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Kristy O'Neill

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Kristy O'Neill

Dr

 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4178-4887

Accepting PhD/HDR Students

PhD/HDR projects

Kristy is currently able to serve as a co-supervisor for Postgraduate research students.<br/><br/>

20122026

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Biographical Details

Dr Kristy O’Neill is a member of the Health, Physical and Sport Studies Education (HPESS) team in the School of Education. She completed her PhD at The University of Sydney in 2018. This research was partially funded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and focused on the relationship between early developmental environment and Olympic success, through conducting an analysis of an Australian sporting “hotspot”. Prior to arriving at UNE, Kristy’s background in tertiary education has spanned several teaching, research and professional roles across three other institutions including The University of Sydney, University of Wollongong and Charles Sturt University. Alongside a focus on teaching and research within HPESS, Kristy has an ongoing passion for social inclusion and student equity within higher education which grew from her time working on a range of HEPPP-funded  schools outreach projects with Widening Participation and Outreach at The University of Sydney. O'Neill has led the procurement of over $700,000 in Commonwealth, NSW State government and philanthropic funding as Chief Investigator, including 2 C1 projects. These projects have focused on youth, health and wellbeing in the New England. This includes the Australian Government - Department of Health 'Driving Social Inclusion through Sport and Physical Activity' (DSISPA) 2020-2023 project in Armidale that took an intersectoral approach to health in supporting the Ezidi community in their settlement. Kristy has received two Australian Award for University Teaching (AAUT) - Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2022 - Individual, 2024 - CSSP Team) and in 2023 was the inaugural recipient of the ODLAA National Open and Distance Learning Award for Higher Education.

Teaching

Kristy teaches core primary curriculum units, alongside discipline electives pertaining to health and physical education.

Unit coordinator and lecturer (T1 and T2):

EDPE150: Sociocultural Foundations of Health and Physical Education

EDPE247: Teaching Physical Education in Primary Schools

EDPE346: Teaching Health Education in Primary Schools

Professional Information

Awards and recognition

  • Digital Education Council - Best practices collection - CSSP (2026)
  • Australian Award for University Teaching (AAUT)(2024) - Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (CSSP Team)
  • ACEL (Australian Council for Educational Leaders) NSW Team Leadership Award (2024) – CSSP Team
  • University of New England - Vice-Chancellor Citation for Education Excellence - CSSP Team (2024)
  • ODLAA National Open and Distance Learning Award - Higher Education (2023)
  • Spirit of Sport Award  (DSISPA  program) - UNE 2023 Sports Awards
  • HTB Harris award for Significant Contribution to Education (CSSP Team) - 2023 ACEL (New England-North West) &  New England Education  Cooperative
  • Australian Award for University Teaching (AAUT)(2022) - Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (Individual)
  • HASSE Early Career Researcher Award (2022)[AUD $1500]
  • University of New England - Vice-Chancellor Citation for Education Excellence (2022)
  • University of New England - Faculty Citation for Education Excellence 2022 (Individual) & 2023 (CSSP team)
  • University of New England - School Citation for Education Excellence 2021 (Individual) & 2023 (CSSP team)
  • University of New England - Unit commendations 2021 (EDPE150, EDPE343, EDPE346), 2022 (EDPE247), 2023 (EDPE150, EDPE343), 2024 (EDPE150, EDPE247), 2025 (EDPE150, EDPE247)
  • Young Investigators Award – Oral Presentation (2nd place), 22nd annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Essen, Germany (2017) [EUR 3,000]
  • Young Investigator Award - Best Oral Presentation ICSEMIS conference, Glasgow, Scotland (2012)[£650]
  • Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) (2012-2015)[AUD$87, 000]
  • Postgraduate Research Support Scheme (PRSS) (2012, 2013, 2014)[AUD 3,000]
  • University Medal – The University of Sydney (2011)

Professional Information

In the Media (selected)

Kristy has engaged in sharing her research with the public on several occasions, which has resulted in multiple online, print, TV and live radio outputs nationally. These included, yet were not limited to, prominent Australian media sources such as the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Business Insider Australia, ABC Radio National & TV, NBN News, Prime 7 News, alongside a page 1 story in The Weekend West.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-27/regional-swim-club-for-new-migrants-a-resounding/103267414

https://www.une.edu.au/connect/news/2022/10/helping-primary-children-get-active-to-support-wellbeing

  • Citations for outstanding contributions to student learning (Campus Morning Mail)

https://campusmorningmail.com.au/news/citations-for-outstanding-contributions-to-student-learning/

https://blog.une.edu.au/pulsenews/2022/08/10/plan-d-nets-kristy-a-vice-chancellors-citation-for-an-outstanding-contribution-to-student-learning/

  • Ezidi refugees benefit from new sports program (NBN North West)

https://www.nbnnews.com.au/2020/07/02/yazidi-refugees-benefit-from-new-sporting-program/

  • UNE awarded grant to boost refugee and migrant participation in sport (The Pulse UNE)

https://blog.une.edu.au/hasse/2020/07/02/une-awarded-grant-to-boost-refugee-and-migrant-participation-in-sport/  

  • World Traditional Games on the cards for new  youth leadership program (The Pulse UNE)

https://blog.une.edu.au/hasse/2022/02/22/world-traditional-games-on-the-cards-for-new-youth-leadership-program/

  • Australia's Olympian-producing hot spot lies in Perth's western suburbs (Sydney Morning Herald duplicated in WA Today, The Age, Brisbane Times, Canberra Times)

https://www.smh.com.au/national/western-australia/australias-olympianproducing-hot-spot-lies-in-perths-western-suburbs-20160726-gqe5nz.html

  • Which is Australia’s most successful Olympic town? (The University of Sydney)

https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2016/07/26/which-is-australia-s-most-successful-olympic-town-.html

Education/Academic qualification

Doctorate, University of Sydney

Honours, University of Sydney

Research Interests

  • Athlete development, performance and history
  • Health and Physical Education
  • Equity, inclusion and widening participation
  • Initial teacher education
  • Community development and social inclusion through sport
  • Olympics

Approved to Supervise

  • Approved PhD/HDR supervisor

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
  2. SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
    SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
  3. SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
    SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

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