CAHE and DECS Teacher's Resource Manual
Developed collaboratively by CAHE and DECS staff, the CAHE and DECS Teacher's Resource Manual is designed for first year high school students and is a mechanism of disseminating evidence to school communities about good spinal health practices. The Teacher's Resource Manual has been written for five core subjects in the first year high school program in English, Mathematics, Science, Physical Education and Society and Environment. Over the past 8 years the researchers at the School of Health Sciences, UniSA have produced much of the supporting evidence, which has involved over 700 undergraduate physiotherapy students, four postgraduate students and nearly 20 staff. Research designs used over this time include population-based observational studies (cross-sectional and longitudinal), laboratory studies of effects of backpack load on posture, and qualitative studies to identify barriers to uptake of good spinal health practices in school communities.
This research project has enjoyed a close relationship with the Department of Education and Children’s Services, in particular Ms Deb Kay, and staff at Adelaide High School, where the Teacher's Resource Manual was trialled. A number of teachers assisted with writing this resource manual in line with SACSA frameworks. The CAHE and DECS Teacher's Resource Manual enhances a policy document which was written by CAHE for DECS in 2002, piloted in 2002-3, and officially made available to the public in early 2004. The policy was launched by the State Minister for Education and acts as a resource for schools when determining risks to spinal health.
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Alongside this important document is the DECS Policy Document: Spinal health for South Australian students, which was prepared by CAHE and endorsed by DECS in 2002. Spinal health for South Australian students is one of the few research-based resources for parents and teachers. This important document is useful starting point for parents who wish to enter into a discourse with schools on concerns with load carriage in school students and other occupational health and safety (OH&S) issues that arise in relation to this subject. |
Please complete this online form to submit your details to the Centre for Allied Health Evidence and download copies of the CAHE and DECS Teacher's Resource Manual. Your registration details will only be used by the Centre for Allied Health Evidence to obtain feedback regarding the material and to notify you about updates.