Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
PDHPE prepares students for a balanced, healthy and happy life. At Evans River, PDHPE is full of fun and active learning in a whole range of lovely environments.
Students are encouraged to aim for personal best and to build positive relationships no matter where they are. We foster lifelong learning and encourage students to continually build on their health and physical activity knowledge and habits.
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) is mandatory from Kindergarten to Year 10.
According to the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), students are expected to participate in PDHPE for between 1.5 and 2.5 hours per week in Kindergarten to Year 6 and for 300 hours per year in Years 7 to 10.
In Year 11 and 12, courses available include:
- Community and Family Studies
- Community and Family Studies Life Skills
- Exploring Early Childhood
- Health and Movement Science
- Health and Movement Science Life Skills
- Sport, Lifestyle and Recreation Studies.
Combined High School Sport
All students have the opportunity to represent Evans River within the Combined High School Sport Association pathway. Events include gala days, knockouts, round robins and trial days. We have students representing our school in inter-school sport from the local level right through to state and national levels.
- Athletics
- Basketball
- Beach Volleyball
- Boccia
- Cross Country
- Futsal
- Golf
- Lawn Bowls
- Netball
- Rugby League
- Rugby Union
- Soccer
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Table Tennis
- Tennis
- Touch
- Volleyball
- Waterpolo
Girls Rugby League
Country Cup Regional Rugby League Tornament
Weekly 7-10 Movement Periods
Year 7-10 students have the opportunity each week to pursue movement in a sport or activity of their choice. It is all about participation and fun in order to develop a positive attitude towards physical activity. We are thankful for the support of our local clubs and venues that support our weekly movement program.
- Aquatics
- Basketball
- Beach Volleyball
- Canoeing
- Cycling
- Dance
- Fishing
- Football Codes
- Golf
- Lawn Bowls
- Lawn Games
- Resistance Training
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding
- Surfing
- Table Tennis
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Walking
- Water Polo
- Yoga
Senior Studies
Courses offered for the Higher School Certificate at Evans River K-12 School:
Community and Family Studies is designed to develop in each student an understanding of the diverse nature and Independence of families and communities, within Australian society. The course enables students to plan and manage resources effectively in order to address contemporary issues facing families and communities.
The Preliminary Course Covers:
- Resource Management - Basic concepts resource management
- Individuals and Groups - The individual's roles, relationships and tasks within groups.
- Families and Communities - Family structures and functions and the interaction between family and community.
The HSC course covers:
- Research Methodology culminating in the production of an Independent Research Project.
- Groups in Context - The characteristics and needs of specific groups.
- Parenting and Caring - Issues facing individuals and groups who adopt roles of parenting and caring in contemporary society.
Plus on of the following HSC option modules
- Family and Societal Interactions
- Social Impact of Technology
- Individuals and Work
Students are required to complete an Independent Research Project as part of the HSC internal assessment. The focus of the Independent Research Project should be related to the course content of one or more of the following areas: individuals, groups, families communities, resource management.
The aim of Health and Movement Science is to develop in each student a capacity to think about and act critically in regard to key issues related to health and movement. This enables them to make informed decisions that contribute to healthy and active lifestyles for individuals and communities, and support wellbeing.
Health and Movement Science helps students understand factors affecting health and movement. It explores health status, lifestyle influences, and skills to improve lifelong performance.
Students study epidemiology, health determinants, and social justice, promoting critical thinking about equity and wellbeing. Health promotion and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are key themes.
Physical activity’s role in health is examined through anatomy, physiology, psychology, and more, building performance and injury prevention skills.
The course expands on PDHPE K–10, encouraging deep exploration and developing collaboration, analysis, communication, and problem-solving skills.
| Year 11 components | Year 12 components |
| Health for individuals and communities | Health in an Australian and global context |
| The body and mind in motion | Training for improved performance |
| Collaborative Investigation | Depth studies (a minimum of 2) |
| Depth studies (a minimum of 2) | |
Sport, Lifestyle and recreation is offered to Yr 11 and 12 students. It focuses on aspects of learning that relate most closely to participation in sport and physical activity. It helps to develop a repertoire of skills that will assist students to remain active throughout their lives.
Common modules of study are:
- Aquatics
- Athletics
- Fitness
- Games and Sport Applications I & II
- Gymnastics
- Resistance Training
- Healthy Lifestyle
- First Aid and Sports Injuries
Physical Activity and Sport Studies - PASS
Physical Activity and Sport Studies is an elective course available to students in Years 9 and 10.
This course promotes the concept of learning through movement and provides many opportunities to develop movement skills.
- recreational activites
- leisure and adventure pursuits
- competitive and non-competitive games
- individual and group physical fitness activities
- the use of physical activity for therapy and remediation
- outdoor recreation
- technology in sport
- net and court games
- Australia’s sporting identity
- contemporary issues in sport
- physical fitness and fitness testing
- nutrition and physical activity
- beach games.
Outdoor Education
Outdoor education is based on experiential learning where students explore and gain a deeper understanding of their surroundings. Students learn through planning and participating in outdoor experiences and reflecting on their involvement. Through participation in a range of outdoor activities, students will develop and apply their knowledge and skills to work together to be active and safe in a variety of outdoor environments. They learn to assess risk, identifying and applying appropriate management strategies and emergency response procedures.
Students will develop:
- a range of interpersonal skills, self-management and specialised movement skills to participate safely in a range of outdoor activities and challenges
- technical knowledge, awareness and skills to plan and prepare for safe participation in a range of outdoor activities
- responsible attitudes towards respecting and protecting the natural environment
- positive habits and behaviours to connect with the natural environment and support lifelong health and wellbeing.
The course is structured to support experiential learning. This will occur at sites locally within Broadwater National Park, Bundjalung National Park and further abroad. Other aquatic venues such as pools, beaches and rivers will also be accessed. The course will allow students to plan and safely participate in a student led self-supported multi day expedition.
Topics delivered include: First Aid in the outdoors, bushcraft and navigation, bushwalking and orienteering, expedition preparation, and canoeing.
