PERU: Youth Voices

The SALSA program is a peer-led leadership program designed to motivate school students to make healthier lifestyle choices. 

The broad aims of the SALSA program are to promote healthy eating patterns and regular physical activity in an engaging, fun and supportive school environment. The SALSA program is incorporated into each school’s Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) curriculum to complement lessons taught by PDHPE teachers.  The program specifically targets schools in western Sydney where the risk for overweight and obesity development is a major public health concern. 

A variety of strategies including a video, games, role-playing and a quiz show are used in the program, with participation and fun central to all aspects of learning.  The program materials and delivery of the four lessons by the SALSA Year 10 Peer Leaders to Year 8 students are standardised through the use of structured lessons using the Peer Leaders Manual.