Create safe, inclusive and engaging learning environments that make a difference to health and wellbeing when you study Deakin’s Bachelor of Health and Physical Education. As a qualified health and physical education secondary school teacher, you will specialise in a topic you’re passionate about and develop the critical skills, specialised knowledge and practical classroom experience to nurture your students. Explore the art of movement, learn specialist teaching methods and delve into applied sports science, biomechanics, and motor learning and development at Australia’s #1 university for education and educational research.*
You will have access to industry-standard equipment and state-of-the-art facilities, including our Elite Sports Precinct and specialised teaching labs. This, combined with at least 80-days of practical placements in schools, means you will graduate in-demand, with the confidence and leadership skills to create a meaningful career.
Do you want to make a difference to the lives and health of young people by becoming a qualified health and physical education teacher?
Our industry-shaped courses and close relationships with the education sector mean you experience customised learning tailored to your discipline and one-on-one mentorship from industry leading educators. You will learn about the biggest health issues facing our population, enabling you to empower students to improve their health and wellbeing outcomes, now and into the future.
Our Professional Experience Program will give you real-life teaching experience with guaranteed placements throughout your degree. Working with more than 1400 schools across Australia, we will arrange at least 80-days of placements for you in schools where you will learn from experienced teachers. With access to our specialised teaching spaces on campus, you will feel prepared to thrive in your teaching career. You will even have the opportunity to broaden your scope as a teacher with an international placement experience available in Singapore for Bachelor of Health and Physical Education students.
As part of your core studies, you will gain practical experience using a variety of engaging teaching approaches in health, physical education and your chosen third discipline. You will build fundamental knowledge about the human body, including anatomical and physiological terminology, and understand how the science and art of movement and performance. Through mediums such as sport, gymnastics and dance, you will learn how the body reacts to movement and its impacts on various body systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal and nervous systems).
To complement your core studies, you will choose a third discipline that will advance your cross-disciplinary knowledge and give you a competitive-edge for employment. You can choose from a range of disciplines that interest you, including:
biology
chemistry
dance (Burwood only)
English
history
home economics (Burwood only)
mathematics
theatre (Burwood only)
Deakin’s Bachelor of Health and Physical Education is approved by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) as a pre-service teaching qualification, meaning you will graduate with a well-recognised qualification and the sought-after skills to thrive as an educator.
Before beginning your studies, prospective teaching students need to successfully complete the Casper test – an online, video scenario-based test that lets you demonstrate your suitability for a teaching career.
This course sits as part of a larger group of courses. For more information refer to the Education - Secondary group.
Professional recognition
Our education courses are accredited by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT), meaning you will graduate as a qualified educator. Students are eligible to apply for registration with VIT upon successful completion of this degree.
Career opportunities
Graduate ready to take your career into teaching within the private, independent or public education sectors or advisory roles. You can even work closely with sporting organisations in advisory roles.
As well as working as an educator, you may find yourself working in fields including:
Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Mandatory student checks
Teacher Education Graduation requirements
Students undertaking an initial teacher education course must pass an approved literacy and numeracy test in order to be eligible to graduate and apply for teacher registration. Learn more about the literacy and numeracy test.
Working with Children Check
Students will be required to hold a valid Working with Children (WWC) Check prior to undertaking professional placements as part of this course. Learn more about Working with Children Checks.
Interstate applicants must check the requirements and meet all conditions for undertaking professional experience in schools for their state or territory before undertaking professional experience placements as part of this course.
Immunisation and/or vaccination requirements will be communicated by the Professional Experience Office in line with the Department of Education and Training's directions at the time of placement.
Applicants will be required to hold a valid National Police Record Check for professional placements as part of this course. Learn more about the National Police Record Check.
Course Learning Outcomes
Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
Apply coherent discipline-specific theoretical knowledge and capabilities in health, physical education and one other teaching area to contemporary curriculum design, pedagogy and assessment for teaching and learning in ways that align with the Australian Professional Standards for Graduate Teachers.
Communication
Use a range of communication skills and technologies to plan and teach for learning (including knowledge and skills) in the classroom and the broader school community.
Digital literacy
Employ a range of technologies to collect, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information for the purposes of teaching and learning in a rapidly-changing global environment.
Critical thinking
Use critical and analytical skills to determine solutions to unpredictable and sometimes complex problems in teaching, learning and assessment practices and to adapt these solutions to diverse contexts.
Problem solving
Demonstrate the capacity to know students and how they learn (including identifying their prior knowledge, learning strengths and weaknesses) to develop a creative solution to teaching and learning using a range of effective strategies.
Self-management
Engage in reflective practice to plan and deliver coherent teaching and learning experiences for students in Health, Physical Education and one other teaching area. Make well-developed responsible judgements in professional practice in Health and Physical Education teaching contexts.
Teamwork
Work and learn collaboratively with colleagues and other professionals and members of the wider community in ways that align with the codes of conduct and ethics of the profession.
Global citizenship
Understand multicultural and inclusive pedagogies to sustain ethical approaches to teaching and learning.
Approved at Faculty Board April 2020
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Health and Physical Education students must pass 32 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:
DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
ELN010 Australian Literacy Test (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first year of study
ELN011 Australian Numeracy Test (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first year of study
HSE010 Exercise and Sport Laboratory Safety (0-credit-point compulsory unit which must be completed before classes commence)
26 credit points of core units
4 credit points of discipline study units in a third teaching method area
2 credit points of curriculum study units in the third teaching method area
Students must additionally complete an Emergency First Aid Certificate (Level 2) and AUSTSWIM qualifications prior to graduation.
This course includes 80-days of supervised professional experience, and students must successfully complete the Deakin Teaching Performance Assessment (DTPA)*. This must be complete in the final year of study. Successful completion of this course indicates that a student has met the expected standard of performance for each of the Graduate Teacher Standards. * Students who do not pass the DTPA must seek advice from the course director.
Students are also required to complete 2 zero (0) credit point units ELN010 and ELN011 as part of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) in order to graduate from their course. Students are expected to attempt the tests within the first year of their course. Students who do not attempt the tests within their first year may be unable to progress with their studies until an attempt has been made.
Students will satisfactorily complete 80-days of professional experience placement in secondary education settings, as outlined below:
Year 1: 5-days in secondary school settings
Year 2: 20-days in secondary school settings
Year 3: 15-days in secondary school settings
Year 4: 2x20 days (40 days in total) in secondary school settings
The School of Education Professional Experience Office makes all arrangements for preservice teacher placements. The number of professional experience days align with requirements of external regulatory authorities (Victorian Institute of Teaching VIT).
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
International student requirements
International students are required to study full-time to complete their course within the duration registered on CRICOS.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
In 2023, the Victorian Government announced a range of government-administered scholarships for eligible domestic students commencing a secondary school teaching degree in 2024 and 2025. These scholarships are not automatic, and you will need to apply.
Deakin does not administer these scholarships. For more information about the eligibility, application process and opening and closing dates, please visit the Victorian Government website.
