Walking programs in Western Australia

• Walking for Transport
• Walking for Health
• Walking for Recreation
• Walking for Transport, Health and Recreation
• Walking for Tourism
• Other programs promoting walking

Walking for Transport

Organisation: Department for Planning and Infrastructure

• Program name: Walk There Today
  Aims of program: To raise the profile of walking as a legitimate mode of transport to replace short car trips
  Strategies: Walking sponsorships to local government, community groups and non-profit organisations to organise walks; community walks; website information and promotional material on walking

• Program name: Walking School Bus
  Aims of program: To develop confidence and safe pedestrian behaviour in children for when they reach the age at which they want to travel independently
  Strategies: Volunteer training provided by the Department to nominated parents and citizens; focus on children in years K-5, within a one km radius of the school (home or school bus terminus point)

  
  
  WALKING SCHOOL BUS: A healthy, safe and traffic-free way to get to school

• Program name: Travel Smart to Schools – Millennium Kids
  Aims of program: To encourage children to minimise car use, in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote use of public transport, cycling and walking to facilitate physical and social benefits
  Strategies: Educational resources, classroom based activities for schools

Organisation: Road Wise (WALGA)

• Program name: Safe Routes to Schools
  Aims of program: To provide a safer environment for children on their way to and from school and to encourage children to walk and or cycle to school to decrease traffic congestion around schools during drop off and pick up times
  Strategies: Audit of road network and signage of routes surrounding schools; increase awareness to parents through school newsletters.

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Walking for Health

Organisation: Department of Health

• Program name: Find Thirty, it’s not a big exercise
  Aims of program: To encourage an increased proportion of Western Australians to be sufficiently active, by increasing awareness of the need to be sufficiently active for good health
  Strategies: Television advertising, support media, public relations, publications and merchandise, websites, provider education, community activities, sponsorships and evaluation

Organisation: National Heart Foundation

• Program name: Walk-It Bunbury
  Aims of program: To increase the number of adults over 25 years in the City of Bunbury who walk for at least 30 minutes at moderate intensity on most, preferably all, days of the week
  Strategies: Education resources, environment change, mass media, health professional based promotion and educational and participation-based programs.

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  Walking for Recreation Organisation: Department of Sport and Recreation Program name: Walk Leader Training Manual Aims of program: To develop community members as volunteer walk leaders Strategies: Resource kit, walk leader training sessions Program name: Walk Friendly Assessment Guide Aims of program: To raise the awareness of walking as a means of increasing physical activity levels and to assist local governments in providing supportive walking environments Strategies: Simple assessment guide/tool for local governments to identify the suitability for walking of environments focusing on four areas: Access, Comfort, Safety and Security, and Aesthetics back to top

  Walking for Transport, Health and Recreation

  Organisations: Departments for Planning and Infrastructure, Sport and Recreation, Education and Training, Main Roads WA, National Heart Foundation

  • Program name: Walk Week, Walk There Today
    Aims of the program: To encourage Western Australians of all ages to be more physically active by walking for transport, health and recreation. This is an annual event held in the first week of November.
    Strategies: Walking guide books, website, media publicity, community events, Workplace Walking Challenges, Walk To School Wednesday including classroom and school activities, school newsletter, merchandise

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  Walking for Tourism

  Organisation: Department of Conservation and Land Management

  • Program name: NatureBase
    Aims of the program: To encourage everyone to enjoy the wonders of our natural environment by walking and using trails. A range of walking tracks and trails cater for all walkers ranging from short easy walks to more difficult challenges.
    Strategies: Walking guide books and maps

  Other programs promoting walking

  Organisation: Department of Education and Training

  • Program name: Road Aware Program
    Aims of the program: Road Aware is a comprehensive program, which aims to ensure that effective road safety education is provided for children and young people (0 – 20 years) throughout Western Australia. The Road Aware program strategies include the development of resources with links to the Curriculum Framework, teacher training, parent education and support.

  WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL DAY

  All primary school children and their parents are encouraged to take part in this great annual national community event - designed to encourage children to develop healthy lifestyle habits at a young age and to learn safe pedestrian behaviour. Active kids are healthy kids! The event is held on the first Wednesday of May every year. Find out more information about the 2009 event and register your school or event at: http://www.walk.com.au/.

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