Rate My Professor Laura Alfrey

Laura Alfrey is an Associate Professor in the School of Curriculum, Teaching and Inclusive Education within the Faculty of Education at Monash University, where she serves as Course Leader for the Bachelor of Education (Health and Physical Education). Her research focuses on four key intersecting threads in Health and Physical Education: student voice and agency, teacher professional learning, policy and curriculum, and pedagogy. This work has led to shifts in policy, partnerships, and practice that support inclusive and impactful health and physical education. Alfrey has attracted over $10 million in research and consultancy funding with colleagues and contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals such as Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, Climate Action, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and Partnerships for the Goals. She employs innovative research methods and collaborates with children, young people, teachers, coaches, not-for-profit organisations, and policy-makers.

Alfrey publishes widely in top-ranking international journals, with highly cited works including 'Physical literacy: a concept analysis' (2020, 212 citations), 'Re-theorising inclusion and reframing inclusive practice in physical education' (2018, 156 citations), 'Sport and the resettlement of young people from refugee backgrounds in Australia' (2015, 154 citations), and 'Physical education teachers’ continuing professional development in health-related exercise: A figurational analysis' (2012, 151 citations). Recent publications encompass 'Student voice, expansive learning and transformative agency: an examination of the transformation of fitness testing pedagogies in Health and Physical Education' (2025, Sport, Education and Society) and 'An expansive learning approach to transforming traditional fitness testing in health and physical education: student voice, feelings and hopes' (2024, Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education). Her influence is recognised through awards including the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion (2021/2022) for decolonising pre-service teacher education, Dean's Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2021), Jeff Northfield Memorial Award for Excellence in Teacher Research (2021/2022), and Dean's Award for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (2024). Alfrey is Editor of Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education, serves on editorial boards for Journal of Teaching Physical Education and Sport, Education and Society, and is on the International Advisory Board for European Physical Education Review. She contributes to the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) Tertiary Engagement and Research subcommittee and is an affiliate of the Monash Sustainable Development Institute, National Center for Healthy Ageing, and Monash Addiction Research Centre. She accepts PhD students in Health and Physical Education, sport, physical activity, inclusion, and professional development.