School of Education

Josh Ambrosy

Position: Lecturer
Study area: Outdoor Education 
Location: Mt Helen Campus, Room T303 
Email: j.ambrosy@federation.edu.au

Qualifications

Master of Education (Coursework with Minor Thesis) – Deakin University – 2015

Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Teaching (Science) – Deakin University - 2011

Teaching

Programs

  • Bachelor of Outdoor and Environmental Education
  • Bachelor of Sport, Physical and Outdoor Education
  • Bachelor of Health and Physical Education
  • Master of Teaching

Courses

  • Outdoor Education Curriculum 1 (OEEDU3000/3500/6000)
  • Outdoor Education Curriculum 2 (OEEDU3100/3600/6100)
  • Engaging Professionally 1 (EDMAS2026)
  • Education Outdoors (OEEDU4500)

Biography

Josh is a lecturer in the School of Education at Federation University, his teaching interests include outdoor education and professional practice. Josh's research focuses on alternative models of teaching and learning in middle years education. Josh uses the arts-based methodology of poetic inquiry within his research. Josh has worked in several P-12 school contexts across Government, Independent and Catholic sectors. Josh is also heavily involved in multiple professional associations related to his work in the outdoor and broader education sectors. His contributions to these groups involve: speaking, professional writing and advisory panel membership.

Areas of expertise

(1) Year nine- and middle-years programs

Josh’s research has into alternative education settings focuses mainly on how these programs operate within middle years settings. Josh’s research on year nine programs has focused on how current programs utilise curriculum and pedagogy to engage students at these year levels in schooling, and the barriers that schools face in developing and maintaining these programs.

(2) Arts-based methodologies

In his research, Josh uses arts-based methodologies as non-representational ways of understanding, deconstructing and representing what is happening in middle years programs. Within his doctorate, Josh employed three different forms of poetic inquiry to 'understand' and 'deconstruct' what was happening in the context examined.

(3) Educational policy

Josh has a strong interest in educational policy. In particular, those related to both curriculum and outdoor activities. Josh has been an active member of the Outdoors Victoria Safety Guidelines Advisory Panel for several years.

Research interests

  • Year nine programs
  • Middle years education
  • Arts-based methodologies
  • Poetic inquiry

Publications

Books

Ambrosy, J., Harris, J., Hipwell, A., & Hodges, B. (2018). VCE Outdoor & Environmental Studies Units 3&4. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.

Associations

  • Australian Association of Educational Research
  • Outdoors Victoria - Affiliate