Background
St Michael’s has a strong commitment to sustainability and student wellbeing. With increasing car-based school drop-offs and a desire to promote healthier, safer travel options, the school identified a need to improve students’ bike safety knowledge and confidence. The grant application aligned with the school’s strategic goals to increase active travel participation and embed road safety education from the early years.
Project description
The project, titled ‘We Like to Move It at St Michael’s!’, included two key components:
• Bike education workshops for students in Years 3–6. Delivered across 4 weeks in Term 1, 2025, these workshops focused on safe riding practices, road rules, helmet safety, bike maintenance and responsible behaviour.
• Early Years innovation initiative: The school introduced balance bikes and helmets for Early Childhood students.
The Your Move student team also played a key role in promoting the initiative, managing logistics and encouraging peer participation.
Outcomes
The project delivered strong outcomes across multiple areas:
• Increased active travel participation: More students walked, rode or scooted to school regularly, particularly on event days and after participation in workshops.
• Improved bike and road safety awareness: Through the bike education workshops and road safety incursions, students demonstrated greater knowledge of road rules, helmet safety and responsible riding behaviours.
• Early engagement: Younger students developed foundational motor skills and road safety awareness through balance bike activities.
• Whole-school involvement: The program encouraged a culture of active transport within the community, supported by staff, students and families.
• Sustained impact: The equipment and education programs will continue to benefit students in future years, supporting long-term behavioural change.
“Thanks to the Your Move grant, our students are confidently walking, riding and scooting their way to a healthier future! Investing in active travel creates lasting habits, safer journeys and a stronger school community.” — Jo Burg, Your Move Champion.
Learn more about the Connecting Schools Grant here.