Health and Physical Education is one of the National and State Key Learning Areas for students in Years P-9. Today’s Primary HPE Specialist will be teaching in the context of an integrated Key Learning Area that includes physical activity, health and personal development. Primary Specialists must be able to teach a broad variety of content for years P-7 and possess a variety of organisational and behaviour management strategies that are specifically applicable to active settings.
In Primary HPE, it is crucial that children master fundamental skills, as research shows that failure to do so contributes to inactivity in adolescence. The introduction of a federal government requirement for 2 hours of physical activity weekly and a state education department policy of providing 30 minutes of physical activity daily during curriculum time magnifies both the opportunity to master these skills and to engage classroom teachers. Primary HPE Specialists are in the unique position of having the opportunity to be in contact with all of the students and teachers in a school. Because of this, they require excellent communication skills to be advocates for HPE and physical activity.
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