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 and delve into applied sports science, biomechanics, and motor learning and development at Australia’s #3 university for education and educational research.
Deakin is the only university to embed the Berry Street Education Model into all of our initial teaching degrees. You’ll graduate equipped with practical, trauma-informed strategies to support every learner. You’ll know how to manage safe, healthier and more engaging learning environments and build positive classroom relationships to promote academic success – giving you and your employer confidence.
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.
You will have access to industry-standard equipment and state-of-the-art facilities, including our Elite Sports Precinct and specialised teaching labs.
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.
To be considered for an offer, 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.
* U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Subject Rankings 2025-2026
Professional recognition
This course is accredited by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) as a nationally accredited course and students are eligible to apply for registration with VIT upon graduation. If you intend to apply for registration in Victoria or interstate you may be required to provide further information. Applicants are advised to check the registration requirements in their state or territory, carefully.
Career opportunities
Employment in education and training is projected to grow by 12.4% or 150,100 new jobs by 2034 according to Australia Government employment projections.^ 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:
^2024 Jobs and Skills Australia, Employment Projections May 2024 to May 2034.
Participation requirements
Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.
This course includes 80 days of supervised professional experience and requires students to successfully complete the Deakin Teaching Performance Assessment (DTPA) in their final year. If a student does not pass the DTPA, they must seek guidance from the Course Director.
Graduation from the course confirms that students have met the Graduate Teacher Standards and achieved all Core Content learning outcomes outlined in Schedule 2.
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.
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
Apply culturally responsive, critically reflective and embodied self-knowledge of decolonial praxis in the design, delivery and evaluation of teaching and learning that honours and respects the educational expectations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and diverse learners, families and communities.
Approved at Faculty Board 2025
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Health and Physical Education you must pass 32 credit points. This includes:
DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
ETI010 Trauma Informed Practice (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first year of study
ELN010 Australian Literacy Test (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first year of study
ELN011 Australian Numeracy Test (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your 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
a maximum of 10 credit points at level 1
a minimum of 10 credit points at level 3 or above
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Note: This course includes 80-days of supervised professional experience and requires students to successfully complete the Deakin Teaching Performance Assessment (DTPA) in their final year. If a student does not pass the DTPA, they must seek guidance from the Course Director. Graduation from the course confirms that students have met the Graduate Teacher Standards and achieved all Core Content learning outcomes outlined in Schedule 2.
To be eligible to graduate, students must complete three zero (0) credit point units:
ELN010 and ELN011, which support the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE). Students are expected to attempt these tests in your first year; failure to do so may prevent course progression until an attempt is made.
ETI010 (Trauma Informed Practice), which incorporates the Berry Street Education Model (BSEM). Students must also meet all academic progress and conduct requirements. For unit enrolment advice, contact Student Services.
Students in this course must additionally complete an Emergency First Aid Certificate (Level 2) and AUSTSWIM qualifications prior to graduation.
Students must also meet all academic progress and conduct requirements. For unit enrolment advice, contact Student Services.
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: 2 x 20-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
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
International student requirements
International students are required to study full-time to complete their course within the duration registered on CRICOS.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Commonwealth Prac Payment - Domestic students only
The Australian Government has introduced the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) to help eligible domestic students enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place studying teaching, nursing, midwifery, and social work cover the costs associated with mandatory placements. For more information on the eligibility criteria and application process please visit our Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.
