What we know, what we do and what we could do: Creating an understanding of the delivery of health education in lower secondary government schools in Western Australia

This paper focuses on the delivery of health education (HE) as a subject in lower secondary government schools in Western Australia (WA). It explores timetabling and staffing associated with HE and the issues arising from resourcing arrangements. This paper stems from of a study that investigated the prioritising of HE, which at that time, was timetabled as a separate, disciplined-based subject belonging to the Health and Physical Education (HPE) learning area. Insights from the study raise questions as to the qualifications of some teachers delivering HE and whether schools and universities in WA give HE the attention that it arguably requires if teachers are to effectively support young people’s health. The paper presents challenges and recommendations for teacher education institutions in the light of data.