Rate My Professor Wayne Usher

Dr. Wayne Usher is a Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education in the School of Education and Professional Studies at Griffith University's Gold Coast campus, where he also serves as the Bachelor of Primary Education Program Director. He holds a PhD, Master of Health Science, Graduate Diploma in Health Science, and Diploma of Teaching. Affiliated with Griffith University since 2005, Usher possesses extensive experience in education and sport coaching, contributing to teaching, higher degree research supervision, and interdisciplinary initiatives within the Arts, Education and Law group and the Griffith Institute for Educational Research.

Usher's research focuses on the intersection of sport, psychology, and education, with key interests in mental health and wellbeing in youth sports development programs, physical literacy and activity levels, e-health, health promotion, online learning, and social media's role in health education. He has produced over 50 publications, including 'Mental health outcomes for teenage boys and girls following a youth sports development program including a mental health program' (2025), 'Reaching Young People in Urban and Rural Communities with Mental Health and Wellbeing Support Within a Youth Sports Development Program: Integrating In-Person and Remote Modes of Service Delivery' (2024), 'Evaluating the Implementation of a Multi-Technology Delivery of a Mental Health and Wellbeing System of Care Within a Youth Sports Development Program During the COVID-19 Pandemic' (2023), 'Doctoral capital and well-being amongst Australian PhD students: exploring capital and habitus of doctoral students' (2021), and 'Agility as a predictor of physical literacy, activity levels and motivation' (2019). His scholarship has accumulated over 500 citations. Usher has participated in funded projects such as a national study profiling Australia's swimming population with Swimming Australia (2025) and the NRL RISE Rugby League Development Program, which enhanced confidence and mental health among junior players.