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How to Become a Physical Health and Education (PE) Teacher in Australia: careers in Education
Definition of a Physical Health and Education (PE) Teacher
A PE teacher is a qualified education professional. They teach health and physical education in Australian schools. The role requires a four-year bachelor’s degree in education with an HPE major. They also need full teacher registration in their state or territory.
PE teachers plan and deliver lessons based on the national HPE curriculum. They cover movement skills, sport, nutrition, mental health, and personal wellbeing. Many hold leadership roles, such as head of HPE or school wellbeing coordinator.
Around 153,800 people work as secondary school teachers in Australia, and 78% work full-time (yourcareer.gov.au, 2024). The median age is 42, and 62% of the workforce is female. The job outlook is stable.
Pay ranges from around $80,000 for early-career teachers to $130,000 for experienced ones (Randstad, 2025). SEEK (June 2026) shows the average annual range for PE teachers is $100,000 to $115,000.
About the author
Explore career guides by Laura Atkinson. Practical how-to-become advice on qualifications, skills, salary and job outlook across Australia.
