Rewriting the Narrative: NSW Teachers of PDHPE Who Inspire

As Term 2 wraps up and the winter holidays begin, there’s one story dominating the headlines: teachers are leaving in droves.

And it’s true! According to recent ABS data, areas like Parramatta, Blacktown and Sydney’s Inner West are losing hundreds of teachers. The word “burnout” is everywhere. The media paints a bleak picture and in many schools across NSW, that story resonates.

But what if that’s not the whole truth?

What if, beyond the headlines, there’s another narrative playing out… a quieter one. A more powerful one. One where teachers stay, where they connect, where they impact students in ways that don’t fit inside a media soundbite?

That’s the story I want to tell.

Beyond the Burnout: A Personal Reflection

This would’ve been my 21st year in a NSW classroom. I spent 14 of those years teaching in Blacktown, in a vibrant all-girls Catholic school filled with energy, challenges and so much growth… for my students and for me.

Yes, the paperwork was real. The pace was full-on. But the purpose? The connection? That was what anchored me through it all. It’s why I stayed and it’s why I still support educators through The Learning Network today.

This term though, despite some amazing things happening behind the scenes, I’ve personally felt like I’ve been living in a bit of “winter.” A season of feeling slightly off. A season where the weight of what teachers are facing has felt a little heavier.

But I also know this: NSW primary and high school teachers of PDHPE, CAFS & Health and Movement Science are doing extraordinary things, every single day.

The Impact You Don’t Always See

In the latest episode of The PDHPE & CAFS Podcast, I share a story about one of my former students who thanked me (years later) for something I didn’t even remember doing.

That story floored me.

Not because of what I did, but because of what it reminded me:

We often won’t know the full impact of our work. But it matters deeply.

There are PDHPE teachers running lessons that give kids their first real taste of what health looks like. CAFS teachers designing assessments that help students find their voice. Primary PE specialists nurturing confidence in students who’ve been left behind elsewhere.

And they’re doing it not because the conditions are perfect (they’re not), or because the system has suddenly gotten easier (it hasn’t). They’re doing it because they know they matter.

Let’s Talk About What’s Working

There are so many pockets of magic happening in our K-10 PDHPE, CAFS & Health and Movement Science classrooms across NSW. Teachers who:

• Build safe, inclusive spaces where students feel seen and supported.
• Collaborate with colleagues to adapt content for real-world relevance.
• Say yes to trying new strategies… even when time is short.
• Open their doors and open their hearts to connection, community and growth.
  
  

At The Learning Network, I get to hear these stories all the time. From rural schools, metro schools, faith-based systems and everything in between. These stories don’t go viral. But they are the heart of education.

And they’re the stories we need to tell more often.

Connection Is the Curriculum

If you take one thing away from this post, let it be this:

Content matters, but connection matters more.

You can teach the syllabus. You can tick the boxes. But what students remember most are the moments you made them feel safe, confident and capable.

That’s why our communities, whether in-person or online, are more important than ever. As educators, we thrive when we don’t feel alone. We grow when we share the wins and the hard stuff.

 So What Now? A Challenge + An Invitation

As we close out Term 2, I want to leave you with two things:

1. A challenge
   Think back on this term and ask:
   
• What was a small moment that reminded you why you teach?
• Who is one student you know you’ve made an impact on?
  
2. Write it down. Hold onto it. Let it ground you in your purpose.
   
3. An invitation
   If you’re in regional NSW, I’d love to invite you to something we’ve created just for you.
   
   

📍 Introducing: PDHPE Connect – Regional PL for Primary and high school PDHPE, Child Studies, CAFS & Health and Movement Science teachers.

PDHPE Connect is our new initiative to bring real, relevant professional learning to teachers across regional NSW.

We’re not just delivering presentations, we’re building community. These events are designed to give you:

• Curriculum clarity (especially for new syllabi)
• Classroom-ready tools you can use straight away
• Connection with educators who understand your context
• Support that goes beyond the event
   

We’re hitting the road in Term 3 and Term 4 with events in:

• Western Plains (Dubbo Zoo)
• New England (University of New England, Tamworth)
• Canberra (Term 4 Location TBC)
  
  

Whether you teach PDHPE, CAFS, Health and Movement Science or Child Studies, we’d love to see you there.

🔗 Explore PDHPE Connect here

🎟️ Limited spots. Regional teachers, this one’s for you.

Let’s Rewrite the Story. Together.

 The media might not tell your story. But I will.

 You matter. And your profession matters, too.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: www.thelearnnet.com/144