Laura's research leads to the transformation of education and health policy and practice in primary, secondary, tertiary and community settings in Australia and beyond. Her work extends the sub-discipline of HPE by supporting those within it to understand and create evidence-based alternatives to historically-rooted and mis-educative practices. As such, her work has a keen focus on policy and professional learning that supports exemplary education.

She has published widely in top-ranking international journals including Sport, Education and Society, Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, European Physical Education Review and Health and Place.

Laura is on the Editorial Board for Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education, the International Advisory Board for European Physical Education Review and the College of Reviewers for Sport, Education and Society. She works closely with ACHPER (Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation) and is on the ACHPER Tertiary Engagement and Research subcommittee.

Across 2021/2022 Laura been awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion (for decolonising pre-service teacher education), the Dean's Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (for significant contributions to student learning through  influencing, motivating and inspiring students to learn), and the Jeff Northfield Memorial Award for Excellence in Teacher Research (for demonstrating an ongoing commitment to excellent teacher research). Laura has also been nominated for a Vice Chancellor’s Teaching Award (for outstanding contributions to student learning) and has been awarded a competitive Advancing Women's Success Grant which is awarded to “high potential academic women.”

Laura is an affliliate of the:

• Monash Sustainable Develpment Institute;
• National Center for Healthy Ageing; and
• Monash Addiction Research Centre 

Laura's research focuses on Health and Physical education (HPE), sport, active recreation and physical activity contexts, and the ways which policy, professional learning and practice contribute to inclusive and educative experiences for everyone. Her research attends to three of the five Faculty of Education research themes, namely 'Transforming Teaching and Learning', 'Educating for Diversity and Inclusion' and 'Enhancing Health and Wellbeing'.

Over the past 15 years, Laura has developed expertise in a range of innovative research methods, and has experience working with children, young people, teachers, coaches, not-for-profit organisations and policy-makers. In the past 10 years, Laura has attracted over $900,000 in research funding.

Broadly, Laura's research interests include:

• Health and Physical Education curriculum, pedagogy and assessment
• Transforming teaching and learning
• Policy 
• Supporting diversity and inclusion in education and community settings (e.g. active recreation, physical activity)
• Youth voice and co-design
• Enhancing health and wellbeing

Recent publications include:

Alfrey, L., & O’Connor, J. (2022). Transforming physical education: an analysis of context and resources that support curriculum transformation and enactment. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2022.2028759

Alfrey, L., & Jeanes, R. (2021). Challenging ableism and the ‘disability as problem’ discourse: how initial teacher education can support the inclusion of students with a disability in physical education. Sport, Education and Society. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2021.2019698

Alfrey, L., Burke, G., O'Connor, J., & Hall, C. (2021). Learning about health through ‘intergenerational arts-led pedagogies’ in health and physical education: exploring pedagogical possibilities. Sport, Education and Society, 26(8), 815-830. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2020.1814715