John Quay

Professor John Quay is a Professor in Physical Education in the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy, awarded in 2011, and a Master of Education (Research), both from the University of Melbourne. His career at the institution includes prior roles as Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor in the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, reflecting his sustained contributions to educational scholarship and teaching. Quay coordinates subjects in Health and Physical Education as listed in the University of Melbourne Handbook, supporting the professional development of educators in these areas.

Quay's research specializations include curriculum theory, philosophy of education, outdoor education, and physical education. He belongs to the Social Transformations & Education research group and is associated with the Health, Outdoor, Physical Education and Sport specialist area within the Faculty of Education. Serving as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education, he shapes discourse in the field through editorial leadership. His publications feature peer-reviewed articles in prominent journals, such as the Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning (2013, volume 13, issue 2, pages 142-157) and forthcoming work in the Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education (2026). Quay has authored books that integrate philosophical insights from Dewey, Peirce, and Heidegger into educational theory. He engages broader audiences via Pursuit by the University of Melbourne, publishing articles like "Blind faith in Australia’s education ‘system’ is failing our kids" (2024), critiquing systemic rigidities; "Learning by knowing, by doing, by being" (2023), promoting holistic learning; and "Making learning meaningful," prioritizing student engagement over standardized testing. Additionally, he contributes to initiatives such as Creative Learning Units (CLUes) for enhancing physical education teaching and assessment integration, and has delivered webinars on outdoor learning curricula.

Professional Email: jquay@unimelb.edu.au