Hockey Australia’s big tick for physical literacy

Hockey Australia welcomes Sport Australia’s Position Statement on Physical Literacy.

A long supporter of the Physical Literacy Framework, Hockey Australia is playing a key role in embedding physical literacy within education through a special program to be introduced in a host of primary schools in South Australia in 2020.

Back in June the South Australian Government announced the implementation of the new Physical Education/Physical Literacy (PEPL) program, which was supported by a grant from Sport Australia.

Through the Sport Australia grant, the ground-breaking project sees Hockey Australia partner with the South Australian Education Department, the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) SA branch, the University of Canberra and Flinders University to trial the PEPL program in a number of South Australian primary schools.

Hockey Australia’s primary school program HookIn2Hockey, which is rolled out across the country, fits into the objectives of this physical literacy framework.

Hockey Australia General Manager – Strategy and Game Development, Michael Johnston said the contribution and involvement of hockey’s national body in the program underlined the sport’s values and desire to play a role in helping children have and enjoy an active healthy lifestyle.

“The HookIn2Hockey program perfectly encompasses the intention of the PEPL program and we are extremely proud and passionate to be playing a part in it,” said Johnston.

“Sport Australia’s summation of physical literacy being about developing knowledge and behaviours that give children the motivation and confidence to enjoy active lifestyles, which can be achieved through quality physical education, school and community sport programs, such as HookIn2Hockey or by joining local hockey clubs, are major reasons we are fully behind it.”

“Hockey is an inclusive and family orientated sport that is a lot of fun to play and these physical literacy trials have also proven to have positive impacts on the child’s learning.”

Professor Dick Telford from the University of Canberra, who developed the model with colleagues at Deakin University and the University of Canberra, said physical education was a vital contributor to best practice primary school education.

“In first focusing on the young developing minds and bodies of primary school children, we have the opportunity to set up healthy habits of physical activity and nutrition that are likely to last a lifetime,” said Prof Telford.

“It is great that we have a win-win situation all round for South Australian teachers and their students, because not only has this approach been shown to improve physical literacy and health prospects, academic performance has been shown to improve as well.”

Since the PEPL program was launched, Sport Australia has had over 30 endorsements of its Position Statement and will look to roll out its Physical Literacy Program Alignment Guidelines in coming months.

For more information on Hockey Australia’s HookIn2Hockey program visit hookin2hockey.com.au
For more information on the PEPL program visit peplapproach.com.au