Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) is a key part of the NSW primary school curriculum that focuses on supporting students' holistic development. PDHPE encourages understanding of self and others, promotes physical activity, and emphasizes informed decision making. It provides opportunities for students to develop positive attitudes, communication skills, cooperation, and relationships while acquiring skills and attitudes for health and wellbeing in the present and future.

1. Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) is one of the six key
learning areas in the NSW primary curriculum. The importance for teaching PDHPE
rests in its exceptional contribution to the complete school curriculum, as it focuses
on supporting the development of the student as a whole.
Rationale for advocating teachingRationale for advocating teaching
PDHPE in Primary SchoolsPDHPE in Primary Schools

2. Encourages an understanding &
valuing of self and others
Students who understand & value themselves and others:
•exercise more control over their lives
•appropriately express a range of feelings and are open to
learning positive ways of responding to situations
•work cooperatively in teams and are caring members of
society who value difference
Therefore, PDHPE provides students with opportunities to
form positive attitudes, communicate effectively, work
cooperatively and to develop and maintain positive
relationships.

3. Promotes physical activity
Children need to be encouraged to participate in physical
activity on a regular basis as;
•it is essential for the development and maintenance of
optimum health.
•it is important in contributing to the quality of life, as active
participation can be enjoyable, creative and work as a social
mechanism that has potential to build self-esteem.
Thus, PDHPE provides frequent opportunities for students to
acquire skills, enhance creativity and develop positive attitudes
towards regular physical activity.

4. Emphasises informed decision making
leading to effective & responsible action
Schools are an effective means of helping students take responsible
action and support them in making informed decisions as;
• students become aware of the process that is occurring when
decisions are made, so that they are aware of the options available
to them.
• students are more likely to use strategies developed and learned in
the classroom in their own lives if they have been developed and
rehearsed over a period of time.

5. PDHPE as inclusive
• The specific study of PDHPE has embedded in it the very concepts
for greater health and wellbeing in general.
• PDHPE programs play a vital role in the development of students’
knowledge, understandings and practical skills that lead to better
health.
• The PDHPE KLA ultimately allows students to not only think about
the present, but also what better general health means for the
future. Emphasising learning on general health and wellbeing
realities.
Finally, PDHPE is a KLA that is completely FUN!!!

6. PDHPE as inclusive
• The specific study of PDHPE has embedded in it the very concepts
for greater health and wellbeing in general.
• PDHPE programs play a vital role in the development of students’
knowledge, understandings and practical skills that lead to better
health.
• The PDHPE KLA ultimately allows students to not only think about
the present, but also what better general health means for the
future. Emphasising learning on general health and wellbeing
realities.
Finally, PDHPE is a KLA that is completely FUN!!!