released, early bird closing soon and details of a scholarship for small, regional and remote schools!
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