Getting school students moving

CHILDREN are being encouraged to use a more active mode of transport to get to and from school with a new program from the City of Greater Geelong.

Students from four local primary schools will take part in the program, Walk, Ride, Scoot and Roll Geelong, with the goal of improving the health and wellbeing of children.

“We’re looking forward to getting kids excited about physical activity on the way to and from school, whether that’s walking and skipping, riding a bike, or hopping on a scooter or skateboard,” Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan said.

“The program aims to motivate families to use active travel as their primary mode of transport for school and for students to feel more confident, independent and able to safely navigate local streets near their school.

In partnership with Bellarine Community Health and Active Geelong, the targeted program will be delivered across 12 months in two phases, aimed at children in Grades 3 to 6. In the first phase, opportunities encouraging active travel and initiatives will be developed.

Students from St Leonards, Leopold and Portarlington Primary School’s will develop active travel initiatives which could include bike parking and storage, safety education programs and safe travel signage.

In phase two, the co-design and audit tool will be tested with Newcomb Primary School.

Bellarine MP Allison Marchant said the new program will help local Bellarine children be active before and after school.

“Incorporating exercise into the daily school trip will help kids learn healthy habits without adding a lot of time into Bellarine families’ busy schedules.”

The Victorian government’s Kids Active Travel Program has provided $110,393 in funding for the program with the city providing up to $10,000.