Safety and sensitive issues in Health and Physical Education
Further considerations
Community concerns and key initiatives
There are various issues that elicit a high level of community awareness and concern. The government sector, business community and many non-government agencies provide and support initiatives that complement the Health and Physical Education domain. The flexibility and contemporary nature of the VELS allows the incorporation of current and future initiatives as part of the ongoing teaching and learning process. Examples include:
- health promoting schools
- drug education
- water safety: ‘Play it Safe by the Water’
- healthy eating and physical activity: ‘Go for Your Life’
- road safety
- National Mental Health in Schools Project: ‘Mind Matters’.
Safety
The Health and Physical Education domain includes practical activities as well as learning experiences that explore a range of personal issues. Teaching practices need to ensure that careful consideration is given to the physical, social and emotional safety of each individual student at all times. In planning and implementing courses of this nature, teachers should confer with the Principal for relevant procedures, guidelines and documentation.
The importance of safety in the Health and Physical Education domain is implicit in each of the dimension so that students are aware of and take a proactive role in the safety of themselves and others.
Sensitive issues
The VCAA recognises that a number of issues within the Health and Physical Education domain need to be handled sensitively.
The partnership between school and home is especially important. The preparation and implementation of the Health and Physical Education curriculum should be consistent with the school ethos, community and parental expectations and prescribed guidelines of the relevant educational sector. The Principal should be consulted to clarify appropriate procedures, guidelines and documentation.
