UC Research Profile - University of Canterbury

Dr Rachael Dixon

Contact

Department: School of Health Sciences

Email: rachael.dixon@canterbury.ac.nz

Direct Dial: +64 3 3690425

Office: Rehua - Room 201

Language: English

I am passionate about school-based Health Education and I aim to advocate for effective practice through my teaching and research.

About

Research / Creative works

Networks

Projects

Methods & Equipment

Fields of Research

School-based Health Education
Critical health literacy as fostered in school spaces

Researcher Summary

Rachael is interested in investigating the learning outcomes of school-based Health Education and what the subject can 'do' in terms of contribution to people's lives and population benefit. Her PhD thesis was a qualitative study into the outcomes of senior secondary Health Education in Aotearoa. Rachael is interested in post-qualitative and posthuman inquiry and enjoys being creative.

Subject Area: Disciplines

Education: Health Education
Health and Health Sciences: Public Health ; Wellbeing

Research/Scholarly/Creative Works

Journal Articles

Dixon R. and Robertson J. (2023) Paradigms of health education in Aotearoa New Zealand: a heuristic for critiquing the promises, practices, and potential of school-based health education. Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education 14(1): 56-72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/25742981.2022.2038646.

Dixon R., Abel G. and Burrows L. (2023) A case for connecting school-based health education in Aotearoa New Zealand to critical health literacy. Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education 14(2): 127-142. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/25742981.2022.2082310.

Dixon R. and Robertson J. (2022) How school-based health education can help young people navigate an uncertain world. Health Education 122(1): 91-102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/HE-12-2020-0117.

Dixon R., Clelland T. and Blair M. (2022) It Takes a Village: Partnerships in Primary School Relationships and Sexuality Education in Aotearoa. New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies 57(2): 367-384. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40841-022-00260-5.

Dixon R., Abel G. and Burrows L. (2021) Putting assemblage to work to explore pedagogical practices in health education in Aotearoa New Zealand. Health Education 121(2): 174-188. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/HE-05-2020-0034.

Jackson N. and Dixon R. (2020) The practice of the alcohol industry as health educator: a critique. New Zealand Medical Journal 133(1515): 89-96.

Dixon R. (2018) What’s wrong with religious instruction as part of state primary school camp? Te Whakatika, Education Outdoors New Zealand 37.

Dixon R. (2017) Teachers' hopes for the future of home economics education in New Zealand. International Journal of Home Economics 10(1): 12-20.

Robertson J. and Dixon R. (2017) Health education in The New Zealand curriculum: A matter of policy. Curriculum Matters 13: 42-62. http://dx.doi.org/10.18296/cm.0019.

Discussion/Working Papers

Cushman P., Dixon R., Ireland-Smith T. and Wynd T. (2016) Health and Physical Education Stocktake of External Providers. In Health and Physical Education Stocktake of External Providers in Aotearoa New Zealand, Te Toi Tupu Leading Learning Network. Commissioned by Ministry of Education. 1-36.

Theses / Dissertations

Dixon R. (2020) Exploring Senior Secondary Health Education in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Cabinet of Curiosities. Dunedin. University of Otago.

Dixon RA. (2016) Imagining the Future of Home Economics Education in New Zealand. Christchurch, New Zealand. University of Canterbury.

Affiliations

New Zealand Health Education Association (NZHEA) (Professional Organisation): Co-chairperson, New Zealand

Future Research

Critical health literacy
Outside the classroom experiences in Health Education
Effective practice in school-based Health Education

Key Methodologies

Qualitative research
Posthumanism
New Materialisms
Post-qualitative methodologies