Media Release
The Australian Council for Health Physical Education and Recreation
(ACHPER)
August 9 2010
No School No Play – Why not More School More Play?
The Australian Council for Health Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) has today
expressed concern over the ALP choice of the slogan No School No Play in their recently
announced policy targeting school truancy. In acknowledging that the spirit of the policy
reflects educationally sound intentions, National Executive Director Jeff Emmel expressed
reservations about the negative perception and potential negative impact on physical activity
opportunities for children that could arise if the issue was not handled properly with care and
sensitivity.
“This is a complex policy issue that could be misinterpreted and has the potential to backfire
because it has punitive connotations. The Policy may well espouse the value and power of
sport in the lives of young people but if they see it being used as a stick and not a carrot the
policy could be quickly undermined. Many young people miss school for a range of complex
personal and social reasons and schools are already working extremely hard to get to the root
cause of problems, providing counselling and support to students and families.
He went on to say it was commendable that National Sporting Organisations have put up their
hand to play an active role in addressing the problem of truancy and they would have done it
for the right reasons. ‘However, community clubs will be the places where this policy is
enacted and they will need support to ensure the punitive aspects of the issue do not prevail’.
Instead of saying No School No Play ACHPER would prefer a “More School, More Play”
slogan to better describe how schools and community clubs could cooperate in supporting
young people and using their love of sport as a positive motivation in both settings.
Contact Details
Jeffrey Emmel
National Executive Director
Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation Inc.
phone 08 83403388 or 0403570915
email: ned@achper.org.au
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