Rate My Professor Drew Miller

Dr Andrew (Drew) Miller is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Newcastle, Australia, specializing in Health and Physical Education. He earned his PhD in Human Physiology from the University of Newcastle between 2007 and 2011, along with a Bachelor of Teaching and Bachelor of Health and Physical Education (Honours) from the same institution. Miller commenced lecturing at the University of Newcastle in 2012 after his doctoral completion. Earlier, he contributed to the Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, managing the multi-award-winning 'Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids' obesity prevention program under Professor Phil Morgan. His career has emphasized enhancing physical education teaching quality, leading to his current role as Deputy Director of the Teachers and Teaching Research Centre (TTRC). There, he directs the $4.3 million Thriving Schools project and has spearheaded multiple large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs), including the PLUNGE professional learning intervention for games-centered physical education in primary schools, a mentoring program for netball coaches, and evaluations of lifestyle programs for disability services.

Miller's research focuses on professional development for primary school teachers to improve Physical Education teaching quality, physical activity outcomes for school-aged children, game-based pedagogies, fundamental movement skills, and integrating physical activity with nutrition. He has conducted national reviews, advises on several national groups, and served as a visiting academic at four international institutions. His scholarly output includes over 70 publications, such as 60 journal articles, with highly cited works like 'Fundamental movement skills: An important focus' (Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 2016), 'The impact of COVID-19 on student learning in New South Wales primary schools: an empirical study' (Australian Educational Researcher, 2021), 'Games centered approaches in teaching children & adolescents: Systematic review of associated student outcomes' (Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 2015), and recent contributions on coach development, teacher wellbeing, and movement skill interventions. Miller's efforts advance evidence-based practices in teacher education and physical activity promotion.