Biography
After nearly a decade as a teacher of Health and Physical Education, VET and Applied Learning (VCAL) in secondary schools, Amanda returned to the tertiary sector in 2007 and has been involved in the leadership, design and delivery of initial teacher education and professional studies in education for the past fifteen years. Amanda has been the Associate Head of School (Teaching and Learning) in Deakin’s School of Education since 2019 and has played a key role in leading curriculum innovation and design, teaching excellence, and assessment and feedback practices that support student experiences and graduate outcomes. Further, in this role she has had oversight of all ITE accreditation activities as they relate to the external endorsement of programs across Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary Teacher Education, as well as the professional recognition and endorsement of postgraduate qualifications for teachers. Amanda’s teaching expertise focuses on pedagogy, curriculum and assessment practices as they relate to teachers’ work, particularly for the role they can play in the pursuit of (more) socially just practices in education. During her time in the tertiary sector, Amanda has held various positions including Course Director for the Bachelor of Health and Physical Education degree, Higher Degrees by Research Coordinator for the School of Education and is the current co-convenor of the ‘Innovating Teacher Education’ faculty research group.
Amanda is a member of the Research for Educational Impact (REDI) strategic research and innovation centre at Deakin University, contributing primarily to the interdisciplinary theme of ‘Diversity and Social Justice in Education’. She is a member of the Women in Sport and Exercise (WISE) Hub at Deakin and previously led the Sport, Culture and Social Change Faculty Research Group (2014-2016). Inherently, Amanda’s research collectively focuses on addressing issues that constrain socially just practices in health and physical education, sport, schooling and professional education settings and identifying factors that support more inclusive educative practices across a range of settings. This has spanned the contexts of teacher education, elite women’s sport, areas of social disadvantage, rurality and regionality to support the health, wellbeing and learning of those experiencing vulnerability.
Read more on Amanda's profileResearch interests
Amanda’s research interests are underpinned by a strong commitment to social justice and the role that education can play in furthering this pursuit. Key here has been a significant investment in investigating approaches to, and practices in, teacher education and associated pathways that promote teacher’s critical dispositions and the development of practical expertise to effectively support diverse learners in inclusive ways. With a strong disciplinary commitment to the practice of Health, Physical Education and Sport in schooling contexts, Amanda’s research has primarily drawn on qualitative methodologies to examine the ways in which cultural and societal factors shape identities, professional practice, and pedagogies. This expertise has been applied to projects spanning various contexts including school-based Health and Physical Education, community sporting clubs, teacher education settings, outdoor adventure-based programs and women’s elite professional sporting contexts. At times, this focus has been extended to examine wellbeing and learning for young people experiencing vulnerability and trauma in rural and regional contexts.
More recently, Amanda’s research activities have focussed on approaches to teacher education that support workforce supply in areas of high-demand. While a key component of this has addressed factors that enable and constrain the attraction, success and retention of teacher education students across the early childhood and schooling sectors, particularly as periods of workforce shortage intensify, a key element of this work has focussed on the capacity building of current and future teachers. This has included an interest in pre-service teacher mentoring practices and professional learning practices to support mentors in this critical role. While much of this work has drawn on both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, Amanda’s research is largely underpinned by post-structural theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches to make visible the ways in which inequitable practices become normalised in particular settings at certain times, but also to highlight the ways in which these can be challenges to promote more equitable, enjoyable and meaningful learning experiences for young people.
Affiliations
Fellow of Australian Council of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER)
Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE)
Health and Physical Education Tertiary Alliance of Victoria (HPETAV)
Conferences
Mooney, A., Blake, D., Robertson, N., & Tobin, K. (2022). Innovation in Teacher Education: Enabling pathways to respond to the challenges of workforce supply. Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) Conference, University of South Australia, November 27 to December 1, 2022.
Schenker, K., & Mooney, A., (2022). Theoretical framework: What stands for social justice in HPE and what are we trying to solve. Paper presented as part of Gerdin et al., (2022), EDUHEALTH 2.0 (Re)examining and developing pedagogies for social justice in Health and Physical Education, Symposium, British Educaitonal Research Association (BERA) Conference, University of Liverpool, September 6-8 2022.
Hickey, C., & Mooney, A. (2021). Understanding the moment while negotating the time, Australian Associate for Reserach in Education (AARE) Health and Physical Education Special Interest Group (SIG) Keynote, Online Conference, November 28 - December 2, 2021.
Farrelly, C, Mooney, A, Emery, S & Swabey, K (2019), Supporting student wellbeing in schools located in areas of social disadvantage, Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) Conference, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove Campus, December 1-5, 2019.
MacPhail, A & Mooney, A (2019), Assessment resistance and reformation: A tale of two Irish teacher unions and the implications for teacher’s practice, Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) Conference, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove Campus, December 1-5, 2019.
Mooney, A (2019), Education for Social Justice – Social Justice Pedagogies in School Health and Physical Education, Symposium Discussant, European Conference of Educational Research (ECER), 3-6 September 2019, Universität Hamburg, Germany.
Mooney, A (2018), Doing Gender: Relationships, Emotions and Spaces of Learning, Research for Educational Impact (REDI) Symposium, Deakin Downtown, August 13 2018.
Mooney, A & Whittle R (2018), International overview: Contextualising PE assessment policy and enactment in Australia: A case study of physical education in Victoria, AIESEP Specialist Seminar, Future Directions in PE Assessment, 18-20 October, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Mooney, A, Hickey, C & Brown, T 2017, 'Discipline contestations in Physical Education: Ruminations in Teacher Education', Paper presented at the British Educaitonal Research Association (BERA) Conference, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK, September 5-7, 2017.
Professional activities
Network of Associate Deans of Learning and Teaching in Education (NADLATE), Australian Council of Deans of Education, Victorian Steering Group Committee representative
Australian Council of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) Victoria - previous Vice President and Director
Accredited Stage 1 and Stage 2 ITE Panellist for the accreditation of Initial Teacher Education programs in Australia, AITSL
Awards
Fellow of Australian Council of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER), 2019
Deakin University Vice-Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Contribution to Healthy Deakin - Deakin Women in Sport and Exercise Hub (WISE), 2017
Australian Council of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) Victoria, Postgraduate (Doctoral) Award of Distinction for the Most Outstanding Research, 2013
Australian Learning and Teaching Council - Citation award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, 2011
University of Ballarat - Vice-Chancellor's Citations awards for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, 2009
Projects
Mooney, A., Morrisey, A., Roberston, N., & Wishart, L. (2022). Review of Early Childhood Supervising Pre-Service Teachers Modules. Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL).
Paatsch, L., Mooney, A., Nolan, A., Moss, J., Molla, T., & Healy, S (2021). Cottage by the Sea - Where Young Pople Matter: Mentor Program.
Bearman, M., Boud, D., Partridge, H., O'Donnell, M., Mooney, A., Scarparo, S., Dunn, M., Costin, G., Taylor, D., McKay, F., Contessotto, C., Dullaghan, D., Fox, B., Walker, H., & Chandir, H. (2021). Sustaining Teaching and Learning Innovation in Higher Education Institutions.
Gerdin, G., Linner, S., Schenker, L, Kitching, A., Mooney, A., & Hickey, C (2020), Social justice practices in school health, physical education and life orientation: an international comparative study, The Swedish Foundation for International Coooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT).
Moroni L, Wimpenny, K, Mooney A, Adefila, A, & Hickey C (2019), Reviewing the reforms associated with decolonization: the curricula, institutional structures and processes, Cross-Centre International and Interdisciplinary Pilot Projects, Coventry University
Hickey, C., Ollis, D & Mooney, A (2018), Exploring respectful relationships in AFLW, Australian Football League.
Prain, V, Tytler, R, Deed, C, Myers, N, Blake, D, Muir, T, Farrelly, C, Mooney, A, Thomas, D & Swabey, K (2015-2019). Improving regional low SES students’ learning and wellbeing, ARC Linkage Project.
Publications
Cottage by the Sea: The Difference 'Take a Break' makes
Louise Paatsch, Amanda Mooney, Andrea Nolan, Julianne Moss, Tebeje Mekonnen, Trevor Mccandless
(2023), Geelong, Vic., A6
Team teaching in large spaces: three case studies framed by relational agency
V Prain, S Emery, D Thomas, V Lovejoy, C Farrelly, L Baxter, D Blake, C Deed, M Edwards, D Fingland, A Mooney, T Muir, K Swabey, R Tytler, E Workman, T Daniel-Zitzlaff, J Henriksen
(2021), Vol. 33, pp. 272-285, Teaching Education, C1
Youth Conversations Research Report
Damian Blake, Louise Paatsch, Sarah Healy, Amanda Mooney
(2021), Geelong, Vic., A6
Developing supporting environments for AFLW; Building evidence-based professional learning
Chris Hickey, Amanda Mooney, Debbie Ollis
(2021), Geelong, Vic., A6
Teacher adaptation to flexible learning environments
C Deed, D Blake, J Henriksen, A Mooney, V Prain, R Tytler, T Zitzlaff, M Edwards, S Emery, T Muir, K Swabey, D Thomas, C Farrelly, V Lovejoy, N Meyers, D Fingland
(2020), Vol. 23, pp. 153-165, Learning environments research, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, C1
Critical scholarship in physical education teacher education: a journey, not a destination
Chris Hickey, A Mooney
(2019), pp. 147-159, Critical research in sport, health and physical education: how to make a difference, Abingdon, Eng., B1
The place of social space: classed identities in a regional sporting club
A Mooney, A Mooney, C Hickey, C Hickey
(2019), pp. 31-43, nterdisciplinary unsettlings of place and space : conversations, investigations and research, Singapore, B1
Göran Gerdin, Amanda Mooney
(2019), pp. 53-69, Exploring gender and LGBTQ issues in K-12 and teacher education: a rainbow assemblage, Charlotte, N.C., B1
Howzat! Navigating gender disruptions in Australian young women's cricket
A Mooney, C Hickey, D Ollis, L Harrison
(2019), Vol. 43, pp. 71-86, Journal of Australian studies, London, Eng., C1
C Hickey, A Mooney, L Alfrey
(2019), Vol. 25, Movimento, C1
'The battle in belonging': pedagogies, practice and hypermasculinity in boys' physical education
A Mooney, Chris Hickey
(2018), pp. 283-304, Interrogating belonging for young people in schools, Cham, Switzerland, B1
Challenging the pervasiveness of hypermasculinity and heteronormativity in an all-boys' school
C Hickey, A Mooney
(2018), Vol. 45, pp. 237-253, Australian educational researcher, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, C1
Exploring pre-service teachers' experience of sport education as an approach to transition pedagogy
A Mooney, K Moncrieff, C Hickey
(2018), Vol. 23, pp. 545-558, Physical education and sport pedagogy, Abingdon, Eng., C1
Challenging gendered inequalities in boys' physical education through video-stimulated reflections
A Mooney, Göran Gerdin
(2018), Vol. 23, pp. 761-772, Sport, education and society, Abingdon, Eng., C1
A framework to support personalising prescribed school curricula
V Prain, D Blake, C Deed, M Edwards, S Emery, C Farrelly, D Fingland, J Henriksen, V Lovejoy, N Meyers, A Mooney, T Muir, R Sbaglia, K Swabey, D Thomas, R Tytler, T Zitzlaff
(2018), Vol. 44, pp. 1101-1119, British educational research journal, Chichester, Eng., C1
A Mooney, C Hickey
(2017), Vol. 8, pp. 229-244, Asia-Pacific journal of health, sport and physical education, Abingdon, Eng., C1
A Mooney, C Hickey
(2016), Vol. 14, pp. 123-138, Self-studies in rural teacher education, Berlin, Germany, B1
M Casey, A Mooney, J Smyth, W Payne
(2016), Vol. 28, pp. 108-127, Gender and education, London, Eng., C1
M Casey, J Harvey, A Telford, R Eime, A Mooney, W Payne
(2016), Vol. 19, pp. 931-935, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Australia, C1
The professionalisation of Australian women's cricket: new times and new opportunities
C Hickey, L Harrison, D Ollis, A Mooney
(2016), Geelong, Vic., A6
Effectiveness of a School-Community Linked Program on Physical Activity Levels and Health-Related Quality of Life for Adolescent Girls
Meghan Casey, Jack Harvey, Amanda Telford, Rochelle Eime, Amanda Mooney, Warren Payne
(2015), pp. 45-74, School Nutrition and Activity, B1-1
Introduction: Contemporary developments in games teaching
R Light, A Mooney
(2014), pp. 1-12, Contemporary developments in games teaching, Abingdon, England, B1
A Mooney, M Casey
(2014), pp. 103-117, Contemporary developments in games teaching, London, England, B1-1
Where has class gone? The pervasiveness of class in girls' physical activity in a rural town
J Smyth, A Mooney, M Casey
(2014), Vol. 19, pp. 1-18, Sport, education and society, Abingdon, England, C1-1
Game Sense as a model for delivering quality teaching in physical education
R Light, C Curry, A Mooney
(2014), Vol. 5, pp. 67-81, Asia-Pacific journal of health, sport and physical education, Abingdon, England, C1
M Casey, A Telford, A Mooney, J Harvey, R Eime, W Payne
(2014), Vol. 14, pp. 1-14, BMC Public Health, London, Eng., C1
M Casey, J Harvey, A Telford, R Eime, A Mooney, W Payne
(2014), Vol. 14, pp. 1-15, BMC Public Health, London, Eng., C1
A Mooney, L Gullock
(2013), pp. 85-98, Pedagogies for the future : leading quality learning and teaching in higher education, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, B1-1
Linking physical education with community sport and recreation : a program for adolescent girls
M Casey, A Mooney, R Eime, J Harvey, J Smyth, A Telford, W Payne
(2013), Vol. 14, pp. 721-731, Health promotion practice, Thousand Oaks, Calif., C1-1
Contemporary developments in games teaching
R Light, J Quay, S Harvey, A Mooney
(2013), Abingdon, Eng., A7-1
Negotiating masculine hegemony : female physical educators in an all-boys' school
A Mooney, C Hickey
(2012), Vol. 3, pp. 199-212, Asia-Pacific journal of health, sport and physical education, Hindmarsh, S.A., C1
A Mooney, M Casey, J Smyth
(2012), Vol. 15, pp. 19-37, Annals of leisure research, Oxon, England, C1-1
Female physical educators in all boys' schools - opportunities for enhancing social interactions?
A Mooney, C Hickey
(2011), pp. 273-281, 27th ACHPER International Conference Edited Proceedings - 'Moving, Learning & Achieving', Adelaide, S. Aust., E1-1
Being a female PE teacher in an all-boys' school
C Hickey, A Mooney
(2007), Vol. 54, pp. 11-15, ACHPER healthy lifestyles journal, Hindmarsh, S. Aust., C1
How did I get here? The experiences of female physical education teachers in all boys' schools
A Mooney, C Hickey
(2006), pp. 43-43, ICHPER-SD 2006 : Abstract Proceedings for 1st Oceania International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance (ICHPER-SD) Congress, Wellington, New Zealand, E1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
Improving Regional Low SES Students Learning and Wellbeing
Prof Damian Blake, Prof Russell Tytler, Dr Craig Deed, Dr Tracey Muir, A/Prof Amanda Mooney, Mr Damon Thomas, A/Prof Karen Swabey
ARC Linkage - Projects
- 2019: $199
- 2018: $1,342
- 2017: $71,820
- 2016: $39,408
Other Public Sector Funding
Improving Regional Low SES Students Learning and Wellbeing
Prof Damian Blake, Prof Russell Tytler, Dr Craig Deed, Dr Tracey Muir, A/Prof Amanda Mooney, Mr Damon Thomas, A/Prof Karen Swabey
Weeroona College Bendigo, Department of Education and Training Victoria, Crusoe 7-10 Secondary College, Eaglehawk Secondary College, Northern Bay P-12 College, Bendigo South East Secondary School
- 2020: $20,690
- 2018: $45,827
- 2017: $9,500
Graduate Teacher Conferences: Design, Implementation and Evaluation.
Prof Julianne Moss, Mrs Kate Harvie, Dr Jacqui Peters, Mrs Kate Moncrieff, Dr Julie Arnold, Dr Cassandra Iannucci, Ms Claire Stonehouse, A/Prof Bernadette Walker-Gibbs, Dr Matthew Thomas, A/Prof Amanda Mooney, Dr Emma Rowe, Dr Brandi Fox
Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2022: $238,011
- 2021: $582,596
- 2020: $344,395
- 2019: $244,037
- 2018: $182,564
Deakin University - Master of Applied Learning and Teaching (Secondary) - 2021 and 2022 Cohorts.
Prof Damian Blake, Dr Kellie Tobin, Dr Cheryl Ryan, Dr Adam Usher, A/Prof Amanda Mooney, Ms Juliet Austin
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2023: $45,747
- 2022: $254,238
- 2021: $100,000
- 2020: $100,000
VCAL Teachers Scholarships Program - Graduate Certificate of Applied Learning and Teaching.
Prof Damian Blake, A/Prof Amanda Mooney, Dr Kellie Tobin, Ms Juliet Austin, Dr Cheryl Ryan, Dr Adam Usher
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2022: $894,870
- 2021: $545,183
Accelerated Bachelor of Early Childhood Education for diploma qualified educators ("Accelerated BECE") student cohorts
Prof Damian Blake, Dr Natalie Robertson, A/Prof Amanda Mooney, A/Prof Liz Rouse, Ms Naomi David, Mrs Rosemarie Garner
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2023: $8,000
- 2022: $698,000
- 2021: $1,120,000
VET Employment-based pathways into Teaching Program for qualified educators student cohorts
Prof Damian Blake, A/Prof Amanda Mooney, A/Prof Trace Ollis, Dr Adam Usher, Dr Cheryl Ryan, Dr Kellie Tobin, Ms Juliet Austin
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2022: $558,334
- 2021: $447,000
Study and Pilot testing of a Multi-Provider Teaching Academy of Professional Practice Model for workforce creating in Victorian Rural and Regional.
Prof Damian Blake, Dr Matthew Thomas, A/Prof Amanda Mooney, Prof Dianne Toe, Mrs Edwina El Hachem
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2021: $150,000
Improving Mentoring in Teacher Education.
Dr Matthew Thomas, A/Prof Amanda Mooney, Dr Kate Johnstone, Prof Damian Blake, Dr Trent Brown, Dr Kellie Tobin
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2023: $75,000
- 2022: $75,000
Deakin University Early Childhood Innovative Initial Teacher Education Program: Accelerated Bachelor of Early Childhood Education.
Dr Natalie Robertson, A/Prof Amanda Mooney, Dr Mandy Cooke
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2023: $1,020,000
- 2022: $522,000
Innovative ITE intervention to address teacher workforce supply.
A/Prof Amanda Mooney, Prof Damian Blake, Dr Kellie Tobin, Dr Adam Usher, Dr Cheryl Ryan, Ms Juliet Austin, Dr Matthew Thomas
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2023: $160,000
- 2022: $50,000
Industry and Other Funding
Improving Regional Low SES Students Learning and Wellbeing
Prof Damian Blake, Prof Russell Tytler, Dr Craig Deed, Dr Tracey Muir, A/Prof Amanda Mooney, Mr Damon Thomas, A/Prof Karen Swabey
Anglicare Tasmania Inc., La Trobe University
- 2017: $20,763
- 2016: $1,000
The Professionalisation of Women's Cricket: New times and New opportunities
Prof Chris Hickey, Hon Prof Lyn Harrison, Hon Prof Debbie Ollis, A/Prof Amanda Mooney
Australian Cricketers Association
- 2017: $25,000
Exploring Respectful Relationships in AFLW
Prof Chris Hickey, A/Prof Amanda Mooney, Hon Prof Debbie Ollis
AFL Grant - Research - Australian Football League
- 2019: $4,545
- 2018: $13,636
Developing Supportive Environment for AFLW.
Prof Chris Hickey, A/Prof Amanda Mooney, Hon Prof Debbie Ollis
AFL Grant - Research - Australian Football League
- 2019: $48,420
Cottage by the Sea-Where Young People Matter: Mentor Program
Prof Louise Paatsch, A/Prof Amanda Mooney, Prof Andrea Nolan, Prof Julianne Moss, Dr Tebeje Molla Mekonnen, Dr Sarah Healy
Cottage by the Sea, Queenscliff Inc
- 2023: $14,998
- 2021: $14,998
The Ripple Effect of Cottage by the Sea.
Prof Louise Paatsch, A/Prof Amanda Mooney, Prof Julianne Moss, Dr Tebeje Molla Mekonnen, Prof Andrea Nolan, Dr Trevor Mccandless
Cottage by the Sea, Queenscliff Inc
- 2023: $24,999
Supervisions
Claire Stonehouse
Thesis entitled: Parental practices of sexuality education: Examining experience to inform futures
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
John Andrew Hill
Thesis entitled: Personalising Learning in Practical Physical Education in Middle-Years¿ Schooling
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Rhona Leonard
Thesis entitled: Lesson study and teacher professional learning in socially disadvantaged regions.
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Tina Daniel-Zitzlaff
Thesis entitled: Teaching Early Reading: Teacher Perspectives of Practice
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Niloofar Margarite Rouhani
Thesis entitled: Women's Sport Participation in the United Arab Emirates: A Case Study
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Cristina Mouratides-Mediouni
Thesis entitled: Reading manhood: A case study of young Tunisian males
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Jacqueline Lee Peters
Thesis entitled: Understanding early-career physical educators' theories of practice amidst curriculum change
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Christine Roma Schulz
Thesis entitled: Learning to be Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) Educators
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Patricia Rose Lucas
Thesis entitled: Exploring Critical Reflection in Cooperative Education: A Case Study
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education