Celebrating National Health and Physical Education Day with Sporting Schools

Today is National Health and Physical Education (HPE) Day and to celebrate we are spotlighting the Australian Sports Commission's (ASC) Sporting Schools initiative, which helps around two million children get active each year.

Health and Physical Education plays a vital role in helping young people develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to be active for life, especially through movement and play with others.  

For the past decade, Sporting Schools has helped bring these benefits to students across the country. 

As the Australian Government's largest investment in school-based sport participation, Sporting Schools has connected schools with sport and physical activity experiences like tennis, surfing and gymnastics that support what students are learning through HPE.  

What began in 2015 with 30 sport partners and a focus on primary schools quickly expanded, including support for students in Years 7 and 8, a time when participation in physical activity and sport often begins to decline. Over the years, Sporting Schools has continued to evolve alongside the needs of schools, teachers, students and sports. 

More teachers began delivering Sporting Schools programs themselves during the pandemic, instead of coaches coming into schools. 

Teacher-delivered programs grew from around 15 per cent across all sports to more than 30 per cent, a level that has remained steady ever since. Supported by new equipment, lesson resources and professional learning opportunities developed by the sports, teachers have gained the confidence and capability to continue delivering quality physical activity experiences.

Sporting Schools reached more 10 million participants in 2021, 15 million in 2023 and 20 million by 2025. Behind those stats sit powerful stories and outcomes: A first bike ride for someone who doesn’t have a bike at home, a proud smile for a student in a wheelchair who often doesn’t get to show off their basketball skills, or students who didn’t think they were ‘sporty’ but just hadn’t found the right sport for them.

Recent years have seen a stronger focus on ensuring all students can access quality sporting experiences. Special schools were prioritised for funding, providing greater certainty and planning opportunities to support students with disability. The launch of Remote Sporting Schools engaged schools from the tip of Northern Territory to Tasmania helping schools address barriers that can limit access to sport and physical activity.

This National HPE Day, we celebrate the role schools, teachers and coaches play in guiding young people to develop these skills and experiences and create a positive connection with movement, physical activity and sport. And after more than 20 million participants over the past decade, we are continuing to help make that possible. 

For more information head to the Sporting Schools webpage.