Physical Activity and Movement for schools
All students benefit from active play, regular movement, and opportunities to develop the skills and confidence needed to lead active lives.
This health and wellbeing priority focuses on providing physical education and movement opportunities across the whole school community. These experiences support healthy growth and development, build fundamental movement skills, and help make physical activity fun and enjoyable for all.
This priority helps to bring together existing physical activity and movement actions. It complements programs including Active Schools and TransformUs.
Physical Activity and Movement Action Table
This action table gives an example of how the Healthy Places Framework can be applied to Physical Activity and Movement in schools.
Action area | Leadership and Commitment | Teaching & Learning | Physical Environment | Culture | Staff Wellbeing | Families & Community Engagement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Goal | There is strong leadership support and a shared commitment to a whole school approach to physical activity and movement. | Students develop physical literacy skills to maintain and lead active lives. | The built and natural environment supports physical activity and movement. | The school fosters attitudes, behaviours and values that support physical activity and movement. | Staff have access to resources and support for their own physical activity and movement. | The school engages, partners and collaborates with families and community organisations to support physical activity and movement. |
Example Actions | Demonstrate leadership’s commitment to a whole-school approach to physical activity and movement. Demonstrate leadership’s commitment to a whole-school approach to physical activity and movement. | Provide physical education and movement based learning that builds students’ knowledge, understanding, and skills to support physical activity for health and wellbeing. Support students to participate confidently and safely in a range of physical activities through inclusive practices that promote comfort and enjoyment. | Provide spaces to enable physical activity in all weather conditions, including green space and shade where possible. Provide play and sports equipment during recess and lunch breaks that caters for students’ diverse needs and interests. | Encourage all school community members to be supportive and inclusive of others participating in physical activities. Where possible, encourage safe active travel to and from school for students, staff and families. This may include part of the journey. | Support and, where possible, promote opportunities for staff to be physically active. Share evidence-based, culturally appropriate and accessible information to support staff physical activity and movement. | Engage with relevant community organisations to support physical activity and movement within and outside of school hours. Use and promote local parks, bike paths and recreation facilities to encourage physical activity and movement within and outside of school hours. |
Join today to see the full list of suggested actions, examples in practice and links to supporting programs and resources as outlined in the Physical Activity and Movement Whole-School Action Guide.
The Health and Wellbeing Priorities
The Healthy Places Framework helps schools support all health and wellbeing priorities through a set of action guides. Six health and wellbeing priorities areas each have their own guide, and a flexible action guide is also available for any health area while still following the Framework.
