Health, Outdoor & Physical Education

The Health, Outdoor Education, and Physical Education (HOPE) learning area integrates theoretical knowledge with practical application to promote holistic well-being, outdoor pursuits, and physical fitness.

Students explore factors influencing physical, mental, and emotional health, make informed lifestyle choices, and delve into topics like nutrition, mental health, and personal safety. The Health Studies 3 course leads students to a deeper understanding of Australian and world health systems, while the Sport Science classes focus on understanding skill acquisition, exercise physiology and the sport psychology.

Outdoor Education and Outdoor Leadership build skills in organisation, teamwork, personal development and environmental stewardship, fostering an appreciation for nature.

Using outdoor pursuits as a mechanism inspires students to explore and interact with the world in different ways.

In the physical education suite of classes, students engage in various sports and recreational activities, emphasising skill development, strategy, participation, teamwork and fitness. Combining classroom study with practical experiences, students participate in sports and fitness training sessions.

Assessment methods across the HOPE subjects will include written assignments, essays, practical demonstrations, knowledge tests, fitness
testing, and group projects. Thus evaluating students’ understanding, skills, and collaborative abilities.

Students who complete these courses often pursue careers in health professions, outdoor education, coaching, fitness training, and community health promotion.

Courses

Course Options Offered

  • Athlete Development 2

  • Sport, Recreation And Fitness Experiences 1

  • Sport, Recreation And Outdoor Experiences 1

  • Outdoor Education 2

  • Community Sport And Recreation 2

  • Sport Science Foundation 2

  • Sport Science 3

  • Health Studies 3

  • Outdoor Leadership 3

  • Certificate II in Sport Coaching (VET)

  • Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation (VET)

  • Certificate I in Defence Skills (VET)

  • Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance (VET)

Frequently ASked Questions

  • You may choose as many Level 3 subjects as you would like in this area in a year of study. However, you may only choose two Level 1 or 2 subjects per year of study from this area.

  • No you don’t have to have any background in sport to complete a practical HPE subject. All you need is a good attitude and a willingness to participate in a wide range of sport and recreational activities.

  • Yes you can complete Sport Science 3 in Year 11. However, Sport Science 3 is a fast paced course that requires you to be on top of your workload. You also need to have some background knowledge in the Sport Science and Body Systems area – so if you haven’t completed a Sport Science course in your previous school, you might find this difficult. Ideally, students leave this subject until Year 12 when they have a good understanding of the work requirements of a Level 3 subject.

  • Yes you can complete this course in Year 11. However, it is commonly selected by Year 12 students as the Level 3 course focuses more on the development of the leader, presenting and conducting activities for groups. It’s not the fun activities associated with Outdoor Education courses. So we often recommend that Year 11 students complete the Outdoor Education 2 course first and then complete the Outdoor Leadership 3 course in Year 12.

  • The main requirement for these courses is that the student is currently competing in a sport at a reasonable level. The student needs to be completing organised training sessions under the supervision of a coach. And they need to be competing in an organised roster – not just social.

    If they choose a sport specific program – they need to be competing in that sport and they should be also playing for the school teams when the opportunity arises.

  • Yes you will have two camps to complete in the year. These camps usually run for three days and you will miss a day or two for each camp. Ideally through the year this would equate to only missing two classes of any subject while on camp. The camps are compulsory if you select this course as they are used as major assessment items.

Still Got Questions?

Ramon Jacobs - Head of Health, Outdoor Education & Physical Education

rjacobs@gyc.tas.edu.au


Other Helpful Links

  • Tasmanian Assessment Standards and Certification (TASC) website.

  • Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) website.

  • Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) website.