Funding boost keeps kids on the move

A PROGRAM helping local students to embrace more active ways of getting to school will continue for another two years, with new funding secured to expand its reach across Greater Geelong.

To date, the Walk, Ride, Scoot and Roll Geelong initiative has supported more than 1,600 students, staff and parents across four primary schools.

The next phase, running to 2027, will see the program expand to four of Northern Bay P-12 College’s primary campuses, while a new active travel toolkit will support up to 80 primary schools across the City of Greater Geelong.

Bellarine MP Alison Marchant said the program helps families fit more movement into everyday life.

“It’s fantastic to see Bellarine kids getting active on their way to school, whether that’s on foot, on a bike or on a scooter,” she said.

“Turning the school run into an opportunity to move more is helping kids build healthy habits, without adding extra time to Bellarine families’ busy routines.”

The two-year pilot was delivered at the Leopold, Portarlington, St Leonards and Newcomb primary schools, with students using an active travel audit tool to identify issues and create solutions.

The program was run in partnership with Bellarine Community Health (BCH), supported by Active Geelong, and backed by grants from Sport and Recreation Victoria and the City of Greater Geelong.

BCH’s healthy communities planner, Hannah Walker, said each school approached the challenge in its own way.

“Some used travel-friendly tech, built new bike sheds, ran bike repair and skills lessons, or had active travel signs put around town,” she said.

“The work we did this year will help students and teachers for years to come.”

Innovation was a key focus, with TagOn technology introduced at Leopold Primary School, active travel Tuesdays launched at Portarlington, and the region’s first Bike Bus pilot rolled out at Newcomb.

Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj said the program equipped students with hands-on skills that build confidence and independence.

“Active travel isn’t just about getting from A to B, it’s about creating supportive environments, safer streets and stronger social connections between schools and families,” he said.

“It’s fantastic to see students not only riding and scooting to school but also learning how to care for their bikes.”