Sport

More than 1 in 5 children in Australia are overweight or obese. Regular physical activity is a major part of maintaining a healthy weight, and good health in general.

Schools encourage participation, enjoyment and skill development by creating sports programs that meet the needs of all students. Many schools have specialist health and physical education teachers. Others use classroom teachers or people from the community to support active participation.

Some common sports in Queensland schools are:

  • track and field
  • swimming
  • cross country
  • touch football
  • basketball
  • soccer.

Sporting programs

Sport in schools can consist of:

  • sport within the school
  • interschool sport programs.

Sport within the school

Schools develop their own programs.

Contact your school to find what sports are offered or if you have any concerns about your child participating. School contact details are available by phoning 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or searching the schools directory.

Interschool sport

This is structured sporting competition between schools. It is organised within school districts.

Independent and catholic schools have their own interschool associations, for example the Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association (QGSSSA) or Greater Public Schools (GPS) association.

The sports available in any area will depend on remoteness, staff resources and historical experience.

Contact your school to find what interschool sports are offered. School contact details are available by phoning 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or searching the schools directory.

Representative sport

All schools can send students to district trials, and from there selected students go on to regional trials. Then they may be chosen to represent the region at state championships.

There are 12 regions in Queensland:

  • North West
  • Peninsula
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Metropolitan North
  • Metropolitan East
  • Metropolitan West
  • Northern
  • Capricornia
  • Darling Downs
  • South Coast
  • South West
  • Wide Bay.

Queensland School Sport coordinates the regional programs for all of the school sport regions.

From the regional program, state representative school sport teams are selected to compete at interstate, national or international events. The Queensland School Sport website has more information.

Community involvement

School sports often work with community organisations by sharing grounds and facilities. Community organisations also:

  • conduct sport and physical activity programs in schools
  • supply volunteers as officials and umpires
  • provide sponsorship to offset the cost of participation.