Health Sciences

School based health promotion and education, sexuality education, gender and violence, teacher education and teacher professional development, curriculum and resource development, young people and sexuality

The study was initially conceived out of a concern for the situation of same sex attracted young people in Australian secondary schools and the clear reluctance and ability of teachers to address diverse sexualities in their health education programs.

In its broadest sense study has explored the factors and conditions that make it possible for secondary school health education teachers to include and affirm gender and sexual diversity in teaching. Teacher professional development and access to classroom resources are regularly argued to be a key to improving teacher practice in sexuality education. The release of the Talking Sexual Health resources by the Commonwealth Government in 2000/1 enabled the study to examine the impact of a professional development program and classroom resource that had a key focus on training teachers to be inclusive and affirming of gender and sexual diversity.

 I am currently working at Deakin University as a lecturer in the Arts and Education Faculty. My teaching responsibilities fall primarily in health education and the broad area of promoting student wellbeing.

In addition I am involved in a 3 year Vic Health funded active participation project with Dr Kathryn Meldrum (Deakin University).

Title: Connecting disengaged young people to lifelong health and physical eduction.

The focus of my research in this project is on the impact of a health education intervention on rural young women’s understanding of their health, health issues, their sense of self, connectedness and their relationships.

Refereed journal articles

Mitchell, A., Ollis, D. & Watson, J. (2000) Talking sexual health: What goes into a National Framework for HIV/AIDS education in secondary schools? Youth Studies Australia 19 (4), 20 –24

Mitchell, A., Ollis, D., & Watson, J. (2000) Talking Sexual Health: A National Application of Health Promoting School Framework for HIV/AIDS Education in Secondary Schools, Journal of School Health, August 2000, Vol 70, No.6 American School health Association

Mitchell, A. & Ollis, D. (2002) Talking Sexual Health – Promoting Partnerships To Create A Whole School Approach   Health Education Australia Vol 3 No 3 2003

Rosenthal, D., Haste, B., Mitchell, A., & Ollis, D (2000), Teaching About Hepatitis C: A National Survey of Secondary Teachers, Australian Research Centre, Health Promotion Journal of Australia

Curriculum Corporation (1992), Facing up Teachers Handbook, Specialist Writer Chapter V1, Curriculum Corporation
Curriculum Corporation. (1996), Home Economics in Secondary School, Specialist Writer
Journal of Health Education Association  Vol 3 No 3 2003
Mitchell, A. & Ollis, D. (2001) Talking Sexual Health: A new approach to sexuality education in Australian secondary schools.  Health Education Australia Journal
Mitchell A. & Ollis, D. (2002) Talking Sexual Health: Promoting partnerships to create a whole school approach.  Health Education Australia January 2003
Ollis, D. (1991), Standing Strong: Challenging Violent and Sexually Abusive Relationships in State Equal Opportunity Newsletter Vol 10. No1 1991
Ollis, D. 'There's more to Home economics than Boning Chickens, ECHO Journal of the Victorian Home Economics and Textiles Teachers` Association Vol 31, No 2. December 1992
Ollis, D. (2001), The Time Is Right - Addressing Sexual Diversity in Health Education
Ollis, D. (2003) The Business of Sexuality Education. Changing Practice – the need for professional Development, Journal of Health Education Association   Vol 3 No 3 2003
Ollis, D. (2005) I’m just a home economics teacher. Does discipline background impact on teachers’ ability to affirm and include gender and sexual diversity in secondary school health education programs Journal of the Home Economics Institute of Australia Vol 12, No 1, 2005
Ollis, D. and Watson, J. (1999) A National Framework for HIV, STDs, Blood borne Viruses within Sexuality Education for Australian Schools, Journal of Health Education Association Summer 1999.
Conference, Australia Capital Territory Canberra
Ollis, D. (1996) Issues in Developing A Strategic Plan for STD/AIDS Prevention Education in Secondary Schools, in Schooling and Sexualities Ed by Laskey, L. and Beavis C. Deakin Centre for Education and Change, Victoria

Ollis, D. (1996) Standing Strong or Standing Weak? Equal Opportunity, Violence Against Women and the School Curriculum: A Case Study ECHO Vol 35 No.1 p.18-25
Ollis. D., and Mitchell, A.(2001) Talking Sexual Health: A teaching and learning Resource for Secondary Schools Australian National Council for AIDs, Hepatitis C and Related Diseases Commonwealth of Australia.
Ollis D., Mitchell, A., & Watson (2000) Talking Sexual Health: Professional Development Resource Australian National Council for AIDs, Hepatitis C and Related Diseases, Commonwealth of Australia.
Patton, G., Glover, S., Bowles, G., Ollis, D., & Di Pietro, G. (1996), The Gatehouse Project: Engaging Youth. A Short Report of the Development Phase, 1996. Melbourne: Centre for Adolescent Health.
Rosenthal D., Haste, B., Mitchell, A., & Ollis, D (2000) Teaching About Hepatitis C: A National Survey of Secondary Teachers, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society: Report to Australian National Council for AIDs, Hepatitis C and Related Diseases
Victorian Commercial Teachers Association (1996) Student Nutrition Awareness Project, Specialist writer
Victorian Department of Employment, Education and Training (2004) Catching On: A Sexual Health Resource with a Focus on STIs/HIV/AIDS for Victorian Government Secondary Schools.

Australian National Council for AIDs, Hepatitis C and Related Diseases (1999) Talking Sexual Health: National Framework for Education About STI’s, HIV/AIDS and Blood borne Viruses in Secondary Schools, Commonwealth of Australia (Principal writer)
Department of Education (1995), STD/AIDs, Prevention Education Strategy
Ollis, D.(1995) STD/AIDS Prevention Education Project: Discussion Paper Department of Education Melbourne
Ollis D, and Tomaszewski, I. (1993) Gender and Violence Position Paper. Australian Government Publishing, Canberra

Ollis, D. (1994) Gender and Violence the context for a Whole School Approach: Violence in Schools: The Changing Face of School Culture Conference: Melbourne May 1994.
Ollis, D. (1994) Sexuality Education in Secondary Schools: Centre for Social Health: AIDS Update June1994:
Ollis, D. (1994) A national approach to combating gender-based violence in schools: Canberra Women’s Teachers Association: April 1994.
Ollis, D. (1995) Gender and Violence and the National Action Plan Promoting Gender Equity Conference Canberra February 1995
Ollis, D. (1995) Gender and Violence and the school culture: AEU Federal Women’s Conference: Gender Equity, From Theory to Practice: October 1995.
Ollis, D. (1995) Issues in Developing s Strategic Plan for STD/AIDS Prevention Education in Secondary Schools: Deakin Centre for Education and Change: Schooling and Sexualities Conference: Melbourne 1995
Ollis, D. (1995) A Whole School Approach to STD/HIV Education in Schools: Centre for Social Health: AIDS Update: December 1995:
Ollis, D. (1996) Standing Strong or Standing Weak?  Equal Opportunity, Family Violence and the School Curriculum: A Case Study, Post-Graduate Conference: Melbourne University September 1996
Ollis, D. (1996) Finding Granny: An ordinary woman: Western Region International Women’s Day Conference: March 1996
Ollis, D. (1996) Broadening Home Economics: A context for Addressing Gender and Violence: Australian Home Economics Conference: December 1997
Ollis, D. (1997) Teaching for Diversity, Melbourne Health in Difference Conference 1997
Ollis, D. (1997) A Strategic Plan for HIV/STDs Education for Victorian Secondary Schools: Health Promoting School Conference, Melbourne 1997
Ollis, D. (1999) From Theory to Practice: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society: Seminar Series, Latrobe University April 1999.
Ollis, D. (2000) A National Framework for Schools: Centre for Social Health: AIDS Update: May 2000:
Ollis, D. (2000) Is Gender still on the agenda?: Centre for Adolescent Health: Seminar series: May 2000
Ollis, D. (2000) Teaching Sexuality in the Middle Years using the health promoting schools framework Health Promoting Schools and the middle years conference 2000
Ollis, D. (2000) Same –Sex attracted young people and student welfare, Northern Metropolitan, Student Welfare Coordinators Conference October 2000
Ollis, D. (2000) Safety in our schools, responding to homophobia, North-Western Student Welfare conference November 2000
Ollis, D. (2002) Talking Sexual Health: toward an inclusive approach. Key note address at Framing the Future PDHPETA State Conference, Armidale, NSW, October 2002.
Mitchell, A & Ollis, D. (2002) Talking Sexual Health: A national evidence –based package for sexuality education in secondary schools. Expanding the vision for youth health and wellbeing: Australian and New Zealand Adolescent Health Conference. Melbourne, March 2002
Ollis, D. (2004) The Treading Water - An Overview Of The Impact Of Professional Development On Secondary Health Education Teachers Preparedness To Affirm And Include Sexual Diversity In The Curriculum 18th World Conference on Health Promotion and Health Education April 2004.
Ollis, D. (2004) I’m just a home economics teacher. Does discipline background impact on teachers’ ability to affirm and include gender and sexual diversity in secondary school health education programs. AARE Melbourne 2004
Ollis, D. (2005) Risky Business Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation Annual Conference, Melbourne, November 2005.
Ollis, D. (2005) Changing Practice in Sexuality Education Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation Middle Years Conference, Melbourne, August 2005.
Ollis, D. (2005) Ten Years On Sexuality and Schooling Conference Deakin University Melbourne, September 2005.
Ollis, D. (2006) Risky Business: Promoting Effective Sexuality Education ACHPER Health and Physical Education Conference Melbourne November 2006.
Ollis, D. (2006) Reclaiming Sexuality Education VHETTA Annual Conference Melbourne November 2006

Email Debbie.Ollis@deakin.edu.au