Victorian schools will be showcasing the link between good health and a great education as the 73rd annual Education Weeks kicks off this week.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Healthy Mind, Healthy Body”, and many of Victoria’s schools are expected to join the celebrations and showcase the work they are doing to help students stay healthy.
Among the schools getting involved:
- Woolsthorpe Primary School, north of Warrnambool, which will be showcasing its kitchen garden program with students cooking produce from the garden for parents and the community;
- Aireys Inlet Primary School on the state’s south coast, where the principal - who is a former aerobics teacher - will be donning dance gear and running a whole of school and community interactive performance called Let’s Get Physical; and
- Students across Hepburn Shire will be learning the benefits of healthy eating while having fun along the way with food tasting at The Warehouse in Clunes.
From sports and dance activities, to yoga classes, healthy canteens, breakfast clubs, mentoring programs and kitchen gardens – it’s clear to see that Victorian schools are encouraging the healthy development of students.
The Andrews Labor Government is taking children’s health seriously.
Ambitious physical activity targets have been set to increase the proportion of students doing physical activity for an hour a day, five days a week by 20 per cent over the next decade. Goals have also been established for building students’ resilience.
In the run-up to Education Week, Mr Merlino met with two young journalists from Crinkling News – a national newspaper for young Australians. Phoebe East and Iluka Gould, grade six students from Elwood Primary School in Melbourne’s inner south, interviewed the Minister during the week to talk about Victorian schools.
In addition to school-based activities, a program of free activities for children is running as part of Education Week. Children will have the opportunity to try their hand at dragon boat racing on Albert Park Lake and bushwalking and tipi making in Ararat.
For more information and to learn more about the range of activities on offer during Education Week, go to
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino
“It’s great to see schools across the state are embracing Education Week, it certainly will be a lot of fun.”
“We all know that having an active lifestyle is important – for our health, our wellbeing and our success. That is why we have set ambitious targets to increase the proportion of students being active.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020