Health and Physical Education
Health and Physical Education provides a holistic approach to the study of health of individuals. To understand what it means to be healthy requires specific knowledge about the body and also the environment that impacts on an individual’s ability to live a healthy lifestyle.
During the compulsory years of schooling in the Health and Physical Education key learning area, students develop the knowledge, processes, skills and attitudes to:
- select and use information and apply problem-solving and decision-making strategies to:
- make informed decisions about health, physical activity and personal development
- evaluate their own actions and the actions of others
- develop a strong commitment to promoting equity, acknowledging diversity and establishing supportive environments with respect to health, physical activity and personal development
- reflect on and evaluate the influence of biological, social, cultural and environmental factors on:
- their own and others’ health and personal development
- their own and others’ attitudes towards, and participation in, physical activity
- promote the health of themselves, others and their communities
- accept responsibility as an individual member of a group or community to create and maintain environments supportive of optimum health
- develop and refine motor skills necessary for participation in physical activity and acquire and apply movement concepts to enhance performance
- develop positive attitudes towards participation in regular physical activity and an appreciation of the benefits of physical activity and of the aesthetic and technical qualities of movement
- enhance their own and others’ self-concept and self-esteem, and develop the skills for creating and maintaining positive interactions and relationships
The HPE key learning area consists of two strands of study.
The first strand, Physical Activity and Health (HPE) uses physical fitness and physical skills as a practical basis to explore the concept of health and personal development. Participation in a diverse range of individual and team sporting pursuits is central to these units. Issues that impact on health and sporting success such as drug and alcohol use, nutrition, relationships and personal development milestones are investigated in this strand.
The second strand, Health and Society (HEC) uses the planning and preparation of food as a practical basis for the study of health. This course begins investigating health from an individual’s nutritional point of view to a broader perspective of how issues in society impact on an individual’s personal development, interpersonal skills and health choices.
All students must do HPE 451- Foundation unit in Semester 1 Year 8 and HPE 561 in Semester 2 Year 8. In Year 9, students can elect to choose units from either the HPE or HEC strands as their study in Health and Physical Education.
In Years 9 and 10 (Semesters 3-6) students can elect to choose units from either the HPE or HEC strands to continue their studies in Health and Physical Education.
It would be recommended that a student interested in studying Senior Physical Education (PE) would need to complete HPE 651 – Preparing for Senior PE, a whole year subject in Year 10. Similarly, a student who is interested in studying Recreation in Senior would need to complete a semester of HPE 652-Recreation Investigations.
A student who is interested in studying Home Economics in Senior would be advised to study a level 6 Unit from the HEC strand.
