- What is this policy about?
- This policy establishes a standard for conducting any Physical Activity that maximises the learning outcomes for all students, whilst minimising risk and ensuring appropriate duty of care arrangements.
- This policy does not cover:
- Unstructured activities undertaken by students outside of organised school programs.
- Policy Statement
- Schools conduct Physical Activities to support and facilitate positive educational, health and wellbeing outcomes of students. This policy provides the framework to implement Physical Activities in schools in a safe way. balancing the educational opportunity with appropriate risk management.
- When choosing to conduct a physical activity, the leader must consider the students’ ages, maturity, specific needs, anticipated behaviours, previous experiences and ensure compliance with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1991 (DDA) and the Disability Standards for Education 2005 (the Standards).
- Principals are responsible for ensuring Physical Activities are conducted in accordance with all relevant policy and procedures.
- The activity leader must give consideration to all aspects of the planning and delivery including qualifications, training, reconnaissance, student capability and medical details, and documentation.
- Where a Physical Activity requires a leader to hold qualifications, it is the leader’s responsibility to ensure that they maintain currency to be able to meet the assessment requirements of the qualification.
- The Physical Activities Procedures outline the requirements Principals, staff and students must adhere to when facilitating a Physical Activity. These describe a set of Common procedures which must be followed in the planning and delivery of all Physical Activities.
- The Physical Activities Procedures also detail requirements for specific activities which are additional to the Common procedures. These are listed under the following three categories:
- Physical Activities with Additional Requirements
- Contact Physical Activities
- Outdoor Adventure Activities
- Schools may engage in any Physical Activity not specifically identified in the procedures provided they do not fall under the definition of a Banned Physical Activity.
- Schools are not permitted to engage in banned physical activities
- Please note that where a Physical Activity occurs off site, this policy must be followed in addition to the Excursions policy.
- Duty of care must be appropriate to the number and needs of students and the activities planned.
- Who does this policy apply to?
- This policy applies to all ACT public schools; principals, teaching and administrative staff, students, external providers, and other accompanying adults.
- Context
- Physical Activities play an important role in supporting curriculum delivery, enhancing students’ health, wellbeing and fitness, and contribute to a positive school culture.
- Responsibilities
- Education Directorate : is responsible for ensuring that Directorate staff involved in Physical Activities are inducted in the Physical Activities policy and procedures.
- Principals are responsible for ensuring Physical Activities are conducted in accordance with all relevant policy and procedures.
- The Teacher in Charge of a Physical Activity is responsible for knowing and complying with the requirements of all related and relevant policies and procedures.
- Policy Owner: The Executive Branch Manager, Universal School Support is responsible for this policy.
- Monitoring and Review
- The Policy Owner monitors this policy. A full review will be conducted within a three-year period.
- Procedures relating to specific Physical Activities will be updated as required and accompanied by professional learning for users as appropriate.
- Contact
- For support contact the Universal School Support Branch on (02) 6205 9204 or email curriculumsupport@act.gov.au
- Complaints
- Any concerns about the application of this policy or the policy itself, should be raised with:
- the school principal in the first instance;
- the Family, Students Complaints and Feedback team on (02) 6205 5429.
- online at http://www.education.act.gov.au/contact_us.
- online at https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/app/forms/etd_liaison_feedback.
- see also the Complaints Policy on the Directorate’s website.
- Any concerns about the application of this policy or the policy itself, should be raised with:
- References
- Definitions
- Additional definitions are set out in the procedures. Key definitions are:
- Banned Physical Activities: Any Physical Activity that involves heights, speed (greater than foot propelled), impact, contact or inversions is banned unless listed as an approved Physical Activity with Additional Requirements, Contact, or Outdoor Adventure Activity.
- Contact Physical Activities: An activity where force and impact governed by a set of rules play a fundamental role in the delivery of the Physical Activity and are listed in the Mandatory Procedures. These activities require the leader to hold specific current qualifications, students are required to wear personal protective equipment and the activity requires Principal approval.
- Duty of care: a duty to, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure the health, wellbeing and safety of persons who are under the school’s care and charge (including workers and volunteers) while undertaking physical activities.
- Physical Activities: are structured and planned learning activities involving movement that deliver skills, knowledge, understanding, fitness and/or personal and social capability as the primary pedagogy to achieve outcomes for students.
- Physical Activities with Additional Requirements: are activities permitted to be run by schools and are listed in the Physical Activities Procedures. These activities require the leader to hold specific current outdoor adventure activity qualifications, students are required to wear personal protective equipment, and the activity requires Principal approval.
- Outdoor Adventure Activities: are activities permitted to be run by schools and are listed in the Mandatory Procedures. These activities require the leader to hold specific current qualifications, students may be required to wear personal protective equipment and require Principal approval.
- Disability Discrimination Act 1992
- The Education Act 2004 establishes the operation and governance of ACT public schools.
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011
- The Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 provides for background checking of people working with children or vulnerable people.
- Disability Standards for Education 2005
- Excursions Policy
- First Aid Policy
- Hydrotherapy Pools - School Use Policy
- Responding to Student Accidents/Incidents: Support, Reporting and Insurance Arrangements Policy
- Risk Management Framework
- Students with a Disability Meeting their Educational Needs Policy
- Sun (UV) protection for Students Policy
- Swimming and Water Park Aquatic Activities Policy
- Working with Children and Young People - Volunteers and Visitors (Interim) Policy
is the unique identifier of this document. It is the responsibility of the user to verify that this is the current and complete version of the document, available on the Directorate’s website at http://www.education.act.gov.au/publications_and_policies/school_and_corporate_policies/A-Z/.
Policy Identifier: 00045
Published: April 2021
Implementation Documents:
Related Policies and Information:
- Disability Standards for Education 2005
- Excursions Policy
- First Aid Policy
- Hydrotherapy Pools - School Use Policy
- Responding to Student Accidents/Incidents: Support, Reporting and Insurance Arrangements Policy
- Risk Management Framework
- Students with a Disability Meeting their Educational Needs Policy
- Sun (UV) protection for Students Policy
- Swimming and Water Park Aquatic Activities Policy
- Working with Children and Young People - Volunteers and Visitors (Interim) Policy