Taking a whole-student approach to physical health
Discover ways to support students’ physical health and wellbeing with practical tools to move well, eat well, sleep well and make informed choices.
By teaching healthy habits, promoting informed decision-making, developing students’ social and emotional skills, and providing targeted support to families, educators can help to build protective factors and reduces risks to students’ physical health.
On this page, you will find resources for students in Foundation to Year 12, designed to help educators promote students’ health and wellbeing relating to physical activity, sleep, chronic conditions and more. All resources are curriculum-aligned and support the principles of the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework.
Looking to promote student-led learning? Check out our student topic pages, where students can filter by age level to explore age-appropriate wellbeing information and resources independently.
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Discover resources for the classroom
Explore the following resources for in-classroom strategies and support.
Sleep lesson plan – Year 6
Developed with teachers, this lesson and accompanying video explores the benefits of good quality sleep for the body and brain.
Healthy Young People
Find information and resources to promote secondary students' physical and mental health.
Brain break bops
Short animated videos featuring an interoception movement, plus other fun dance moves and memorable song lyrics.
Sports ability
Find activity cards that assist teachers in the delivery of sports-based activities for all abilities.
Olympics Unleashed: Encouraging students to be the best versions of themselves
In this webinar recording, dual Olympian 400m runner Steven Solomon talks about the Olympics Unleashed program and associated education programs.
Periods and pelvic pain
This resource provides information for young people experiencing pelvic pain and endometriosis.
Foster a whole-school approach
Explore the following resources for strategies, policies and research relevant to the wider school environment.
Arc: Healthy eating
This package provides students access to Vic Government resources and data about healthy eating.
Heart healthy eating principles
These five healthy eating principles from the Heart Foundation promote healthy hearts.
Chronic illness: Coping at school
A whole-school approach for the management of chronic illness.
Engage with parents, carers and community
Share and discuss the following resources with parents and carers in your school community.
Packing a school lunchbox
This website provides resources about healthy eating for kids just starting school.
Raising Children: School-age and pre-teen sleep
Find information and practical support to help your child's sleep and enhance their wellbeing.
A healthy start to school tool kit
This website provides resources about healthy eating for kids just starting school.
Sleep and young people
Find out what is considered ‘normal’ in terms of sleep habits and what you can do to get a better night’s sleep.
Deepen your understanding
Gain insights and deepen your understanding of this topic with research and professional learning opportunities.
Physical activity is critical for children's quality of life
This research examined the relationship between children’s 24-hour time use and their health-related quality of life.
Research: Sleep and mental wellbeing
Recommendations on sleep duration for all age-groups, including examples of behaviours that contribute to poor sleep patterns and interventions that have worked with teenagers.
Sleep Health Foundation: Healthy sleep factsheets
The Sleep Health Foundation provides information and tips which help improve sleep.
Supporting kids who miss school
Read this report and find tips for supporting students who miss school due to illness.
Prompt a discussion
Spark staff discussion and reflection with these practical questions aligned to the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework.
How can classroom routines actively support students’ movement, nutrition awareness and sleep habits to improve overall wellbeing?
What are some whole-school initiatives that can support healthy eating across classrooms and canteens to improve students’ physical health?
How can educators and parents work together to ensure students maintain healthy hydration and energy throughout the school day?
How can staff use current research to better support students with chronic pain and other chronic health conditions, supporting their physical wellbeing and school engagement?
Discover ways to use the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework in your school.
Related topics
Helping students cope with anxiety
Building interoception and self-regulation skills
