Although Australia enjoys a high standard of living, significant social and health problems also exist, many associated with the lifestyles individuals choose to follow, particularly with respect to drug use, accidents, diet, physical and sexual activity.
Educating the community is one way of preventing such problems or, where they exist, of minimising their effect. Individuals must assume increasing responsibility for managing their own lifestyles and achieving optimal health. This involves their making choices about lifestyle behaviours and acting on those decisions.
PD/H/PE aims to develop in each student the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to understand, value and lead healthy and fulfilling lifestyles. It makes a significant contribution to preparing students to take a responsible and productive role in society and to developing in them a commitment to life planning.
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) is a mandatory course that is studied in each of Years 7–10 with at least 300 hours to be completed by the end of Year 10. This is a requirement for completion of Stage 5 and progression to Stage 6. A grade is awarded on the Record of School Achievement.
PDHPE develops students' capacity to enhance personal health and well-being. It promotes their enjoyment of and commitment to an active lifestyle and to achieve confidence and competence in a wide range of physical activities. Through PDHPE students develop knowledge and understanding, skills and values and attitudes that enable them to advocate lifelong health and physical activity.
What will students learn about? All students study the following four modules:
Self and Relationships – Students learn about sense of self, adolescence and change, sources of personal support and the nature of positive, caring relationships
Movement Skill and Performance – Students explore the elements of composition as they develop and refine movement skills in a variety of contexts
Individual and Community Health – Students learn about the specific health issues of mental health, healthy food habits, sexual health, drug use and road safety. They examine risk, personal safety and how to access health information, products and services.
Lifelong Physical Activity – Students consider lifestyle balance and the importance of physical activity and its physical benefits. Students learn to participate successfully in a wide range of activities and to adopt roles that promote a more active community.
What will students learn to do? Throughout the course students will learn to apply some key skills that allow them to take action for health and physical activity. This includes an emphasis on communicating, interacting, problem-solving, decision-making, planning and moving.
We teach an elective subject in Years 9 and 10 - PASS (Physical Activity & Sports Studies) and in the Senior school (Years 11 and 12) we offer three courses;
- PDHPE
- Community and Family Studies
- Sport, Lifestyle & Recreation (SLR).