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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 3 Hansard (23 October) . . Page.. 4118 ..

If so, how much has been implemented;

If not, why not.

Ms Gallagher

Students from Year 3 to 10 spend on average 150 minutes doing physical exercise each week.

Students from Kindergarten to Year 2 spend on average 20 to 30 minutes per day doing physical activity.

Physical activity programs are implemented on an individual school basis and are monitored by the principal and teachers in each school. Schools develop their programs according to the ACT Department of Education, Youth and Family Services Health and Physical Education Curriculum Framework and Health and Physical Education Curriculum Profiles. Community sporting organisations and the PE and Sport Unit in the department are involved in the implementation of these programs to ensure student needs are being met and outcomes are achieved.

Yes, many of the recommendations from the review have been implemented.

In 2002, the PE and Sport Unit transferred from Community Partnerships to the Curriculum Initiatives Section of the department. The Unit has a major focus on the provision of professional development for teachers, especially in ACT Government primary schools. This is seen as essential to addressing student outcomes as stated in the ACT Government Schools Plan 2002-2004 and the School Excellence Initiative, Achieving Excellence in ACT Government Schools, to commence in 2004.

The establishment of Sports Management Groups in a wide range of sports has led to an increased efficiency in the administration of school and junior sport. Representatives from the department and community sporting organisations comprise these management groups and meet regularly throughout the year to share expertise and resources.

The University of Queensland is developing the framework for the Australian Sports Commission as a blueprint for national sporting organisations and their affiliates for the development of their junior sport policies. Consultations on the final draft of the framework will take place in Sydney and Melbourne in October 2003 for national sporting organisations and State and Territory Departments of Sport and Recreation.

In 2001, the department initiated a Service Purchasing Contract with the ACT Schools Sports Council Incorporated operating as School Sport ACT. This contract is reviewed annually. School Sport ACT reports six-monthly on output indicators, and quality and quantity performance indicators that relate to providing sporting opportunities for students in all ACT schools.

The department has a contract with the Lakeside Leisure Centre for the provision of qualified Austswim instructors to teach primary school students to swim as part of the 'Swim Smart' Swim and Water Safety Program. In 2003, 29 primary schools, totalling 3140 students, were involved in the Swim Start program. The contract with the Lakeside Leisure Centre is reviewed on an annual basis.

Sport and Recreation ACT (SRACT) has conducted surveys on participation rates for all sports and those results are available from the Chief Minister's Department.

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