Dr Rachael Jefferson-Buchanan
Lecturer in Human Movement Studies (Health and PE), Creative Arts, Charles Sturt University PhD (graduated in December 2019): physical education & sociology. Thesis title: ‘A genealogy of the governance of the body in physical education in England from 1902 to 2016’. 2009 – 2010, The University of the West of England, Bristol, UK: PG Cert in Applied Social Research (merit). 1996 – 1997, The University of Surrey, Guildford, UK: Master of Arts in Dance Studies. Thesis title: ‘Can dance education provide a focus for multicultural education?’ 1984 – 1988, Chelsea School of Human Movement, Brighton Polytechnic, Eastbourne, UK. BEd (Hons) in Specialist Physical Education & Special Educational Needs Second Class Honours, First Division. Specialist Options: Adapted Physical Education, Dance, Multicultural Education.
About this speaker
I have more than 30 years of experience in education, teaching, leading and managing physical education, dance and creative arts activities. I have taught the full age range from 2-18yrs in the UK and Switzerland. In 2013 I began my current lecturing post in Human Movement Studies (Health and PE) and Creative Arts at Charles Sturt University in Australia.
For 9 years in the UK I taught adults how to teach PE and dance within the Primary PGCE at Bath Spa University. I also lectured on the undergraduate in Education Studies and coordinated a 3rd year module that I created entitled 'health and movement in young children'. In addition, I was a regular supervisor for students within the Professional Masters Programme.
I was the UK consultant for Fundamental Movement Skills (STEPS PD) for 5 years; this is an Australian movement programme that is accredited through Edith Cowan University in Western Australia. In 2009, I published a book on Fundamental Movement Skills entitled: 'Fundamental Fun: 132 activities to develop fundamental movement skills', which is underpinned by play-based pedagogy. I have extensive experience in teaching and leading in-service training for teachers (teaching and learning, physical education/sports/yoga/health programmes). I completed a ‘research on yoga in education’ 2-year diploma (RYE UK) in 2007. In September 2019 I completed my training in mindfulness (Level 1, MBSR) with the Mindfulness Training Institute of Australia & NZ.
I was an executive committee member and a specialist adviser to the National Dance Teachers' Association (NDTA) for several years, and the lead physical education consultant for Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) in their Nile Egyptian Schools and Central Asian Projects. More recently, I have worked with Cambridge University Press on the Strengthening Pre-service Teacher Education in Myanmar (STEM) project. In 2020 I worked as the senior international expert on a UNICEF-Montrose project in Myanmar, creating modules and teacher training materials for the 'Playing Sports Together' project. This programme supports all students from diverse communities who are studying in schools in Rakhine State, with the overarching goal of contributing to inclusion and a sense of togetherness through educational activities.
I completed my PhD with Charles Sturt University in March 2019 and I am looking forward to having a more research-led career.