August 2025

ACHPER's International Conference is coming soon!

With less than three months to go to our flagship ACHPER conference in Melbourne, act now to secure early bird registration rates! With in person and online registration options as well as our unique schools pass, there is something to suit your needs.

It's a jam-packed 3 day program, including social networking drinks and nibbles, an opt-in conference dinner and more! Learn more and win great prizes from our partners and exhibitors at ACU Melbourne.

Click on the image above or to our website to find out more! Full program will be released very soon - check the website for updates, or like and follow @achperinc and @achperaus on socials for the latest announcements!

National President’s Update

President's Report - Russell Brown

I am delighted to welcome all ACHPER members and colleagues in all our professional communities to the 32nd ACHPER International Conference on November 12-14, 2025, at the Australian Catholic University in Melbourne. Please follow this link to the conference website and we'd appreciate if you could share this event with your networks:

ACHPER 32nd International Conference Website

This will be a significant conference in ACHPER Australia’s 70^th year, which will merge a global outlook with local contexts providing conference delegates with the opportunity to learn from recognised leaders, researchers and valued colleagues in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from across Australia and around the world.

The conference program features a range of formats including practical and theoretical sessions and keynote speakers.

I would particularly like to thank our immediate past President and current Vice President, Dr Sue Whatman, along with our CEO, Mark Tonner-Joyce, our Conference Admin Officer, Carolyn Russell and Dr Beth McLeod from ACU Melbourne as well as a wonderful team of volunteers for all their work in putting together what shapes up to be a most highly valued professional learning experience.

I look forward to meeting you all in November in Melbourne!

Celebrating our newest ACHPER Australia Life Member: Associate Professor Sue Whatman, LMACHPER

I mentioned in our previous edition of the Advocate that I would highlight in subsequent editions our recently approved Life Members and Fellows.

This edition will feature the incredible contributions of Dr Sue Whatman. Please join me in congratulating Sue while acknowledging her outstanding contributions to our organisation …

The Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation was delighted to accept the Queensland Branch’s nomination of ‘Life Member of ACHPER’ for Associate Professor Sue Whatman in recognition of her extraordinary dedication and sustained contribution at a state, national and international level to the fields of health education, physical education, and recreation.

Sue has been a tireless advocate for quality health and physical education with her career spanning three decades of leadership, innovation, and influence. Through her work as HPE educator and Double Major Advisor at Griffith University, Sue has played a pivotal role in shaping generations of pre-service teachers, embedding the values of inclusion, equity, and excellence in HPE practice.

Her research and advocacy for Indigenous knowledges in education have consistently challenged and advanced thinking around HPE curriculum and pedagogy, ensuring it meets the needs of diverse learners in contemporary society.

Sue’s commitment to ACHPER has been longstanding, serving as President and Chair of the National Board for six years (2019-2025) and leading and supporting numerous volunteer functions such as professional learning, policy advocacy and as editor of various ACHPER publications. Her thoughtful leadership and generosity of spirit have helped to build stronger professional communities, mentored early career educators, and strengthened ACHPER’s influence within education sectors.

Sue has been a powerful advocate for collaboration between the National organisation and the Branches, as well as with a variety of kindred organisations such as ACARA and the Australian Sports Commission. Sue’s contributions reflect not only distinguished service but also a deep and enduring passion for promoting ACHPER's mission. In nominating Sue for Life Member, we recognise her exceptional dedication, her outstanding professional and scholarly contributions, and her unwavering commitment to advancing the vision and values of ACHPER.

Congratulations ACHPER Life Member, Associate Professor Sue Whatman.

New ACHPER Website

Our refreshed ACHPER Australia website is up and running. A sincere thank you to all the work provided by our CEO, Mark Tonner-Joyce and immediate past President, Dr Sue Whatman. You can visit the website at https://achper.org.au/.

Branch Websites

Click below for information and professional learning opportunities in your Branch:

NSW QLD SA WA NT TAS (Coming soon) ACT

As always, free to share the ACHPER Advocate with your networks. We welcome new members, readers and supporters at any time.

Russell Brown

President and Chair of the National Board of ACHPER Australia

National HPE Day - #HPEDay2025 - 3 September

Physical Literacy Coalition Release

The Physical Literacy Coalition Action Plan 2025 - 2027 has been released by the Australian Sports Commission, a two-year strategy to action their vision that ‘Everyone develops the foundations to be active for life’.

Research indicates that two in three Australian children don’t meet daily physical activity guidelines and teens are among the least active in the world. The Action Plan responds to these challenges with a bold, coordinated, cross-sector approach.

Putting children and youth at the centre, the strategy embeds physical literacy as a core component of every child’s development to enable positive lifelong involvement in sport and physical activity.

You can read the 2025-2027 Action Plan here: https://www.ausport.gov.au/physical_literacy/physical-literacy-coalition

Tennis Australia - Tennis for Primary Schools Survey

Curriculum Studies in HPE open access article

A global decline in levels of movement competency and athleticism in children presents the urgent need to look at how to reverse this trend. Long term athletic development modelling proposes the habitual development of athleticism as a way to address this decline. Movement-based interventions have also been created in an attempt to improve children’s movement competence.

This study aimed to explore the feasibility of a co-produced movement and athleticism programme (Move to Sport [M2S]). M2S was used with seven participating PE teachers during secondary PE lessons over a 6-week period.

Qualitative data were captured through mid-intervention interviews and a post-intervention focus group. Findings suggest that M2S could be implemented within the structure of a typical PE lesson.

Teachers reported that M2S supported the development of sport specific skills that linked well with other activities and sports in their curriculum and promoted inclusion. Teachers felt that M2S could be integrated as an assessment tool or targeted intervention for children of all abilities.

You can read more on this study here: https://doi.org/10.1080/25742981.2025.2537057

Members Offer: PHASE Asia-Pacific Conference

ACHPER is a proud partner of PHASE Asia Pacific 2025 in Singapore.

As a part of an international partnership with our colleagues at PHASE Singapore, ACHPER is sending two featured speakers across to their conference in November, just after our 32nd ACHPER International Conference.

Jessica Lee from Queensland, and Scott Hughes from South Australia will showcase their research and teaching expertise with the delegation.

If you are planning to be in Singapore in mid to late November, check out their conference program here: https://www.21c-learning.com/events/phase-asia-pacific-nov-2025/

Upcoming ACHPER Branch Professional Learning Opportunities

ACHPER QLD

5 September - Primary Online Workshop - Register here: 2025 Primary Teachers Online Workshop

Couldn't make the State Face-to-Face Primary Conference? No problem, we have you covered with this online event meaning that teachers from right across Queensland can join in no matter where you are. Come join us on the student-free day on Friday 5 September for a wonderful day of professional learning.

ACHPER SA

22 September - HPE Primary Conference - Register here: ACHPER SA Primary HPE Conference

Ideal for anyone that teaches Primary HPE - Specialist, Classroom, Coordinator, Sport Coach, Pre-Service. Enjoy a full day of engaging sessions, networking with like-minded HPE teachers, special offers from our trade exhibitors and great food! The Primary HPE Conference is a dynamic and supportive conference with outstanding presenters to enthuse and enhance your quality HPE programs, innovating your important work. Register sooner rather than later to secure your preferred sessions because they will book out - an event not to be missed!

ACHPER TAS

24 October - Launceston One Day Conference - PD4HPE. Register here: ACHPER Tasmania NORTH Conference: PD4HPE

31 October - Hobart One Day Conference - PD4HPE. Register here: ACHPER Tasmania SOUTH Conference: PD4HPE

The ACHPER Tasmania One Day Conferences - North and South - are back!

HPE teachers, sport participation leaders and youth sport coaches in Tasmania are invited to attend this stellar day of targeted professional learning just for you!

Running from 9am to 3pm, this jam-packed one day program includes sessions for primary and secondary teachers, and sport coaches working with youth will find the program highly educative. Sessions include:

* FMS to Sport Skills - suitable for primary and secondary contexts

*Netball Schools program

*Tennis for Schools program *DECYP and curriculum, teaching and assessment updates *Respectful Relationships and Consent Education for Tasmanian Schools, and more!

All registrations include morning tea and lunch, 12 months' membership with ACHPER Tasmania, and eligibility for giveaways and prizes by our sponsors and more!

We can't wait to see our Tasmania colleagues - get your Principal on board to support you in PD4HPE on your designated pupil free days!

ACHPER NSW

19 September - Implementing the new K-6 PDHPE syllabus – Surry Hills. Register here: Implementing the new K-6 PDHPE syllabus – Surry Hills

This full-day workshop supports primary teachers as they plan for and implement the new K–6 PDHPE syllabus. With a strong focus on student needs, school context and curriculum coherence, the workshop offers a hands-on, collaborative approach to programming.

Together, we’ll explore the research and intent behind the new syllabus and how it responds to the real-world challenges and developmental needs of students as they move through childhood into adolescence. Teachers will work through practical planning strategies that centre on four key learning concepts, creating a scope and sequence that reflects both the syllabus structure and their learners.

Whether your school is just getting started or refining existing plans, this session offers the tools and clarity to plan with purpose.

Workshop sessions include:

Understanding the importance of curriculum coherence across the K–6 learning journey
Using student needs to guide concept-based unit planning
Mapping outcomes through collaborative, whole-school programming tasks
Drafting a scope and sequence that is stage-appropriate, inclusive, and contextually relevant

The workshop includes a range of practical resources such as:

Editable scope and sequence templates for each stage
Concept-driven unit planning scaffolds
Syllabus planning tools
Access to a shared resource folder for continued collaboration

ACHPER WA

24 and 25 November - 2025 State Conference. For more information, ACHPER WA State Conference 2025

The 2025 State Conference is a celebration of Health and Physical Education (HPE), bringing together educators, researchers, and industry professionals from across the state to explore the latest trends, advancements, research and best practices in the field.

Over the course of two enriching days, participants will have the opportunity to engage in insightful keynote presentations, interactive workshops and experience a plethora of networking opportunities.

The conference is aimed at fostering collaboration, innovation, contemporary and inclusive practices in HPE. The conference schedule has been designed to appeal to a wide range of audiences and is spread across the primary and secondary sectors.

There are opportunities for practical or lecture style professional learning to create the perfect combination of workshops to support your development and meet your individual requirements at the level you need.

See what Professional Learning Events are coming up close to you or online!

Click your state/territory below.

NEW SOUTH WALES

ACT NORTHERN TERRITORY

CELEBRATING 70 YEARS AS AUSTRALIA'S PEAK ASSOCIATION FOR HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND RECREATION.

ACHPER Australia is proud to nationally partner with Tennis Australia and the Australian Sports Commission as a Play Well Affiliate.

ACHPER Australia recognises the Traditional Owners of the lands upon which we live and work and pays respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, especially within our ACHPER membership, schools and HPE communities, partners and staff.

ACHPER Inc | www.achper.org.au