Active School Travel benefits and testimonials
Since launching in 2004, the Active School Travel (AST) program has worked with 168 schools and 127,000 students and helped thousands of families choose an active and healthy transport alternative.
The program has received international recognition for being one of the most successful, innovative and adaptable travel behaviour programs globally. To find out more, view the case study on the Tools of Change website.
When children walk, ride a bike, scoot or take public transport to school, they are provided with valuable opportunities to keep fit and healthy, learn independence and basic life skills like how to cross the road safely.
Here's what participating schools are saying about the Active School Travel program:
Very impressed with the support given to us by the Council to implement AST.
AST has been great for our school and students. The number of students riding to school is amazing and our bike and scooter racks are full every day.
The assembly performances are great and the bike and scooter skills programs were very popular with students.
Find out what schools receive in the AST program. You can also hear how the program has positively influenced students and provided benefits to schools, communities and families.
Testimonial video
In this video we speak to staff and parents from Greenslopes State School and Robertson State School about their involvement in the AST program.
You can also view this video on Council's YouTube account.
Video transcript
Video transcript
Why did your school take part in the Active School Travel program?
Meg Caldwell-Cook – Parent and Teacher Aide, Greenslopes State School
We all see the importance of Active School Travel and to get the kids moving before school, so it’s really nice that the kids are scootering, riding, walking to school, catching public transport or carpooling.
Mel Kennedy – Parent and Staff Member, Robertson State School
The move to the Active School Travel program relieved a lot of pressure, a lot of congestion, that’s been really helpful.
What has your school gained from participating in the Active School Travel program?
Mel Kennedy – Parent and Staff Member – Robertson State School
The community feel is amazing; it brings a lot of the parents in with the children as well. Doing that with their parents makes their day wonderful.
Margaret Berry – Principal, Robertson State School
The biggest highlights of the Active School Travel program have been the increase in fitness in children, children walking to school with their parents, the sense of community that has been built is amazing.
How has the Active School Travel program benefited your school?
Margaret Berry – Principal, Robertson State School
The Active School Travel program has brought many other bonuses that we never thought it would do. Bringing the community together, parents getting out with their children and walking to school, I had no idea it would be as successful as it has.
Mel Kennedy – Parent and Staff Member – Robertson State School
Learning the rules as they go along, we tell the children to stop as they are crossing roads and looking both ways and they all take it on board, it’s really good to see.
Meg Caldwell-Cook – Parent and Teacher Aide, Greenslopes State School
It’s the whole community, I think that’s the important part. That it gets the whole community involved.
Describe the support provided by Council
Mel Kennedy – Parent and Staff Member – Robertson State School
The support has been amazing from Council.
Margaret Berry – Principal, Robertson State School
It has been excellent. I’ve worked with many programs but this is one of the ones which is very well supported, and very well researched.
Christina Ferguson – Teacher, Greenslopes State School
It’s good support for the school community.
What do the students love about Active School Travel?
Margaret Berry – Principal, Robertson State School
Getting that passport stamped is just something that has taken over the life of these little ones.
Mel Kennedy – Parent and Staff Member – Robertson State School
They all want to get their passport stamped so that they get the prizes at the end.
More information
For more information about the Active School Travel program: