Dr Dawn Penney
Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Bunbury has made history by hosting Australia's first Association Internationale des Écoles Supérieures d'Éducation Physique (AIESEP) Specialist Seminar, uniting global leaders in Health and Physical Education (HPE) to explore critical issues of body politics in movement.
The ECU_AIESEP Specialist Seminar 2025: Body Politics in and through Movement was led by ECU Vice Chancellor's Professorial Research Fellow, Professor Dawn Penney and featured an esteemed line-up, including AIESEP President Professor Fiona Chambers, President of Physical Education New Zealand, Associate Professor Susannah Stevens, and former Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) President, Associate Professor Sue Whatman.
Designed for professionals whose work centres on movement, the seminar attracted Health and Physical Education teacher educators, teachers, curriculum experts, and practitioners across dance, health and fitness, outdoor learning and sport.
The seminar attracted Health and Physical Education teacher educators, teachers, curriculum experts, and practitioners.
"This groundbreaking international gathering demonstrates ECU's commitment to advancing HPE policy and practice," ECU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Regional Futures) and Vice-President at ECU Professor Cobie Rudd said.
"The innovative research and perspectives shared here will shape how we understand movement, bodies, and education globally."
Delegates also enjoyed meeting Harper, Bunbury's wellness dog, who reflects the campus's holistic approach to wellbeing.
A masterclass was presented by Dr Indigo Willing.
The three-day seminar, delivered by members of the Sport, Health and Education Research Community at ECU, involved presenters and delegates from University College Cork (IRE), University of Melbourne, Cardiff Metropolitan University, University of Queensland, RMIT University, University of Sydney, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (USA), University of Canterbury (Aotearoa, NZ), National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greece), University of Waikato (Aotearoa, NZ), University of Wollongong, Deakin University, Auburn University (USA), Southern Cross University, Griffith University, AIESEP, ACARA (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Association), ACHPER, and ECU.
