#131 Sport is NOT PDHPE. Writing is NOT Literacy. Uncover Skills to be more Explicit Teaching PDHPE in NSW
The PDHPE & CAFS Podcast with Kelly Bell
Release Date: 03/19/2025
#160 7 Teaching Lessons I Didn’t Expect to Learn This Year
The PDHPE & CAFS Podcast with Kelly Bell
This final episode for the year is a personal reflection on big lessons that shaped me and my work supporting busy teachers of PDHPE, Community and Family Studies and Health and Movement Science across NSW. This year stretched me. It challenged how I work, how I lead and how I protect my energy. From the importance of support and systems to knowing when to ask for help and stop playing small, these lessons all point to one thing: sustainability. If you’re a teacher who wants to keep doing this work well, without burning out or doing it alone, this episode is for you. And if you...
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#159 Why Primary PE Matters: Building Strong Foundations for Every Child
The PDHPE & CAFS Podcast with Kelly Bell
In this episode, we explore why PDHPE in primary schools is far more than sport and nutrition it’s a critical foundation for every child’s health, wellbeing and learning. With only 26% of Australian children meeting daily activity recommendations and one in seven experiencing mental health challenges, the role of PDHPE has never been more important. We unpack the research, the rising need for movement in classrooms, and how inclusive primary PDHPE builds confidence, resilience and lifelong healthy habits. Whether you’re a teacher, school leader or parent, this episode will reshape the...
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#158 Transforming NSW PDHPE: Empowering teachers for this Change
The PDHPE & CAFS Podcast with Kelly Bell
In this episode, we chat with Jamie Gerlach CEO of 4 CTL as we unpack what real transformation looks like in schools and why primary and high school teachers of PDHPE are uniquely placed to lead it. We explore how learning shifts when teachers focus on agency, connection and the 4Cs creativity, critical reflection, communication and collaboration. Jamie highlights the importance of teaching beyond the PDHPE content; it’s a powerful space for shaping identity, wellbeing and human connection. Even within tight systems, teachers can act as change agents through small, intentional practices that...
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#157 Food Sustainability in NSW PDHPE: Building Healthier Habits for Life
The PDHPE & CAFS Podcast with Kelly Bell
In this episode, we explore food sustainability with OzHarvest Australia and what it really takes to help our students build healthier habits. As NSW primary teachers and high school PDHPE teachers, we know food choices are shaped by access, equity, culture and education, not just what’s on the plate. We look at the challenges around food waste, food insecurity and misleading nutrition messages and how simple classroom conversations can guide young people toward sustainable decisions that last. You’ll also hear real stories from OzHarvest’s work in Australian communities and how...
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#156 How to Strengthen CAFS Responses for Band 5 & 6 Success
The PDHPE & CAFS Podcast with Kelly Bell
Are your CAFS students struggling to move beyond a Band 3 or 4? In this episode, we break down exactly what separates Band 5 and 6 responses from the rest and how you can teach these skills with confidence in your classroom. Drawing from 16 years of HSC marking experience and insights mentoring thousands of CAFS teachers spanning 15 years, in How to Strengthen CAFS Student Responses for Band 5 & 6 Success, I unpack what high-scoring students do differently: from interpreting Glossary of Key Words and applying syllabus content to writing with clarity, structure and confidence. You’ll walk...
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#155 Why is CAFS Still Getting a Bad Rap in NSW Schools?
The PDHPE & CAFS Podcast with Kelly Bell
Why is CAFS still getting a bad rap in NSW schools? It’s time to challenge the outdated perceptions and show just how powerful this subject really is. In this episode, I unpack the misconceptions that still surround CAFS and how passionate, collaborative teachers are rewriting the narrative through innovation, connection and impact. If you’re tired of fighting the same battles alone, this one’s for you. Let’s elevate CAFS together one classroom, one teacher, one Collective at a time. 👉 Join The CAFS Collective:
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#154 The Real Reason Why Teachers of PDHPE, HMS & CAFS Are Burnt Out
The PDHPE & CAFS Podcast with Kelly Bell
Ever wondered why so many passionate teachers of PDHPE, CAFS and HMS teachers end up feeling completely burnt out or even leaving the profession altogether? In this powerful episode, we pull back the curtain on the hidden pressures facing NSW teachers today: unrealistic expectations, constant curriculum demands and the belief that we have to do it all alone. But this isn’t just a conversation about the problem. It’s about the solution. You’ll learn: The real reasons why burnout is so common in our profession Why teachers often default to working solo, even when it’s...
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#153 The 5 Power Moves Every CAFS Teacher Should Know
The PDHPE & CAFS Podcast with Kelly Bell
Tired of feeling like you’re drowning in content delivery and your students are disengaged? In this episode, I’m sharing the 5 power moves every CAFS teacher should know: the strategies that transform your classroom from “copy, memorise, repeat” to dynamic, high-impact learning. Here’s what we’ll cover: Why you should stop making your kids copy notes (and what to do instead) How to ditch the textbook and use done-for-you resources that actually work The key to bringing CAFS to life so students stay engaged and curious Why linking examples...
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#152 What the Former NSW CAFS Supervisor of Marking Wants Every Teacher to Know
The PDHPE & CAFS Podcast with Kelly Bell
Ever wondered what really separates a Band 4, 5 and 6 in Community and Family Studies? After years of marking thousands of CAFS responses and serving as the NSW Supervisor of Marking: I’ve seen the hidden shifts in what CAFS markers are looking for and where students consistently fall short. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain to share exactly what you need to be doing now in your CAFS classroom to set your students up for success. You’ll discover: - Why relying on acronyms alone won’t get your students across the line - The subtle changes in student CAFS responses that...
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#151 Band 5 & 6 Unlocked: The Secrets Behind Top Responses in Community & Family Studies
The PDHPE & CAFS Podcast with Kelly Bell
Every Community and Family Studies teacher wants their students hitting Band 5 and 6, but few know the exact difference between a strong response and an exceptional one. In this episode of Band 5 & 6 Unlocked, I pull back the curtain on the markers’ expectations and reveal the secrets behind top-Band responses that most teachers across the State never get access to. You’ll learn: ✅ The defining features that separate average answers from Band 5 & 6 excellence ✅ Practical strategies you can embed straight into your teaching to lift student performance ✅ How to...
info_outlineSport is not PE, and PE is not sport. As PDHPE teachers, we know this, but are we truly delivering explicit movement skills and literacy in our classrooms?
In this episode of The PDHPE & CAFS Podcast, we break down the key explicit skills in the new NSW PDHPE syllabus, focusing on:
✅ The importance of physical literacy & fundamental movement skills across K-6 and 7-10
✅ Why writing is not literacy and what explicit literacy skills actually look like in PDHPE
✅ How to integrate movement skills effectively, rather than just playing sport for sport’s sake
✅ The biggest challenges PDHPE teachers face with the new syllabus & how to tackle them
✅ How to work smarter, not harder by maximising resources, checklists & teaching strategies
We also share practical solutions to help teachers save time, reduce overwhelm, and ensure skill development in PDHPE.
If you’re feeling the pressure of syllabus changes, you’re not alone! Tune in to learn how to confidently implement explicit skills in your PDHPE program and empower your students for lifelong movement and health.
🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app!
🔗 Explore the K-6 & 7-10 PDHPE Memberships: thelearnnet.com/pdhpe