Hume will be one of the first council areas to benefit from a state government program aiming to encourage more children to walk, scoot, and bike to school.
At the weekend, Community Sport Minister Ros Spence and Greenvale MP Iwan Walters announced four new projects across Hume, Melton, Geelong, and Bendigo as part of the government’s Kids Active Travel Program.
Outdoors Victoria, in partnership with Hume council and local schools, will deliver one of the projects, known as Park It.
Park It encourages families to drop off their children at nearby parks and walk the rest of the way to school in groups.
The project aims to foster community spirit and promote healthy habits, according to the government.
Travel-friendly technology, bike parking, storage facilities, safety education programs, and signage to enhance safe school travel routes will be [provided as part of the project.
The government said the Kids Active Travel program focuses on primary schools in areas with high levels of social disadvantage and aims to inspire healthy lifestyle habits from a young age.
Results from the program will be used to guide future active travel projects statewide.
“We’re determined to reverse the trend of one in four kids not getting enough exercise – walking, scooting or riding a bike to school is a great active way for kids to start the day,” Ms Spence said.
“The new Kids Active Travel Program will help families in disadvantaged communities break the habit of driving to school and empower kids to get active more often.”
Mr Walters said, “The times before and after school are so busy for families, which is why it’s great to see this program helping young people in Greenvale to incorporate exercise into their daily journeys to and from school”.
Details sport.vic.gov.au.
