Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
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
Research interests
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
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
External positions
Editor, Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education
2019 → …
Tertiary Education and Research Portfolio - Subcommittee of Board, Australian Council for Health Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER Inc)
1 Dec 2018 → …
International Advisory Board, Independent Consultant - United Kingdom
2017 → …
Research area keywords
- Health and Physical Education
- Teachers
- Professional development
- Inclusion
- Sociology
- Sport and Physical Activity
- Curriculum and Pedagogy
- Creativity and Innovation
- Policy
Network
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Supporting vulnerable populations to maintain healthy ageing: Development of an enriched cohort study
Nielsen, S., Lam, T., Lalor, A., Andrew, N., Dietze, P., Coulson, B., Arunogiri, S., Bright, S. J., Hill, K., Morgan, K., Alfrey, L. & Francia, L.
1/10/22 → 30/09/25
Project: Research
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Integrating alcohol culture change into older adults’ positive ageing
Lam, T., Savic, M., Lalor, A., Sturgiss, L., Alfrey, L., Francia, L., Stragalinos, P., Rudlin, K., Shipton, A., Nielsen, S. & Hill, K.
1/10/22 → 31/12/24
Project: Research
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Active Travel 4 Climate Action
Adepoyibi, T., Leahy, D. & Alfrey, L.
7/09/22 → 31/10/22
Project: Research
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Kids building healthier futures together in Minecraft
Leahy, D., Blannin, J., Jeanes, R., Alfrey, L., Welch, R., Perrotta, C. & Grove, C.
15/03/22 → 28/03/23
Project: Research
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Understanding the short and long term educational and wellbeing impacts of COVID-19 on youth, adults and families
Grove, C., Laletas, S., Subban, P., Round, P., Fielding, R., Leif, E., Patlamazoglou, L., Sharma, U., Alfrey, L. & Rosenbluh, I.
15/05/20 → 15/05/21
Project: Research
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An expansive learning approach to transforming traditional fitness testing in health and physical education: student voice, feelings and hopes
Alfrey, L., 2023, (Accepted/In press) In: Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education. 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Challenging ableism and the ‘disability as problem’ discourse: how initial teacher education can support the inclusion of students with a disability in physical education
Alfrey, L. & Jeanes, R., 2023, In: Sport, Education and Society. 28, 3, p. 286-299 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
4 Citations (Scopus) -
Fitness testing as a debated and contested PE-for-health practice
Alfrey, L. & Landi, D., 2023, Physical Education Pedagogies for Health. Cale, L. & Harris, J. (eds.). 1st ed. Abingdon UK: Routledge, p. 33-47 15 p. (Routledge Focus on Sport Pedagogy).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review
-
Moving from physical literacy to co-existing physical literacies: what is the problem?
Young, L., Alfrey, L. & O’Connor, J., Feb 2023, In: European Physical Education Review. 29, 1, p. 55-73 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus) -
The psychological impact of fitness testing in physical education: a pilot experimental study among Australian adolescents
Yager, Z., Alfrey, L. & Young, L., Jan 2023, In: Journal of Teaching in Physical Education. 42, 1, p. 77-85 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Prizes
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2022 Advancing Women's Success Grant
Alfrey, Laura (Recipient), 2022
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
Best Paper award for 2017 in Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy journal
Alfrey, Laura (Recipient), O'Connor, Justen (Recipient) & Jeanes, Ruth (Recipient), 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
Dean's Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning
Alfrey, Laura (Recipient), 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
Finalist for 2021 Most Outstanding Paper - Journal of Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education
Young, Lisa (Recipient), O'Connor, Justen (Recipient), Alfrey, Laura (Recipient) & Penney, D. (Recipient), 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
File -
First Prize: Research Poster Presentation
Alfrey, Laura (Recipient), 2010
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Association of Independent Schools of NSW PDHPE Conference: The Power of Purpose
Laura Alfrey (Organiser)
13 May 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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AIESEP World Congress: Gold Coast (2022)
Laura Alfrey (Organiser)
15 Jun 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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2022 AIESEP Specialist Seminar Motor Competence Assessment in Educational Settings
Laura Alfrey (Organiser)
28 Sep 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Understanding ‘traditional’ fitness testing as a social justice challenge facing PE…and how we can respond to it
Laura Alfrey (Organiser)
13 Jul 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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ADCET Webinar: Designing Online Education that Works for All Students - A 7-Step UDL Approach
Laura Alfrey (Organiser) & Erin Leif (Organiser)
Aug 2021Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
Press/Media
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Horsham College inspiring more students to get active through Move it! Mondays program
12/12/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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We are with you: Parents share their teaching and learning lessons from the lockdown
Pearl Subban, Penny Round, Christine Grove, Stella Laletas, Laura Alfrey, Ilana Rosenbluh, Umesh Sharma & Erin Leif
27/10/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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5 tips on how unis can do more to design online learning that works for all students
Erin Leif, Christine Grove, Laura Alfrey, Stella Laletas & Umesh Sharma
9/09/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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PUTTING FITNESS EDUCATION TO THE TEST IN HPE
1/06/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media › Blogs