Intervention components
Where possible, the regional study interventions emulated the initial study (described elsewhere)The teaching intervention aligns with the NSW Stage 4 Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) curriculum (described elsewhereCOVID-19 also impacted intervention delivery. Whilst many schools implemented the intervention early in 2020, some schools were either mid-way through delivery or had not commenced when NSW experienced its first COVID-19 lockdown. By 30 March 2020, homeschooling commenced for all students, unless their parents were front-line workers. This continued for approximately 8 weeksThe promotional intervention targeted the whole school community and reinforced messages that students received in PDHPE. This component utilised school newsletters, social media, posters and promotional materials including hi-vis vests worn by teachers and posters/flip charts at the canteen to promote the ‘choose water’ message. Schools received a content package to disseminate messages through their school community.The environmental intervention included the installation of one CWS in each school allocated to this intervention. The same product was used as in the initial study. These stations had a high level of acceptability to schools and were sturdy and vandal-resistant. The CWS was a stainless-steel wall-mounted station with a chilled drinking fountain, bottle refill capacity and bottle refill counter. Health Promotion Officers (HPOs) in consultation with schools identified the most suitable location for the CWS. This was based on issues such as power and water supply, adequate drainage and with good access for year 7/8 students (i.e. not in a senior only area). Based on these factors, most schools located their CWS either near the canteen, near existing bubblers, in main quadrangle or thoroughfares. Following baseline data collection, CWS installation was completed, and a large promotional sticker was affixed to promote the use of the CWS.