DrCameron Van der Smee

Cameron Van der Smee is a leading educator in higher education with expertise in Health and Physical Education, and Sociology. He brings expertise in curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, engagement and reflective practice to his teaching of health and physical education pre-service teachers.

Cameron built his career in teaching and learning, beginning as a primary school class and physical education teacher before transitioning into tertiary education. He currently serves as the Course Director of the Bachelor of Health and Physical Education program. As a director, he has steered the program through a national accreditation and developed a range of programs to support student success and engagement, including a suite of first-year programs to help with the transition into university. As a leader, he has developed multiple innovative approaches that he has applied to improve student learning in his units and the broader program. He has also mentored multiple staff members in delivering these approaches in their own teaching.

As an educator, his teaching philosophy is underpinned by student-centred pedagogies. These pedagogies are beneficial as they challenge power relations by allowing educators to listen and pedagogically respond to the needs and interests of diverse student groups in their own contexts. This approach also provides the ability to engage with student voice by providing the opportunity for students to shape their own education. This approach provides the opportunity to support pre-service teachers (PSTs) in developing their ability to pedagogically respond to the diverse range of student strengths and needs in their classrooms. 

Cameron applies this approach to develop his teaching and scholarship hand-in-hand, by applying everything that he researches into his teaching and using his teaching to guide the areas that he researches. Cameron has been invited to present on his approach to teaching and learning both nationally (AARE Conference, AEA Teachers Conference) and internationally (Guest Lecture at the University of Sargodha, Pakistan)

His contribution to teaching excellence in Teacher Education has been recognised through a Vice-Chancellor's Award for Teaching and Learning (Federation University, 2022) and acknowledgment as a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2025)