The Peer Activity Leaders (PAL) program is an initiative that works to:

• Promote physical activity
• Enhance school connectedness
• Develop social competencies
• Provide leadership opportunites
• Enhance relationships across school
• Develop community partnerships

Links you might like to explore

Go For Your Life
School Focused Youth Service
VicHealth
Department of Education

What is PAL?

The PAL (Peer Activity Leaders) is a program that works to promote physical activity, school connectedness and social competency in junior students and leadership skills, responsibility and community awareness in senior students.

The program involves senior students organising and running physical activities for junior students at lunchtimes, during class or after school. It can involve partnerships between primary and secondary schools but can also include parents, students, local government, agencies and local communities. The peer model is utilised to provide valuable skills to senior students and support the concept and positive aspects of peer role modelling.

A key aspect of the program is increasing participation among those who may be isolated at school or not normally involved in physical activity. This is achieved through the targeting of specific participants, the skills of the young leaders and the games and activities chosen.

Aims of the program

The specific aims of the program will vary between schools and regions.

Aims:

• Increase physical activity in schools - at lunchtimes and within the curriculum
• Foster self confidence and social competency skills of all participants
• Enhance relationships between students, staff and the school community
• Build partnerships between the education and community sector
• Build leadership skills including organisation, management, teamwork
• Increase the number of young people, volunteers trained in recreation within the community
• Enhance interaction between student year levels.

Why Implement PAL?

Many schools report a range of changes after implementing PAL:

• Increased physical activity of students
• Reduced bullying and suspensions,
• Increased peer relationships,
• A safer school environment,
• Increased participation by young people previously excluded,
• Increased motivation and involvement by senior students in the school and positive changes in school culture.

This program aims to instil in students a sense of responsibility, organisational skills and the ability to develop positive relationships with younger children through physical activity. The children are enthusiastic during their training and are very committed to their duties as PAL leaders.

"As senior students in our school, we do expect and encourage the children to take on added responsibilities and to practise being leaders in the safe primary school environment. This program has given the children a perfect avenue by which they can do this.

The program has trained them in the running of minor games and physical activities which they organise (via a set of cards) and participate in with our Prep, Grade 1 and 2 children, at lunchtimes, two days each week. On the other days, the younger children are then able to play without direction and develop their own skills.

Some of the benefits of the program are obvious, like occupying young children during the long lunch break, keeping them physically active whilst teaching them how to listen, co-operate and socialise with each other.

The playground can be a daunting and lonely place for any child. The anxiety associated with having 'no-one to play with' can be overwhelming. PAL has given both our younger children and our older students an opportunity to participate and feel welcomed. It has been interesting.

The sporty, outgoing grade 6 students, whom we would have assumed would take this program on with gusto, haven't done so. It has been our quieter, less confident grade 6's who have been the most effective leaders. They have been able to communicate with the little ones with empathy, including them and encouraging them to participate in non-threatening and fun activities.

The program has also allowed these children to feel valued in our school. We have noticed fewer problems on our junior playground. Furthermore, the skills learnt during the PAL training and in its implementation have overflowed into other areas in our school. Our Grade 6 class is cohesive and very reliable.

Rather than 'bossing' the younger children, they have become encouraging and supportive mentors. They are developing into wonderful role models who are looked up to by all members of our school community. Our current Grade 5 children will participate in PAL training in term 4 so that, as our Grade 6's move on to secondary school, they can take up the responsibility of PAL leadership in 2007.

The children wear bright yellow caps to identify them as PAL leaders to the younger children.

Some of the comments of the younger children have been.....

"I like playing games with the big kids....they are nice to me."

"PAL is good because we get to play games at lunchtime."

Some of the comments of the leaders have been.....

" I feel good when I can help someone join in."

"PAL is a great way to get to know the younger kids."

"I have learnt a lot about organising and encouraging other people. I think they (the prep, 1 and 2 children) like us coming up and playing with them."

Sharon
Teacher
St Ita's Primary School
Drouin

Benefits of PAL

There are many benefits of using physical activity as a vehicle for developing leadership skills.

For student leaders PAL provides opportunities to develop:

• Leadership skills such as communication, decision making, organisation, managing groups and peer support
• Social skills including planning, initiative, cooperation, self-esteem, confidence, relationship building, teamwork and peer support
• Satisfaction through assisting younger students
• Skills to increase the participation of younger students
• Skills that will assist with managing and running groups
• Relationships with teachers and the school community

For student participants PAL provides opportunities to develop:

• Increased participation in physical activity
• Skills through modelling behaviour through senior students
• Physical activity skills and increased fitness
• Increased confidence, resilience and a sense of teamwork
• Physical confidence
• Increased interaction with older school students
• Their relationships with peers

How to access PAL Training

Training is available to teachers, welfare workers, and in fact anyone involved with young people.

The training equips staff with the skills to train student leaders to implement the program into schools or selected settings.

Learn more about training here

Geographical reach

Australia Wide via OzChild accredited trainers

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