Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PD/H/PE) contributes significantly to the cognitive, social, emotional, physical and spiritual development of students. It provides opportunities for students to learn about, and practise ways of, adopting and maintaining a healthy, productive and active life. It also involves students learning through movement experiences that are both challenging and enjoyable, and improving their capacity to move with skill and confidence in a variety of contexts. It promotes the value of physical activity in their lives.
PD/H/PE provides the opportunity for young people to explore issues that are likely to impact on the health and well-being of themselves and others, now and in the future. The issues that affect young people include physical activity, mental health, drug use, sexual health, nutrition, supportive relationships, personal safety, gender roles and discrimination. Health issues that have the potential to appear in later life are also relevant due to their relationship to lifestyle patterns established in adolescent years and the possibility that they may impact on family and other significant adults in students' lives.
The social and emotional wellbeing of students is also promoted when the school provides an environment that enhances the protective factors that help to build resilience and lessen the impact of adverse life events. A whole-school approach is important. This means developing, implementing and reviewing policy and guidelines, consulting and working in partnership with families and the school community, accessing community resources and involving students. It involves ensuring that school policy and procedures support the messages provided in the formal school curriculum.