The NSW Government is continuing work to ensure the lessons taught in NSW schools equip students with the tools they need to thrive in life after school, with the new Personal Development, Health and Physical Education [PDHPE] syllabus for years 7-10 released today.

For the first time, high school students in NSW will be explicitly taught about online safety and consent. This builds on the new syllabus for primary school students released last week which includes age appropriate lessons on these issues.

The updated syllabus reflects feedback from teachers, academics and school sectors.

Under the NSW Government’s revised curriculum reform timelines, teachers have more than two years to familiarise themselves and implement the new syllabus, where previously they had just one year. Schools may choose to implement the updated syllabus before it becomes mandatory in 2027.

As social media and the digital world becomes increasingly prevalent in daily life, for the first time students will be explicitly taught content aimed at helping them stay safe online. Informed by research, lessons will include content on:

• Rights and responsibilities as digital citizens, including when communicating online
• Strategies to deal with cyberbullying
• Managing digital privacy

This addition supports the government’s ongoing work to address the impact online platforms are having on children and young people, which includes banning mobile phones in all public schools, and hosting a social media summit later this year.

Further, students will engage in lessons to understand the importance of lifelong physical activity, and the connection between nutrition, physical activity, mental health and wellbeing.

Consent has also now been made essential content that all students learn, where it was previously included as an example and not required teaching. Lessons will, in an age-appropriate way, teach that consent is freely given, reversible, informed and specific, with communication strategies, the importance of people’s choices and affirmative consent to be taught.

Students will continue to learn about respectful relationships, with the addition of lessons on how to recognise signs of coercive control, manipulation and controlling behaviours in relationships.

Other health issues such as addiction are now explicitly included and will be taught in an age appropriate way. These lessons will include how to recognise signs of addiction and strategies for students to support themselves and others, with teachers able to reference examples including gambling, vaping, alcohol and prescription medication.

Visit the NSW Curriculum website to view the syllabuses and support materials for teachers and families.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“This new PDHPE syllabus equips students with essential knowledge, skills and strategies to help them take control of their health and wellbeing and navigate challenging situations.

“Students will now learn compulsory content to help them understand their responsibilities as citizens of the digital world and maintain their safety online.

“They will also learn to recognise and respond to the signs of domestic and family violence, and to understand consent, ensuring all NSW students have the knowledge and skills to protect themselves and respect the boundaries of people around them.

“We need teachers to be equipped with age-appropriate, evidence-based content that aligns with community expectations. This new PDHPE syllabus does that.”

NSW Education Standards Authority CEO Paul Martin said:

“As with all reformed syllabuses, the new 7-10 PDHPE syllabus makes it clear what is essential content to deliver.

“Not only does that provide greater clarity and support for teachers who deliver the content, it bridges the gap with parents and carers with an interest in what their children are learning about.

“PDHPE deals with a broad range of learning – from physical health through to positive, safe and respectful behaviour online and offline.

“We will develop new resources to support teachers delivering new content and parents getting to know what is being covered in classrooms.”