Narelle Eather

Narelle Eather is an Associate Professor in Health and Physical Education at the University of Newcastle's School of Education, where she also serves as Discipline Lead for Health and Physical Education. With over 15 years of university lecturing experience and 10 years teaching in secondary schools as a PDHPE teacher, Dr. Eather brings extensive practical knowledge to her academic role. She is additionally the Theme Lead for Community Research at the Centre of Active Living at the University of Newcastle.

Dr. Eather completed her academic journey with a Bachelor of Education from the University of Sydney, followed by a Masters of Education (Physical Education) from the University of New England, and a PhD from the University of Newcastle. Her educational background in human movement and health education has provided the foundation for her impactful research career.

Her research focuses on promoting physical activity, physical fitness, and sports skills among children, youth, and young adults through evidence-based interventions in school and community settings. Key projects include the MASTER coaching program (enhancing children's physical, psychological and socio-emotional health), Work-HIIT (high-intensity interval training for office workers), and the award-winning DADEE program (Dads And Daughters Exercising and Empowered). Her work addresses critical challenges such as the 65% dropout rate from junior sports during teenage years, developing practical solutions that make physical activity accessible and enjoyable across diverse populations.

Analysis of Dr. Eather's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on game-based approaches in physical education, the role of choice and variety in maintaining motivation, and strategies for including children with disabilities in physical activity programs. Her systematic reviews and intervention studies consistently demonstrate practical applications that can be implemented in real-world educational and community contexts, with a particular focus on translating research into actionable programs for teachers, coaches, and parents.

• 2022 Mid-Career Researcher of the Year, University of Newcastle
• 2022 The University of Newcastle Distinction Year Award
• 2020 Hunter Children's Foundation Researcher Award
• 2018 Women in Research Fellowship
• 2017 Early-Career Researcher of the Year
• Multiple teaching excellence awards

As an educator, Dr. Eather has coordinated numerous teacher education courses and served in leadership roles including Deputy Head of School (2018-2021). She has developed innovative programs integrating Indigenous games with numeracy and literacy skills, and has embedded research findings directly into undergraduate physical education courses. Her work with the Centre for Active Living demonstrates her commitment to creating sustainable community-based interventions that address physical inactivity across the lifespan.