Bachelor of Health & Physical Education (Primary)
School of Health Sciences
The Bachelor of Health & Physical Education (Primary) is a highly practical degree that equips students with a specialist theoretical and practical knowledge of physical education and health. This program combines both theoretical and practical elements, helping you to develop your teaching skills through a comprehensive teaching practice program each year.
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Why study this degree?
If you would like to make a difference by improving primary school-aged children's health, well-being and physical literacy, the Health & Physical Education degree, a four-year specialist teaching qualification, is a perfect choice.
In addition to the compulsory Health Science courses, you will complete nine general education courses to give you a well-rounded teaching qualification.
The degree will provide you with essential knowledge and practical skills to enable you to teach others to manage their health and well-being through physical activity. This degree is also available with a secondary education focus.
The Bachelor of Health & Physical Education (Primary) degree is an accredited initial teacher education program (AITSL). Graduates are eligible for professional accreditation with the Teacher Registration Board of WA to teach in Western Australian Schools.
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Program summary
20 required courses - Health Sciences
- Health Communications
- Physical Activity and Health
- Human Structure and Function
- Physiology of Exercise
- Applications of Function Anatomy to PE
- Developmental Psychology
- Motor Development & Learning
- Psychosocial Aspects of Sport and Physical Activity
- Sports Events Management for Teachers
- Adapted and Inclusive Practice in HPE
- Exercise Biomechanics
- Health Education One
- Health Education Two
- Outdoor Education One
- Outdoor Education Two
- Physical Performance Laboratory One
- Physical Performance Laboratory Two
- Physical Performance Laboratory Three
- Physical Performance Laboratory Four
- Physical Performance Laboratory Five
Nine required courses – Education
- Transforming Learning Through ICT
- Foundational Teaching Skills
- Introduction to Teaching and the Curriculum Framework
- Psychological Principles of Classroom Management
- Advanced Teaching Skills
- Internship Preparation
- Professional Responsibilities of the Teacher
- Educating Indigenous Students
- Transition to Teaching
Four Teaching Practicums
- Classroom Immersion – Two weeks
- School Experience One – Five weeks
- School Experience Two – Ten weeks
- Teaching Internship – Ten weeks
Additional courses for Primary degree
- Learning Area Studies: English 2 Reading & Viewing
- Learning Area Studies: English 3 Writing & Spelling
- Learning Area Studies: Mathematics 2
- Teaching Mathematics: Number
- Learning Area Studies: Primary Science
- Introduction to Biological Sciences
- PLUS one elective course
Core Curriculum
- CORE I: Foundations of Wisdom
- CORE II: Elective
- Electives in philosophy and\or theology
- Professional embedded electives that integrate studies in a profession with philosophy and\or theology
- An option to undertake a pilgrimage embedded in the study of the philosophy and theology of pilgrimage, e.g., World Youth Day
- An option to undertake a course that integrates philosophy & theology with community service and charity work
- An option to undertake an elective in philosophy, theology, and the liberal arts contained within an international experience
More information regarding courses can be found at the course descriptions page.
Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements.
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Entry requirements
Entry requirements WA
Academic requirements for this program are outlined below. In addition, to be eligible for admission, all applicants need to satisfy the Minimum University Admission Requirements outlined. These include those relating to minimum age and English Language Proficiency. We also consider your application more broadly – your non-academic achievements (such as any previous leadership roles, volunteering, work, church and/or community involvement) as well as personal qualities - your aspirations and interests and your capacity to complete your chosen program. See Individual Factors for further details regarding this.
Applicants with recent Secondary Education
- Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank* of 70
OR
- International Baccalaureate (IB) score of 25
*Selection Ranks include ATAR plus Adjustment Factors.
Applicants with Higher Education Study
- Successful completion of 4 subjects at an undergraduate level or higher*
OR
- Successful completion of the Notre Dame Tertiary Pathway Program (TPP), or a tertiary preparation program from another institution that is deemed to be of a similar academic rigour to the Notre Dame TPP
*Applicants who have successfully completed subjects at another University, which are relevant to the selected program of study, may be eligible for credit (Advanced Standing).
Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study
- Successful completion of AQF Certificate IV or higher from an accredited provider such as TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)
Applicants with Work and Life Experience
Applicants who left secondary education more than two years previously and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since may be considered for direct entry. This includes applicants who have completed Steiner, Montessori or home school curriculums. To qualify, applicants must be 20 years of age as at 1 March in the year of intake and meet one or more of the following:
- Applicants who have completed at least two years of relevant work experience may be considered for direct entry. Applicants must provide evidence of their work experience, including duties undertaken and years of experience, and they must demonstrate that they have the academic capability to undertake undergraduate studies. The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) may be required.
OR
- Completion of STAT with scores of at least 135 in the Multiple Choice section and 140 in the Written English section.
OR
- Completion of two Year 12 WACE, HSC or equivalent exams, with a result equivalent to the Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank listed under Secondary Education section above.
*STAT results must have been obtained within the last three calendar years in order to be considered (e.g. for 2024 admission, STAT results obtained in 2023, 2022 or 2021 can be considered).
Please note: all applicants must be of school leaving age or older to apply.
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Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Health and Physical Education (Primary) graduates will be able to:
- Interpret research, contemporary issues and current practice within the field of Health and Physical Education to maintain professional knowledge and independent lifelong learning
- Plan, implement and evaluate effective teaching and learning experiences that cater for the full range of student abilities developed from an evidence based curriculum content, curriculum documents, pedagogy and applied to a primary school setting
- Demonstrate the essential skills such as planning, organisation, presentation, team work and problem-solving required for professional practice
- Exemplify professional knowledge, attributes and skills, gained through work integrated learning during practicum experiences, to maintain a supportive and safe environment for students in a primary setting
- Apply interpersonal skills that are ethical and professional to engage in partnerships with colleagues, external professionals, families and communities
- Exemplify continued learning, self-reflection and critical thinking throughout professional life; and
- Articulate objective and universal truth, appreciate the intrinsic dignity of the human person, and exhibit good intellectual, moral and theological habits.
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Practical component
Students are required to complete a minimum 27 weeks of practicum.
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Career opportunities
Teachers graduating with a Bachelor of Health & Physical Education (Primary) degree will be able to work in Australia as specialist Health & Physical Education teachers in primary Catholic, Independent and Government schools; or as Health Consultants.
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Real-world experience
You will learn from academics who are industry leaders and, through our practicum placements and internship programs, you will gain real professional experience and make valuable contacts with potential employers.
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Honours
An Honours award is available for this program. Further information can be found in the Bachelor of Health & Physical Education (Primary) (Honours) regulations, or by contacting the School of Health Sciences.
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Study abroad
A global perspective adds a valuable dimension to your university education. At Notre Dame University you can study while experiencing the world. We encourage students to become active global citizens through a range of exchange programs, professional placements, study tours, and volunteer opportunities. Visit International Opportunities to find out more.
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Professional accreditation
The Bachelor of Health and Physical Education (Primary) and the Bachelor of Health and Physical Education (Primary) (Honours) are accredited under the national body the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) via the agency of the Teachers Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA).
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Fees and costs
This Program has the following loan scheme(s) available for eligible students:
Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a place at a university where the Australian Government pays part of your fees. This part is a subsidy, not a loan, and you don’t have to pay it back. However, this subsidy does not cover the entire cost of your study. Students must pay the rest, which is called the ‘student contribution amount’.In a Commonwealth Supported Place, your fees are subsidised by the Australian Government. Your fees will be split into two portions:
The Commonwealth contribution, which is the portion paid by the Australian Government.
The student contribution, which is the portion you pay. You may choose to pay upfront or defer your student contribution with a HECS-HELP Loan. The HECS-HELP loan scheme assists eligible students with the payment of all, or part, of their tuition fees, not including additional study costs such as accommodation or textbooks. Your HECS-HELP debt will be indexed each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.
Eligible students will be offered a CSP – you do not need to apply.
International Full-Fee Paying
Tuition costs depend on an international student’s study load and discipline. Fees are payable each semester at least four weeks prior to the commencement of your program.
For indicative fees and information on how to pay, including Government loan schemes and our online calculator, visit our Fees, costs and scholarships page.
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Student profile data
The tables below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this Program. It provides data on all students who commenced in this Program in the most relevant recent intake period, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.
Fremantle Student Profile Data
TABLE 1a – Bachelor of Health and Physical Education (Primary) BASIS OF ADMISSION IN SEMESTER 1, 2022 INTAKE
Applicant background Semester 1 2022
Number of students
Percentage of all students
(A) Higher education study
(includes a bridging or enabling course)18 78% (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study <5 N/P (C) Work and life experience
(Admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)<5 N/P (D) 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)
N/A N/A - Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, interview, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)
<5 N/P - Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, interview, school marks & recommendation with no minimum ATAR requirement)
<5 N/P International students <5 N/P All students 23 100.0% TABLE 1b – Bachelor of Health and Physical Education (Primary) ATAR PROFILE DATA FOR APPLICANTS ENTERING ON THE BASIS OF RECENT SECONDARY EDUCATION IN SEMESTER 1, 2022 INTAKE
RECENT SECONDARY EDUCATION - ATAR-based offers ATAR
(Excluding adjustment factors) *Selection Rank
(ATAR plus any adjustment factors) *[only if relevant]Highest rank to receive an offer N/A N/A Median rank to receive an offer N/A N/A Lowest rank to receive an offer N/A N/A Notes:
“<5” – the number of students is less than 5
N/A – Students not accepted in this category
N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent the calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 studentsIn 2022, due to COVID, additional adjustment factor points were granted to applicants from NSW, ACT and VIC.
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More information
Considering your uni options?
Talk to one of our career advisors for a personalised advice session. Our advisors provide support while choosing a program of study and completing our application process. Book my session.
For more information, please call our Prospective Students Office on +61 8 9433 0533 or email future@nd.edu.au.
All international enquiries should contact the International Students Office on international@nd.edu.au.
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