Key information
Start dates
March
July
Build a career in health and physical education.
If you're passionate about promoting health, fitness, and well-being among young Australians, a career as a Health and Physical Education (HPE) teacher could be your ideal path.
With growing demand for qualified educators and comprehensive training programs like the Bachelor of Education (Secondary Health and Physical Education) at Flinders University, now is an excellent time to embark on this rewarding profession.
Health and Physical Education Teacher
A Health and Physical Education (HPE) teacher positively influences student understanding of physical activity, learning through movement, relationships and wellbeing. They cover topics like physical activity, nutrition, mental health, sexual education, and substance abuse prevention, while also leading sports activities.
HPE teachers promote active lifestyles, encourage positive attitudes towards health, and foster teamwork, resilience, and personal development.
Health Promotion Officer
A Health Promotion Officer in Australia promotes public health by designing and evaluating programs that encourage healthy behaviours and prevent illness. They work with communities, organisations, and government bodies to raise awareness and support initiatives on topics like nutrition, physical activity, mental health, and substance abuse.
Their role includes research, advocacy, and collaboration to create effective, evidence-based health strategies.
Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia, 2024 | Seek Australia, 2024
Sports Coach
A sports coach is responsible for training, developing, and guiding athletes or teams to improve performance and achieve success in their respective sports. They design and implement training sessions, provide tactical and strategic advice, monitor progress, motivate participants, and ensure safety and well-being. Coaches also foster teamwork, discipline, and personal development.
Study: Major in Physical Education
Educational Officer
An Education Officer in a sporting or recreational organisation develops and delivers educational programs for athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers. They create training resources, coordinate workshops, and ensure compliance, engage with stakeholders like sporting bodies and local clubs, evaluate program outcomes, and support participant development through both in-person and online learning initiatives.
Study: Major in Health Education
Outdoor Activity Leader
An Outdoor Activity Leader plans and leads outdoor activities like hiking, rock climbing, and kayaking. They ensure participant safety, provide guidance, and manage risks while promoting environmental awareness. Leaders work with various groups, such as schools or corporate teams, and may also facilitate team-building and educational programs.
Study: Minor in Outdoor Education
What will you study to start your career in Health and Physical Education?
Build expertise in health education, physical education and outdoor education while completing teaching placements in both major and minor specialisations.
Accreditation or Professional Recognition
On successful completion you will be eligible to apply for registration with the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia. Graduates looking for employment in other parts of Australia and overseas may be required to meet additional conditions.
Learn from the experts.
Our incredible teaching and professional staff are experts in their fields and well-connected to the industry.
Gain real world experience.
Connect with industry through practical experience placements. Flinders has strong partnerships with school sport and health settings. With over 80 days of school placements and a focus on real-world teaching strategies, you’ll graduate ready to work in diverse settings—urban, regional, public, or independent - preparing you for a rewarding and future-focused teaching career.
The degree provides you with practical experience that prepares you for the workforce.
- Undertake extensive professional experience placements (minimum 80 days) in a variety of primary school settings.
- Develop vital practical skills such as relationship building, educational planning, technology use and community innovation.
- Learn to engage in transformational, innovative and creative teaching practices.
- Develop considered, relational skills for working with children, their families, community members and professional colleagues.
- Immerse yourself in highly practical learning that enables you to deepen your understanding and strengthen your capabilities required for your career.
A Working with Children Check, and Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect – Education and Care Certificate must be completed before undertaking a placement in your first semester.
Financial support
- 35 Enabling Educator Excellence (E3) Scholarships, valued at $5000, will be available for students commencing in 2025. Find out more
- The Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships Program provides up to $40,000 to new undergraduate teacher education students. Find out more
Frequently asked questions.
Over the years, many questions have been asked by students before. For the quickest answers view our frequently asked questions or browse the full list @ Ask Flinders.
The current state of physical education teacher jobs in Australia is promising, with many job listings available on SEEK. Looking ahead, the demand for physical education teachers is expected to remain strong due to a shortage in various regions. This makes it a stable and rewarding career choice with good salary prospects and a positive job outlook.
Yes, all of these degrees include compulsory placements. These placements are a full-time commitment for their duration.
In some cases, there are opportunities to do more than the minimum required days to be eligible for registration, giving students extended workplace experience before completing their degree.
There are also opportunities to undertake rural and remote placements with potential funding available.
From July 2025, there will also be opportunity for paid placements in some disciplines, including education. Find out more.
According to the SA Department of Education, the average annual salary for a school teacher in South Australia typically falls within the range of $80,000 to $126,000.
- Complete an accredited teaching qualification – either a Bachelor of Education (Secondary Health and Physical Education) or an equivalent undergraduate or postgraduate qualification.
- Pass the Literacy and Numeracy Test (LANTITE).
- Register with TRBSA – Apply to the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia, including a including a Working with Children Check and mandatory training.
- Apply for jobs – Once registered, you can apply for secondary PE teaching roles in South Australian schools.
Health and Physical Education (HPE) is about helping young people develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead healthy, active lives. As a student in the Bachelor of Education (Secondary Health and Physical Education), you'll learn how to teach topics like physical activity, fitness, mental health, nutrition, relationships and personal safety—supporting the wellbeing of students through movement and health education.
The Bachelor of Education (Secondary) allows you to choose from a wide range of teaching areas—like English, Science, or Humanities—so you can tailor your degree to your interests. It’s ideal if you want flexibility in the subjects you teach.
The Bachelor of Education (Secondary Health and Physical Education) is a specialised degree for those who want to teach Health and PE. It focuses on physical education, health, and outdoor education, with hands-on experience built in from the start.
The Australian Government has introduced the Literacy and Numeracy Test for all initial teacher education (ITE) students to ensure they have the high level of personal literacy and numeracy skills required of teachers.
The test is a national instrument designed to assess elements of an individual's literacy and numeracy skills and will be used to demonstrate that ITE graduates are in the top 30 per cent of the population for literacy and numeracy.
All students graduating from any ITE course in South Australia must have achieved the standard for both the literacy and numeracy components of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) to graduate.
For further information, including registration details, please check the test administrator’s website at https://teacheredtest.acer.edu.au/
There are also important inherent requirements for this course and applicants are strongly advised to become aware of these requirements.
Applicants must complete a non-academic assessment task known as a Teaching Capabilities Statement as part of their application to demonstrate their motivation to teach, their strong interpersonal and communication skills, willingness to learn, resilience, self-efficacy, and strong organisational and planning skills. This involves a short statement in response to three set questions used to demonstrate suitability for study and work in the teaching profession.
Applicants who select this course as a preference during the application process will be directed to a page to meet this requirement.
Visit the Teaching Capabilities Statement page for further information.
- Applications are completed via SATAC
- Visit: satac.edu.au
The table below shows ATAR and Selection Rank data for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR commencing in Semester 1, 2024. It is limited to applicants that have recently completed secondary education (within the last two years). Data may reflect multiple courses available within a suite of courses.
Notes:
<5 – less than 5 ATAR based offers made
N/A – This course uses additional selection criteria and therefore Selection Rank is not published
| ATAR-based offers only across all offer rounds | ATAR - Excluding adjustment factors | Selection Rank - ATAR plus any adjustment factors |
|---|---|---|
| Highest rank to receive an offer | 97.85 | 99.35 |
| Median rank to receive an offer | 77.13 | 81.65 |
| Lowest rank to receive an offer | 60.95 | 70.05 |
| Applicant background (Semester 1, 2024) | Number of students | Percentage of all students |
|---|---|---|
| Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) | 75 | 24% |
| Vocational education and training (VET) study | 13 | 4% |
| Work and life experience | 15 | 5% |
| Recent secondary education - Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) | 134 | 43% |
| Recent secondary education - Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test) | 24 | 8% |
| Recent secondary education - Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor (e.g. special consideration pathways) | 30 | 10% |
| International Students | 18 | 6% |
| All students | 309 | 100% |
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