PDHPE teaches important life skills not covered in other academic subjects, including how to care for oneself and others, make healthy choices, and interact safely. However, PDHPE is only allocated a small portion of curriculum time. The subject covers both theoretical and practical topics from nutrition and safety to relationships and physical activity. These lessons teach information valuable for life outside of school and help children's social development by growing them into adults able to understand themselves and interact positively with others.

1. PDHPE is one of the Key Learning Areas that are taught in
Primary Schools across Australia. PDHPE is unique in that it
teaches a set of life skills that are not discussed or expanded
upon in other more academic based subjects.

2. • PDHPE is a subject that teaches children a set of life
skills that assist in teaching the child how to be a
positive member of their community, looking after the
people around them and their environment. Also it
teaches them how to look after themselves so they
can live a healthy and happy life.
• However this subject is only given a small fraction of
time in the curriculum to teach these children
important life lessons.

3. What is Taught?
• In PDHPE there are a wide range of subjects
– both theory and practical.
• From Early Stage 1 onwards students are
learning important life skills like nutrition,
personal safety, personal identity and a
myriad of other important subjects.
• These subjects don’t just teach information
that is only useful in the school environment
but also information that will be valuable
throughout their lives.

4. Examples from the Syllabus
• From Early Stage 1 students will be learning skills like
how to care for others (IRES1.11). This is an important
skill to have when looking at maintaining relationships.
• We also see students learning how to make healthy
choices from Early Stage 1 – PHES1.12, PHS1.12,
PHS2.12, PHS3.12 – this is so valuable in our society
with a rising rate of obesity. Teaching children how to
make healthy choices is key in fighting the growing
obesity problem.
• We also see subjects like road safety, water safety,
interactions with others, etc. scattered throughout the
syllabus. All of these subjects are of great importance
and will contribute to the students well being outside of
the classroom.

5. Physical Development
• Also, children are given the opportunity to
be active through their physical
development subjects – something that no
other class has.
• Sports and games are a great addition to
any classroom and assist children in
refocusing and re-energizing throughout
the day.

6. Why PDHPE?
• PDHPE teaches LIFE SKILLS not just
subjects. All of the subjects taught in
PDHPE help a child’s social development
– growing them into mature adults capable
of understanding themselves, their own
capabilities and how to interact positively
with those around them.