The $87.8 million Active Schools initiative builds on existing programs and funding to boost support and resources for schools to get students moving. It includes:
- a toolkit for school leaders and teachers
- expert Physical Activity Advisors
- funding for schools in disadvantaged communities.
What is an active school?
An active school encourages physical activity beyond traditional physical education and sport and promotes physical activity at every opportunity throughout the school day - before, during and after school.
An active school takes a whole-school approach to get students moving and:
- promotes physical activity as an integral part of the curriculum and everyday school life
- seeks ways to integrate movement into daily school routines
- connects with the local community to create pathways for continued physical activity
- helps students develop the skills and confidence (physical literacy) to be active for life.
Benefits of becoming an active school
There is a wealth of evidence supporting the role schools play in promoting physical activity. Creating an environment where movement is a natural part of the school day leads to wide-ranging benefits including improvements in:
- classroom behaviour
- brain function and concentration
- learning outcomes
- motivation
- social interactions
- physical health
- emotional and psychological well-being.
Building an active school
The Active Schools framework recognises there is no single solution to encouraging students to be more active. It takes a whole-school approach and system-wide effort to make physical activity part of the school culture. An active school provides students with opportunities to be active through the 6 key priority areas of the Active Schools framework:
- quality physical education
- quality school sport
- active classrooms
- active travel
- active recreation
- supportive school environment.
These areas work together – the broader the approach, the greater the impact. Many schools are already taking action in some of these areas. The Active Schools toolkit builds on those efforts and provides guidance and practical strategies to create more opportunities for students to be active every day.
Active Schools framework
Support and resources
Joint Ministerial Statement
A Joint Ministerial Statement on Physical Activity for Children and Young People between the Ministers for Education, Community Sport and Health sets out how schools, in partnership with families and the community, can set our children on a physical activity path for life, including through the Active Schools framework.
Download the Joint Ministerial Statement:
Get Active Kids voucher program
To help support lower-income families with the costs of participation in sport and active recreation activities, the Get Active Kids program delivers $200 vouchers annually for more than 100,000 eligible Victorian children.
The program is managed by Sport and Recreation Victoria within the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR). For further information, visit the Get Active Victoria website or contact Sport and Recreation Victoria by:
- phone: 1800 325 206
- email: getactivekids@sport.vic.gov.au
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