Pam Kappelides

Dr Pam Kappelides is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Recreation Management at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia, where she has been a faculty member since 2005. She is affiliated with the College of Sport and Exercise Science and contributes to the Centre for Sport and Social Impact (CSSI) and the Living with a Disability Research Center (LiDs). Her academic and professional work bridges research, teaching, and community engagement in sport, health, and recreation sectors.

• PhD, Griffith University, 2016
• Graduate Certificate in Education, Queensland University of Technology, 2022
• Master of Public Health, Victoria University, 1998
• Graduate Diploma in Disability and Ageing, Victoria University, 1996
• BA, Victoria University, 1992

Dr Kappelides' research focuses on volunteer management, inclusion of marginalized groups in sport (including women, people with disabilities, and CALD communities), community engagement, and public health. She specializes in qualitative methodology and has led large-scale research projects with government and non-government organizations such as VicHealth, Special Olympics, and the Department of Premier and Cabinet Victoria. Her work emphasizes social impact and equity in sport and recreation.

Her recent publications (2021–2025) reflect a consistent trend in gender equity, volunteerism, psychological contracts, and inclusion in sport. Her articles often explore the experiences of women in coaching and officiating, barriers to participation for vulnerable populations, and the role of sport in community development. She also examines pedagogical shifts in post-pandemic education and the impact of mega events on volunteer engagement.

Dr Kappelides has secured competitive research funding, including the Advanced Olympic Research Grant (2023–2025) on elite athletes' mental health and experiences of violence in sport. She has also led multiple Volunteer Management Progress Reports (2018–2022), contributing practical insights for the nonprofit sector.

• Advanced Olympic Research Grants - 2023–2025: 'Elite athletes' and coaches' experiences of violence in sport and mental health in five countries'
• Victorian Government’s Office of Sport and Recreation: funding for disability-resource.org.au

She teaches core subjects such as Sport Development, Volunteer Management, and Sport Practicum. She has held leadership roles in professional organizations, including Chair of the Australian Camps Association (2016–present) and elected member of the Outdoor Council of Australia. She also developed a widely used resource website, disability-resource.org.au, to support inclusive practices in sport and recreation.