Dr Alf Colvin

• Qualifications
• Biography
  
• Research
  
• Selected Publications
• Grants/Current Projects
• Teaching Interests
• Awards/Honours
• Professional Activities

Qualifications

DipPhysEd; BA(Hons); MEd(Hons); PhD

 ^ Back to top

Biography

Prior to starting at the University of Western Sydney (UWS) Dr Colvin was a Teacher, Adviser, Principal Curriculum Officer, Inspector and Deputy Director of Sport and Recreation in the NSW Department of Education.

In 1973 Alf started his postgraduate study at the University of Alberta in Canada and obtained his doctorate in 1975. Whilst at the University of Alberta Alf did some seasonal lecturing.

In 1975 Alf returned to the NSW Department of Education as the Principal Curriculum Officer looking after secondary education, talented children and primary school music, he was later appointed as a secondary inspector.

In 1989 Alf joined The Australian College of Education as their Deputy Principal and remained in office until 1997.

In 1997 Alf took up a position at UWS as a lecturer and was promoted to senior lecturer in 2003.

Alf previously held the position of Head of program in Therapeutic Recreation and Naturopathy and has chaired external committees in Osteopathy, Naturopathy and the Uniclinic committee. He is still currently a member of the PDHPE committee for UWS and the UWS Sports Scholarship committee.

 ^ Back to top

Research

• Establishing a research relationship with MDS (Macarthur Disability Services) over the next three years
• Collaborative work with Dr Margaret Skropeta and the Uniting Church on intergenerational research between children and aged people in aged care centres
• Physical activity programs for adolescents within disability programs in MDS (Macarthur Disability Services)
• Training, accreditation and insurance, mapping the requirements for fitness professionals and other physical activity instructors for NSW Health
• An evaluation of the Healthy Lifestyle Outcomes for the Smith Family in relation to the Tea Garden camping project
• An evaluation of the sports disability program of the Department of Recreation and the Traffic Authority
• Assist beyond conceptual stage with an evaluation of the Veterans and all generations Shoot’N’Shuffle Challenge (McCallum & Skropeta)

  ^ Back to top  

Selected Publications

Colvin, A. (2005). Coordinator for the report on 'Rural-Urban Settlement in Macarthur and Nepean Regions'. Macarthur Diversity Services Inc.

McCallum, J., Skropeta, M., & Colvin, A. (2003). A Sporting Chance: An Evaluation of the Veterans and All Generations Shoot-N-Shuffle. UWS CHOIR Publication.

Colvin, A. (2003). Training, accreditation and insurance, mapping the requirements for Fitness Professionals and other Physical Activity Instructors. Report prepared for the University of Western Sydney for NSW Health Injury and Prevention Policy.

Colvin, A. (2001). The National President's Column. The ACHPER Healthy Lifestyle Journal. Each year from 1994-2001. 

Other publications are registered with National and International conferences at which Alf has presented papers.

  ^ Back to top

Grants/Current projects

In collaboration with Dr Skropeta and the Uniting Church on a study looking at intergenerational research between children and aged people in aged care centres.

Macarthur Disability Services (MDS) - over the next three years for research related to disability in the Macarthur area.

 ^ Back to top

Teaching Interests

Dr Alf Colvin's main teaching interests lie in the Research area and the Therapeutic Recreation curriculum. His other teaching interests are in The National Curriculum in Health and Physical Education and State and Territory Strategies; Leadership and Change; and in Aged Care and Physical Activity.

 ^ Back to top

Awards/Honours

• Life Member ACHPER
• Various Royal Life Saving Awards - National and international
• National Service Medal

 ^ Back to top

Professional Activities   

• 2005 - to present. Executive member of The National Education Forum (NEF)
• 1999 - to present. UWS representative on the Macarthur Diversity Services Board and has been the chairperson for the previous 6 years
• 2007 - to present. A peer review editor for the Australian Council for Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER), The Healthy Lifestyles Journal and an associate editor of the Australasian Journal of Diversional Therapy
• 1985 - 2001. The NSW and the National President of ACHPER
• 1988 - 2000. National Board member of Fitness Australia and National chair of the Fitness Industry Training Committee
• 1980 1997. Chair of the National Jump Rope Committee
• 1970 - 1980. Member of the original committee with the National Heart Foundation and the Deputy President of the NSW Institute of Parks and Recreation
• 1984 - 1996. Member of the Academic Boards of the Macdonald College of Dance and the Australian College of Physical Education
• 1996 - 1998. Member of the National Universities Sports Council convening and managing the national surf board and winter skiing championships
• 1998 - 2007. Member of the Young Carers Advisory Committee
• 1966 - 2000. Member of a variety of committees for the NSW Board of Studies.

Alf edited the Marjory Swain monograph on Physical Education in England, America and New South Wales 1940-1960 and the allied subjects NSW Education Department Publication.

Alf has presented papers at numerous national and international conferences on the curriculum areas of Sport, recreation, health education and physical education and therapeutic recreation in relation to leadership and change, aged care and physical activity. He is presenting at the 2010 Diversional Therapy Conference.

 ^ Back to top