September 2024
By Elle Smith, ACHPER NSW Project Officer

NESA has released the new 7-10 PDHPE syllabus, due for implementation in schools by 2027.

ACHPER NSW has a program of professional learning planned to support you with new syllabus implementation. This includes workshops, webinars, resources, and blogs.

Here is an overview of key 7-10 PDHPE syllabus content updates. 

New content

Muscular and skeletal systems

Muscular and skeletal systems, including biomechanics, has been added to the syllabus, to enhance students’ understanding of human movement and its relation to physical health. The new content allows students to explore how muscles and bones work together to produce movement, improve performance, and prevent injury.

New biomechanics content covers the principles of force, leverage, and balance, which are essential for optimising physical activity and understanding body mechanics. It will help students make informed decisions about their physical health, promoting lifelong fitness and well-being through a deeper comprehension of their bodies and how they move effectively and efficiently. It will also provide foundational knowledge for students selecting Health and Movement Science in Stage 6.

Reproduction, growth and change

The role of menstruation, conception and fertilisation has been added to Stage 4. This expands on existing content, and has been moved to PDHPE from the Science syllabus.

New managing growth and change content covers the stages of development from conception to birth and examines factors influencing conception, such as health, genetics, and lifestyle. It’s designed to educate students on human development and foster informed decisions about reproductive health and well-being.

Aboriginal and Torress Strait Islander culture

The new syllabus has an explicit focus on acknowledging and respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and health. It emphasises understanding the unique health perspectives, practices, and challenges faced by Indigenous communities. The syllabus includes learning about traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practices, such as bush medicine and holistic approaches to well-being, which highlight the interconnectedness of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

Additionally, the syllabus requires students to think critically and propose strategies to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health and wellbeing outcomes. This content aims to foster cultural awareness, respect, and understanding among all students, promoting reconciliation and the importance of cultural competence in health education.

Revised and reframed

Consent

The concept of consent has been significantly reframed in the new syllabus. The updates aim to ensure a more comprehensive understanding of consent in various contexts, particularly in relationships and sexual interactions.

Key changes include:

• Negotiating consent – practical skills including recognising verbal and non-verbal cues, asking for and giving consent and respecting boundaries.
• Legal and ethical considerations – to promote respect for others’ autonomy and rights including an understanding of affirmative consent legal requirements.
• Power imbalances and coercive control – recognising consent cannot be given if a person is being manipulated, threatened, or forced.

Online behaviour and relationships

The new 7-10 syllabus has a stronger focus on online relationships and behaviour, reflecting the importance of digital interactions in students’ lives.

Content considered in more detail includes:

• Online safety – including online etiquette, digital citizenship cyber bullying and managing online safety including scams and phishing.
• Online privacy – the long-term implications of digital footprint and protecting privacy and personal data online
• Online relationships – explores healthy and unhealthy online relationships and how to manage and maintain respectful online relationships.
• Impact of digital media – the effects of digital media influences on self-esteem, body image and mental health. This includes identifying strategies to evaluate and navigate the content to develop medial literacy skills.

Drug use, addiction and gambling

Drug use, addiction, and gambling content has been updated in the new syllabus, providing a comprehensive and contemporary understanding of the impacts of these issues on student health and wellbeing.

Drug education focuses on both emerging substances such as vaping products and e-cigarettes, and traditional substances like alcohol and cannabis. The new content helps students develop a contextual understanding of the social and cultural factors influencing drug use and the legal implications and impacts on health outcomes (Outcomes PH4-SHW-01 and PH5-SHW-01).

Harm minimisation has been reconsidered to include safer practices if drug use occurs. This includes recognising signs of overdose and accessing support services for individuals struggling with substance abuse. There is a strong focus on empowering young people through decision making skills and to understand and mitigate the risks associated with drug use.

Gambling awareness, education, prevention and support has been updated to include. the various forms of gambling and its impact on individuals and families. Prevention strategies and recognising early signs of gambling addiction are introduced to help students support individuals affected by gambling issues.

Increasing focus on literacy demands of PDHPE

Written texts and subject-specific language has been introduced within the 7-10 syllabus content to deepen students’ understanding of health concepts and improve their communication skills. It will support students to navigate and articulate the complexities of health and well-being throughout their lives.

The written texts content encourages critical analysis and development of health literacy skills, helping students to explore topics like mental health, body image, media representation and health consumerism. Encouraging the use of subject-specific language aims to familiarise students with key health and physical activity terminology, enabling clarity in communication and better comprehension of health-related issues.