Rate My Professor John Evans

Professor John Evans, a proud Wiradjuri man, is the inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor for Indigenous Engagement at Swinburne University of Technology, appointed in April 2022. He leads the Moondani Toombadool Centre and provides oversight for the university's Indigenous Teaching and Learning Strategy, Indigenous Research Strategy, and Indigenous Employment Strategy. Prior to this, Evans served as Professor of Indigenous Health Education in the School of Sport and Exercise Science within the Faculty of Health at the University of Technology Sydney. He holds adjunct appointments at the University of Sydney and Massey University, New Zealand. Evans obtained his PhD in Education from the University of Sydney in 2006, along with a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education from the same university. His career features extensive research and teaching experience bolstered by strong industry and community engagement.

Evans specializes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander physical activity and sport research, with key interests in Indigenous sport sociology, Indigenous sport and physical activity studies, pedagogy, coaching, and sports science. Recognized as a leading academic, he employs both qualitative and quantitative methodologies informed by an Indigenous standpoint. His expertise has been engaged by national sporting bodies such as Netball Australia, the National Rugby League, and the Australian Rugby Union. Evans was an ARC Indigenous Research Fellow. Notable publications include 'Indigenous participation in Australian sport: The perils of the "Panacea" proposition' (Evans, Wilson, Dalton, Georgakis, Cosmopolitan Civil Societies), 'Australian Indigenous youth's participation in sport and associated health outcomes: Empirical analysis and implications' (Dalton, Wilson, Evans, Georgakis), and 'Co-designing a health promotion program for Australian Indigenous women living with chronic disease: protocol for the Strong Hearts program' (English et al., 2023). His scholarship has garnered over 1,000 citations, influencing Indigenous health and sports science fields.