City of Darwin in partnership with key community stakeholders has launched a program to help schoolkids live active lifestyles and get to school safely.
The ‘Safe and Active Routes to School Program’ has been developed as a toolkit for local schools to assist in developing their own safe and active routes for students to use when travelling to and from school.
The program was launched at an event held at Parap Primary School in June.
“City of Darwin is committed to fostering a healthy and active community and the ‘Safe and Active Routes to School Program’ provides schools [with] the framework to plan and set up their own unique programs, encouraging students to walk and cycle to school along dedicated safe paths,” said Darwin Lord Mayor Katrina Fong Lim.
“In Australia, the number of students actively travelling to schools is rapidly declining. We know that supporting active travel in children from a young age, through their journey to school, can build lifelong healthy habits and support safer and more connected communities.
“Parap Primary School was nominated as the pilot school. City of Darwin and GTA Consultants worked closely with the school, holding consultation sessions and gathering information to help deliver their own active travel plan for students,” added the Lord Mayor.
The ‘Safe and Active Routes to School Program’ was developed in partnership with City of Darwin, the Heart Foundation of Australia and GTA Consultants.
The toolkit contains information, case studies and templates to assist schools in creating their own ‘active travel’ plans.
