Research shows that students who are active and have healthy eating habits perform better academically. Schools play a critical role in educating students, parents and the wider community about the importance of healthy eating and daily physical activity.

Watch the new Premier's Sporting Challenge video on the importance of physical activity.

The mandatory Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) curriculum from Kindergarten to Year 10 provides students with the knowledge and skills to lead a healthy and active life.

Primary students learn about:

• good food choices for good health
• the impact of unhealthy eating on health
• preparation and storage of food
• balancing energy intake and energy expenditure
• components of a balanced lifestyle
• ways to be active and the benefits of being physically active. 

Students actively engage in practical activities relating to games and sports to develop their fundamental movement skills in order to lead active lives.

High school students examine:

• the holistic nature of health by exploring nutritional requirements throughout life
• factors that influence an individual’s food choices
• the relationship of food choices to their health
• the relationship between diet, physical activity and health, lifestyle diseases as a result of unhealthy food choices
• the impact media can have on an individual’s body image
• analysing food labels to understand the nutritional value and marketing of food products and critiquing health products and services to make informed decisions.

Students also participate in a variety of activities to develop an appreciation of movement to:

• enhance their wellbeing
• understand the components of a balanced lifestyle
• plan for and reflect on their own health and fitness to develop lifelong physical activity habits.

For more information on how to develop active and healthy students, visit the following websites:

Nutrition
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation
Eat for Health
Get Healthy
Healthy Kids
Crunch and sip
Fresh for Kids

Physical Activity
Australia’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines
World Health Organisation
Australian Sports Commission
NSW Premier’s Sporting Challenge

Health issues linked to nutrition
Heart Foundation
Diabetes NSW
NSW Cancer Council – Eat it to Beat It

For more information, contact:
Karen Ingram
Inspector, PDHPE
Karen.ingram@bostes.nsw.edu.au
(02) 9367-8150