Bachelor of Education (Physical and Health Education)

This four-year bachelor degree prepares you to teach physical education and health in Australian schools. You'll study how the body moves, how young people learn, and how to run a classroom that keeps students active and engaged. The curriculum covers anatomy and physiology, motor development, sports science, health promotion, and the practical side of teaching, lesson planning, assessment, and managing groups of kids with different abilities and backgrounds. You'll also look at how health and physical education fits into the Australian Curriculum, including the personal, social and community health strand and the movement and physical activity strand.

How the degree is structured

Like most Australian bachelor degrees, this one runs over four years of full-time study, usually split into two semesters a year. You'll complete a set number of units of study each semester, with each unit worth a fixed number of credit points. The first couple of years build your knowledge in areas like biomechanics, exercise physiology, and the foundations of teaching. Later years focus on curriculum and instruction, with units that show you how to teach specific sports, health topics, and movement skills. You'll also do professional experience placements in schools, these are work-integrated learning units where you go into a classroom under the supervision of a teacher and put your training into practice. That's a core part of teacher education in Australia and a requirement for graduation.

What you'll actually learn

You'll learn how to plan and teach PE lessons that work for a class of 30 kids with mixed abilities. You'll study how to assess student learning, how to manage behaviour, and how to make health education relevant to teenagers. There's also a strong practical component: you'll spend time in schools, working alongside teachers, and you'll build a portfolio of your teaching. By the end, you should be able to design a unit of work, teach it, and adjust based on what you see in the classroom. You'll also understand the safety and legal side of physical activity, risk management, first aid, and how to include students with disabilities or health conditions.

Who this suits

This degree is for people who want to teach PE and health in primary or secondary schools. You might be a school leaver who loved sport and want to make it a career, or a mature-age student changing jobs. You'll need to be comfortable working with young people, have good communication skills, and be willing to keep learning. The course also suits those interested in community health, youth work, or sports coaching, though the main pathway is into teaching. English requirements for international applicants are set at IELTS 6.0–6.5 overall for this level, but teaching courses often ask for higher scores, check the official page for the exact requirement. While you study, your visa lets you work up to 48 hours per fortnight. After you graduate, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Always confirm details like fees, intake dates, and English scores on the official CRICOS register or the institution's page.

• Physical education teacher in government or independent schools
• Health education teacher
• Sports coach in schools or community clubs
• Youth worker or community health officer
• Program coordinator for school sport or physical activity initiatives
• Further study: honours year, master's in education, or research

Graduates typically work in the Australian school system, but some move into community health organisations, local councils, or sports development. The degree also opens doors to roles in fitness centres, outdoor education, or disability support services. If you want to teach in a specific state or sector, check the registration requirements with the relevant teacher regulatory authority.