Students from four
local primary schools are set to take part in the City’s Walk, Ride, Scoot and
Roll Geelong program, aimed at encouraging kids to use
active transport to get to and
from school.
The Walk, Ride, Scoot and Roll Geelong program
is funded by $110,393 from the Victorian Government’s Kids Active Travel Program and up to $10,000 from Council.
In
partnership with Bellarine Community Health and Active Geelong, we will deliver
the targeted program over 12 months across two phases with the goal of
improving the health and wellbeing of children in grades three to six.
This
project builds on work already carried out with three of the four school communities about active travel and the
positive benefits from increased physical activity.
During phase
one, an evidence-based tool will be developed to identify opportunities that
encourage active travel and initiatives will be designed with the school
communities.
Students from St Leonards Primary School, Leopold
Primary School and Portarlington Primary School will develop active travel initiatives that are tailored to each
school community’s needs. This could include bike parking and storage, travel
friendly technology, safety
education programs and signage to promote safe travel routes to
school.
Phase two will
see the audit tool and co-design approach tested with Newcomb Primary School which
has a keen interest in fostering a culture of active travel. Schools involved
in phase one will continue to be supported during phase two.
Mayor Trent
Sullivan
The Walk, Ride, Scoot and Roll Geelong
program will encourage children and their families to make healthier choices.
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.
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.
Council is pleased the Victorian Government
granted us funding for this valuable project.
Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant
This new program will help local Bellarine kids get active before and after
school by riding, walking or scooting to and from 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.
Jackie Gillin, Healthy Communities Planner at
Bellarine Community Health
Bellarine Community Health are thrilled to be
partnering with the City of Greater Geelong and Active Geelong to support
students to be active on the way to and from school.
Active Geelong Executive
Support Michelle Hemley
Active Geelong's aim is to inspire community
participation in accessible and enjoyable physical activity opportunities,
knowing that a little more movement each day can have significant health outcomes.
We are proud to be
partnering in this project with the City and Bellarine Community Health and see
it as an important step in increasing physical activity levels in the
Geelong region.