Active schools

Active travel for schools

We are passionate about encouraging local primary and secondary school children to get physically active – it's even included in our Council Plan.

Walking, riding or scooting to and from school helps students build healthy habits for life. Active travel is also great for our community and environment, as well as enabling students to connect with family and friends.

The Port Phillip Walk to School Month video, featuring local schools, shows how active travel is fun, easy and social.

We offer a range of support to help teachers, parents and students to get involved with active travel, through annual events, funding opportunities and the Healthy Tracks to School program.

Healthy Tracks to School Active Travel Program

In 2024, Council will support local schools in running month-long active travel engagement programs throughout the school year where students will be asked to record their method of travel to school.

Council is providing the following services to schools in support of this program:

• Active Travel Trackers to record information on how students get to school throughout the month
• Certificates for each student that commutes to school actively 20 times throughout the month
• Prizes for classes that have the highest participation across the school, prizes include (but are not limited to):
  • A visit from Councils Smoothie Bike
  • A ‘Golden Shoe’ trophy which may be awarded at an assembly
  • Schools are invited to collaborate with Council on identifying prizes that suit their students. In recent years, Council has provided down balls, gift vouchers and play equipment as prizes.
• Council will also supply resources including printed posters, worksheets, activities and more to promote the event
• Active Travel rebate of up to $400 to support a celebration day/day of action

Schools are encouraged to contact Council to collaborate on developing a program that suits the needs of their students. Please contact schooltravel@portphillip.vic.gov.au to discuss.

Ride2SchoolDay

Ride2School Day is a national celebration of active travel held in March each year.

In 2024, Ride2School Day will fall on Friday 22 March. Council will support schools in a variety of ways to encourage student uptake in the event, including:

• Funding through our Active Travel Rebates
• Visits from Council’s Smoothie Bike
• Assistance in developing active travel programs

Schools are encouraged to contact schooltravel@portphillip.vic.gov.au for further information. 

Active Travel Rebate

All primary and secondary schools in our City are eligible to apply for a $400 Active Travel Rebate twice a year from Council. If you have an idea for an activity or initiative which encourages active travel to or from school, we encourage you to apply.

Examples of how some schools have used their rebates include:

• Supporting Ride2School Day events with prizes and activities for students
• Healthy Breakfasts on Walking and Wheeling Wednesdays
• Active travel prizes, such as ‘Lucky Ticket’ prizes awarded by school crossing supervisors

To apply for an Active Travel Rebate, please contact schooltravel@portphillip.vic.gov.au.

Active Travel Matched Grant

Local schools can apply for an Active Travel Matched Grant, valued at up to $2000 each, to be used for any approved purpose which supports active travel to school. Funds received through this grant must be matched by the school.

Some common projects include:

• Bike and scooter parking facilities
• Bike education programs
• Active paths (wayfinding footpath graphics along designated routes to school)
• Purchasing of bikes/equipment for use by students
  • Any school who would be interested in exploring developing a ‘Bike Library’, please reach out! We would love to investigate this sort of project, which is growing in popularity across Australia. Find out more at City of Kwinana. 

Bike education – instructor training

Bicycle Education ('Bike Ed') Instructor Training enables school staff and parents to develop the capabilities to teach school children the skills they need to ride safely and independently on roads and paths.

We can cover the course fees for your school's representatives to undertake this instructor training through Cycling Safe. Up to six Council-funded places are available per year, with a maximum of two per school.

More information about this training, including course dates and locations, can be found on Cycling Safe.

For additional information on these programs or if you would like to discuss how Council can work with your school, please contact schooltravel@portphillip.vic.gov.au