PDHPE (Personal Development, Health and Physical Education) is a compulsory subject in NSW schools that teaches important health-related topics like physical education, nutrition, mental health, relationships, and risk prevention. It is important because it encourages self-understanding and respect for others, promotes physical activity, and emphasizes informed decision making. Research shows physical inactivity is a global problem, with 60% of people not meeting activity guidelines and 2 million deaths annually related to inactivity. In schools, only about 70% meet the minimum physical activity requirement of 2 hours per week. As a result, childhood obesity has doubled in the past 25 years. One of the best ways to address this is by teaching PDHPE, which educ

1. A brief look at why it is so important to teach PDHPE

2. What is PDHPE anyway?
PDHPE of Personal Development, Health and Physical Education is a
compulsory subject taught in NSW schools. PDHPE incorporates a wide range
of material, including physical education; nutrition; disease; mental health;
drugs and drug abuse; relationships, and power and abuse in relationships;
risk; family; road safety; sexuality, STDs, and contraception; first aid and CPR;
discrimination, harassment, vilification and anti-discrimination legislation.

3. But why teach it?
According to the PDHPE K-6 syllabus there are a number of reasons why
PDHPE is a key learning area within the curriculum, these include:
• Encourages an understanding and valuing of self and others
• Promotes physical activity
• Emphasises informed decision making leading to effective and
responsible action
But if its in the curriculum that means its being taught anyway right?
Wrong!! Lets take a look at some research.

4. The facts- Global Scale
The World Health Organisation (WHO) found in 2006 that:
• At least 60% of the global population does not achieve the minimum
recommendation of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity daily physical activity.
• Physical inactivity causes 2 million deaths worldwide annually.
• Physical activity and physical education is declining in schools worldwide
• There is a worldwide estimate that 22 million children under the age of five
are overweight.

5. The Facts- In schools
The DEC requires schools to deliver two hours per week of planned
physical activity however they do not monitor achievement of this
requirement. As such it is estimated that approximately 30% of primary
schools are not meeting the minimum two hours required each week.
This lack of physical activity, as well as an increase in children
consuming an unhealthy diet has led to the proportion of Australian
Children that are overweight to double in the past 25 years.

6. Well how do we fix it?
One of the best ways to increase awareness of personal health in
students is to teach PDHPE!
Through teaching PDHPE students:
• Learn about the benefits of physical activity
• Learn about nutrition and the benefits of easting healthy
• Are given the opportunity to develop fundamental movement
skills through structured and planned physical activity
• Are able to develop social skills
• Develop skills such as problem solving and decision making
• Understand the importance of safe living