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Rationale
In a modern world of increasing complexity, the ability for all people to manage a healthy lifestyle is becoming increasingly difficult. Attitudes, beliefs and behaviours about health and physical activity evolve during the school years. It is therefore important that positive messages are provided and reinforced during this formative time.
The increasing incidence of weight gain and obesity amongst our young people is a cause for grave concern, and not only from the obvious links to future lifestyle diseases. There is ample anecdotal evidence linking weight gain and obesity with lower self-esteem and confidence, an adverse effect on desires to be physically active and an impact on levels of participation.
The Faculty of Human Movement at Terrace conducts a practical and theoretical Health and Physical Education course to all students at Terrace up to year 10. This key learning area provides a foundation for developing active and informed members of society, capable of managing the interactions between themselves and their social, cultural and physical environments in the pursuit of good health.
Whilst the Health and Physical Education curriculum provides a foundation in this area, it is the attitudes, beliefs and behaviours that are developed as students' progress through their school years that have an enormous impact on their lifelong healthy living choices. The CIR program will extend upon the foundation provided by the HPE curriculum.
Key Objectives
• To encourage and promote participation in physical activity for all members of the school community.
• Raise awareness of, and provide alternatives to, the consequences of an unhealthy diet.
• Explore a range of issues affecting adolescent health and well being.
• Generate support mechanisms and ongoing programs to maintain a 'healthy school'
• To utilise information gained from the current QUT study into adolescent physical activity and attitude to activity being conducted at Terrace.
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