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Dr Eibhlish O'Hara

Lecturer

Staff Member Details
Telephone: +61 8 6304 5496
Email: e.ohara@ecu.edu.au
Campus: Joondalup  
Room: JO8.412  
ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9093-2746

Eibhlish is a Unit Coordinator and Lecturer for Health and Physical Education in the Primary and Early Childhood Disciplines in the School of Education.

Background

Eibhlish was a generalist primary teacher who pursued further education in the field of psychology. Her PhD investigated the educational and psychosocial development of adolescents from low SES backgrounds who participate in specialist sport programs. Whilst completing her PhD, she worked as a sessional academic in the School of Arts & Humanities and a research associate in the School of Education.

Current teaching

  • ECE6320 – Physical Education, Health & Wellbeing for Young People
  • HPE2240 – Health & Physical Education in Primary Schools
  • HPE4020 – Teaching Health Education
  • HPE6020 – Teaching Health Education
  • PHE4304 – Advanced Studies of Teaching Physical Education
  • PHE6304 – Advanced Studies of Teaching Physical Education

Professional associations

  • Australian Psychological Society (APS)
  • Australian Council for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (ACHPER)

Research areas and interests

  • Health and Wellbeing
  • Physical Activity & Physical Education
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Psychosocial aspects of Health, Physical Activity, & Sport (e.g. sport as an agent of social change)

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Edith Cowan University, 2020.
  • Bachelor of Science Psychology with Upper Second Class Hons, Edith Cowan University, 2012.
  • Grad Dip of Psychology, Edith Cowan University, 2011.

Research Outputs

2024

Journal Articles

  • Jeanes, R., O'Connor, J., Penney, D., Spaaij, R., Magee, J., O'Hara, E., Lymbery, L. (2024). A mixed-method analysis of the contribution of informal sport to public health in Australia. Health Promotion International, 39(3), Article number daae048. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daae048.

2023

Journal Articles

  • Hogan, J., Penney, D., O'Hara, E., Scott, J. (2023). Stakeholder perceptions of the feasibility of e-portfolio-based assessment of physical literacy in primary health and physical education. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 2023(Article in press), 17 pages. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2023.2287523.

2022

Journal Articles

  • Jeanes, R., Penney, D., O'Connor, J., Spaaij, R., O'Hara, E., Magee, J., Lymbery, L. (2022). Spatial justice, informal sport and Australian community sports participation. Leisure Studies, 2022(article in press), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2022.2085772.
  • Penney, D., O'Hara, E., Lund, R. (2022). Enhancing quality and equity? Performance assessment validation in examination physical education in Western Australia. Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education, 2022(article in press), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/25742981.2022.2136007.

2021

Journal Articles

  • O'Hara, E., Harms, C., Ma'ayah, F., Speelman, C. (2021). Educational Outcomes of Adolescents Participating in Specialist Sport Programs in Low SES Areas of Western Australia: A Mixed Methods Study. Frontiers in Psychology, 12(May 2021), Article number 667628. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.667628.
  • Barwood, D., Spears, L., O'Hara, E., Penney, D. (2021). Deconstructing health and physical education teacher education: a mapping and analysis of programme structure and content in Australia. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 26(4), 417-432. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2020.1823958.

Reports

  • Penney, D., O'Hara, E., Atkin, J., Jeanes, R., Makopoulou, K. (2021). Schoolbased provision of physical activity for students with disability. Australia. NSW Department of Education.
  • Penney, D., O'Hara, E., Lund, R. (2021). SCSA Physical Education Studies Assessment Trial. Australia. School Curriculum and Standards Authority.

2020

Journal Articles

  • Barwood, D., Jones, A., O'Hara, E. (2020). Pre-Service teachers’ mobilising health literacy in sun safety education. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 45(5), 62-73. https://doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2020v45n5.4.

2019

Reports

  • Penney, D., O'Hara, E., Atkin, J., Schembri-Portelli, J. (2019). School Swimming and Water Safety Program Evaluative Assessment Final Report. Australia. NSW Department of Education.

Research Projects

  • More sport, Their way! Promoting women's informal sport participation in WA, Healthway (WA Health Promotion Foundation), Health Promotion Research - Exploratory Research Grants, 2024 ‑ 2025, $88,154.
  • Informal sport as a health and social resource for diverse young people, Australian Research Council, Grant - Linkage (Projects), 2019 ‑ 2024, $249,421.
  • PES Performance Assessment Validation Pilot 2023, School Curriculum and Standards Authority, Grant, 2023, $16,689.
  • School‐based provision of physical activity for students with disability, Department of Education NSW, Grant, 2020 ‑ 2021, $44,718.
  • Senior Physical Education Assessment Trial , School Curriculum and Standards Authority, Grant, 2021, $19,657.

Research Student Supervision

Current Supervisions

Associate Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Changing assessment in senior secondary Physical Education: An investigation of pedagogical impact and possibilities
  • Doctor of Philosophy, ‘Meeting Standards’: Initial teacher education and preparation of generalist pre-service teachers to teach Health and Physical Education.

Completed Supervisions

Associate Supervisor

  • Master of Education, The Feasibility of E-Portfolio-based Assessment of Physical Literacy in Primary Health and Physical Education: An Exploratory Study in Western Australia
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