TAFE students go back to primary school to teach the ABCs of fun and fitness
27 October 2003
Kangan Batman TAFE’s Sport, Recreation and Fitness Department has formed a partnership with Richmond West Primary School that is benefiting both the TAFE and primary school students.
Since July this year, students from the TAFE’s Certificate IV in Sport Development/Sport and Recreation courses have been running twice-weekly sport and fitness sessions for Prep to Grade 4 students at the primary school.
The sessions have included fitness-based activities and development of the children’s skills in sports such as basketball, netball, cricket, soccer, volleyball, T-ball, hockey, football and tennis.
Richmond West Primary School Principal, Peter Lord, says the program has been of immense value to his students. Unlike secondary schools, primary schools do not have dedicated physical education teachers. However, normally the children have 20 minutes of exercise each day under the supervision of their classroom teacher.
“The TAFE program has given our students a much wider range of sporting activities than one teacher alone could provide. The children’s fitness and skill development has also improved due to the level of coaching and supervision they receive from the TAFE students,” Mr Lord said.
The school is keen to continue the program next year, as is its instigator, Victor Drew, a teacher in Kangan Batman TAFE’s Sport, Recreation and Fitness Department.
“At Kangan Batman TAFE we always try to give our students practical experience as part of their course. This partnership has allowed more than 40 of our students to hone their coaching, leadership and event management skills, which will be invaluable in their future sporting industry careers,” Mr Drew said.
Kangan Batman TAFE’s Sport, Recreation and Fitness Department is based at the institute’s Richmond campus (70 Gwynne Street). The department offers courses in fitness, sports coaching and development, recreation, and massage. It also operates an open-to-the-public massage clinic at the Richmond campus, with massages performed by fully-supervised massage students.
