The unit aims to promote awareness of the importance of Health and Physical Education (HPE) in the curriculum from a generalist teacher's perspective, and provide confidence in teaching its concepts at a primary school level. It seeks to prepare primary school pre-service teachers to teach generalist level physical education and other physical activities to primary school children. It also aims to prepare primary school pre-service teachers to teach health education and health promotion to children, parents, staff and the wider school community whilst giving pre-service teachers knowledge of and an ability to work with others who may have health and well-being issues. Knowledge of the physical, social, emotional, spiritual and interpersonal dimensions will be applied to a range of topics covered in the health and physical education curriculum, for example: drugs, resilience, nutrition and safety issues. The interpersonal skills of communication and conflict resolution will also be developed. National, state and local perspectives relating to the focus, structure and content of HPE will also be critically examined.

Skills that are emphasised in this unit are those that have been identified by the Teachers Registration Board (TRB), as well as national teaching bodies, as important by the time you graduate with your teaching degree. These include demonstrating aspects of professional knowledge, professional relationships and professional practice.