Health and PE

A week with good food, fun and fellowship is what Big Camp promises its’ attendees every year and has been delivering for more than 95 years. It promotes leadership skills, enhanced engagement with peers and sportsmanship in the 100 attendees for the year.

Many of us clearly remember (fondly or not) our school sports days and the houses we were split into. But what do the names of those houses say about our ‘Australianness’ or the values we aspire to uphold? New research explores the names of school sports houses and how things have changed over time.

Do you incorporate physical activity into your teaching? A new study from researchers at Queensland University of Technology looks at the ways teachers incorporate physical activity into their lessons, and why they do it.

In Australia, 12% of girls will have their first period between the ages of 8 and 11 years, but formal education on menstruation is not included in the curriculum until age 10 at the earliest. A new study has interviewed school staff to explore how teachers are supporting younger students experiencing menstruation, and ways to overcome any barriers.

We know that e-cigarette use among adolescents in Australia has quickly become a pressing issue. So, how can educators empower them to say no to vaping, and work towards the prevention of e-cigarette use among young people? In this episode, we speak to the team behind the Unpacking Vaping in Schools Project about their findings so far.

In today’s article Janie Thompson – Manager and Nurse Continence Specialist at the Continence Foundation of Australia's National Continence Helpline – shares some of the real-life situations faced by K-12 educators who ring the helpline, along with strategies and advice.

‘It's one of those things that people don't feel comfortable talking about. Why is it so difficult to have that conversation when it is absolutely critical for our social wellbeing as well as our health?’ Bronwyn Robinson, Education Manager at the Continence Foundation of Australia, explains not all students start school toilet trained, others need ongoing support, and some who have previously had no problems can start to have difficulties.

The Australian National Survey of Secondary Students and Sexual Health explores young people’s experiences of sex, relationships, sexual health and school-based Relationships and Sexuality Education. Data from the seventh iteration, involving almost 7,000 participants, have just been released – in this infographic we look at some of the findings.

What sports does your school offer? Is there an overlap with the sports and activities students participate in outside school? In this infographic, we compare the data on the top 10 sports for girls and boys aged 0-14 to see how habits have changed over a 5-year period.

Participation in physical activity is important for all students. However, traditional team sports at school aren’t for everyone. In this article, we speak to teacher Travis McKenzie, who has offered students the opportunity find their passion in physical activity through his program, Swords Club.