National Organisations

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Below are the links to national organisations responsible for promoting and supporting physical education in schools and the wider community.

Australia

The Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation Inc. (ACHPER) is the leading professional association representing teachers and other professionals working in the fields of health and physical education. We are a member based, not-for-profit organisation with a significant profile.

The PDHPE Teachers’ Association has evolved from the first gathering of Heads of Physical Education Departments in 1977. Historically, the Association was a Department of School Education group which expanded its membership to include the non- government sector in 1995. Past titles of the Association include PE Head Teachers’ Council, Health Studies Head Teachers’ Council and PDHPE Head Teachers’ Council. Annual Conference 1997 was the scene for further evolution.

Canada

We have been Canada’s premier professional organization for physical and health educators since its inception as the Canadian Physical Education Association (CPEA) in 1933. In 1948, it became the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (CAHPER), and then the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance in 1994. The 75th year of service to the profession saw the Association evolve to become Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada).

Since 1921, Ophea has been working to support the health and learning of children and youth in Ontario. Ophea is a not-for-profit organization led by the vision that all kids value and enjoy the lifelong benefits of healthy active living.

Ophea works in partnership with school boards, public health, government, non-government organizations, and private sector organizations to develop groundbreaking programs and services that support healthy active schools and communities.

Spain

Spanish Federation of PE teachers (Federación española de docentes de Educación Física). This organization groups fourteen regional federations of PE teachers. It has a pedagogical character, including between, recycling, exchange of experiences, publications, the organization of meetings, conferences, workshops etc.

Spanish PE Scientific Society (Educación Física Española Sociedad Científica). This organization established in 2008, is a non-profit scientific society. It aims at promoting research and communication between researchers from different universities and promote the increase in the impact of scientific journals in the area. 

Portugal

APPEFIS (Associação Portuguesa de Professores de Educação Física/Portuguese Association of PE Teachers) is mainly a professional association of school PE teachers, and is involved in teachers' extra-curriculum education (clinics, workshops, etc) and lobby activities
website (only in Portuguese): 

SPEF - Sociedade Portuguesa de Educação Física/Portuguese Society of Physical Education is the biggest and most known organization in the country. It was founded in 1983 and represents the scientific community in the field of PE.

At international level, SPEf is a member of FIEP (Federation Internationel de Education Physique), FETEF (Federação Europeia dos Titulados em Educação Física),  ICHPER (International Council For Health Physical Education Recreation) and EUPEA (European Physical Education Association).