Personal development, health and physical education

Personal development, health and physical education (PDHPE) is mandatory from Kindergarten to Year 10.

According to the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), students are expected to participate in PDHPE for 300 hours per year in Years 7 to 10.

PDHPE provides students with opportunities to explore issues that are likely to impact on the health, safety and wellbeing of themselves and others – now and in the future. Students also participate in challenging and enjoyable physical activity, improving their capacity to move with skill and confidence.

In Year 11 and 12, courses available include:

• Community and Family Studies
• Exploring Early Childhood
• Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
• Sport, Lifestyle and Recreation Studies.

PDHPE aims to foster knowledge, skills and values that promote good health and encourage positive participation in recreation, sport and leisure activities.

It promotes lifelong participation in physical activity through the development of attitudes, skills and movement competence.

The program helps students learn about factors that promote and protect the physical, social and emotional health of individuals. They learn to identify harms associated with particular situations and behaviours, and how to make positive lifestyle choices.

The PDHPE courses aim to develop the following, and more, in students:

• an understanding of their own body
• an understanding that health has physical, mental, social and emotional dimensions
• perceptions of being healthy
• an understanding of the factors that impact directly and indirectly on the health and safety of individuals, families, groups and communities
• an awareness of factors that maintain a healthy lifestyle
• knowledge and skills to plan, implement and evaluate actions to promote health and safety
• an understanding of the physical, social and emotional development across the human lifespan to promote their health and well-being
• an understanding of how food provides nutrients for energy and growth, how it plays a significant social role in people's lives, and how to select food to promote health and growth
• respect and care of themselves
• respect and care of others
• an understanding of how relationships develop and change
• the knowledge and skills to promote effective relationships
• positive interaction and communication with others
• health decision-making skills
• movement skills in all environments.

Implementation of PDHPE    

Schools and their communities share the responsibility for promoting the benefits of healthy living and well-being to students.

All students at SSHS will study a sequential PDHPE course based upon the main idea strands, objectives and outcomes, and content contained within the PDHPE syllabus documents.

Courses offered at South Sydney High School

The courses offered by the PDHPE faculty include:

• Years 7 to 10 - the mandatory PDHPE syllabus
• Years 9 and 10 - Sports studies
• Years 11 and 12 - 2 Unit PDHPE
• Years 11 and 12 - Sport, lifestyle and recreation (SLR).

PDHPE staff and classroom teachers are required to work together, with the community and with external agencies so as to develop and implement a joint PDHPE program for all students.

School sport

School sport remains the PDHPE faculty's responsibility. It is coordinated by the sports coordinator, who is under the guidance of the Head Teacher PDHPE.

Swimming and athletic carnival

The PDHPE Head Teacher will be responsible for coordinating the school's athletic, swimming, inter-school and intra-school sports programs. This responsibility is delegated to the sports coordinator.

Students will be offered a wide variety of non-competitive, competitive, individual and team sports.

Learning opportunities will be provided so as to cater for the identified needs of each student.

Student progress in PDHPE (based upon objectives and outcomes) will be reported to students and parents in both half-yearly and end-of-year academic reports.

Budgets that provide for the needs of the PDHPE programs will be developed by the Head Teacher of PDHPE and other associated staff.