$100,000 grant funding available for schools to encourage active travel

Following a successful trial in 2018-19, the Connecting Schools grants program is back and bigger than ever with $100,000 available to WA schools to upgrade bike parking and shelters, hold bike education workshops, and install wayfinding signage and bike tracks.

Schools signed up to the Your Move program that are actively encouraging students to walk, cycle or use public transport to and from school will automatically qualify for the grants once they reach a certain accreditation level.

The level of accreditation achieved by a school determines the level of grant package the school is eligible to redeem.

A variety of grant packages are available, including bike and scooter parking, bike repair stations, wayfinding signage and bike skills education sessions.

Department of Transport Executive Director Urban Mobility Justin McKirdy said the Connecting Schools grants program is one way the Department of Transport works to ease congestion on local roads near WA schools.

“The program’s funding is almost four times larger than last year’s allocation, which emphasises the importance of encouraging our kids to walk or ride a bike to school,” he said.

“In addition to increasing road safety by reducing cars on the roads around school, we are encouraging physical activity which results in happier, healthier kids who arrive to school alert and ready to learn.

“Schools are strongly encouraged to sign up to the Your Move program as it provides them with online resources and an interactive platform to share their activities and stories of success.”

Schools can apply for a Connecting Schools grant from now until 31 December 2019.

More information on Connecting Schools Grants and the Your Move Schools leaderboard are available on the Your Move website.

Media contact: media@transport.wa.gov.au
Participating schools can be arranged for media opportunities.