Each October, the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) aims to link up International Walk to School Month with Victoria’s Walktober Walk-to-School event.

Since the Inaugural event in 2006, VicHealth has invited all primary schools in Victoria to participate in the Walktober Walk-to-School (WWTS) campaign. The main objective of the campaign is to raise awareness of the physical, environmental and social benefits of walking and to get children walking to school.

Walktober Walk-to-School is just one of the many events that are run during the month of October that promotes walking. In Victoria, October is re-named Walktober: a whole month dedicated to promoting walking and the benefits associated with this. For more information about Walktober please see www.walktober.com.au

Prizes are awarded based on the number of students who walk to school on the day, as a percentage of the total number of students enrolled.

2009 RESULTS

More than 70,000 Victorian Primary School Students walk as part of Walktober.

Over 70,000 primary school children from 372 schools across the state participated in VicHealth’s Walktober Walk-to-School activity held in October.

Walktober Walk-to-School aims to raise awareness of the need for children to make active transport part of their daily routine because it improves their health and fitness.

"An additional 50 schools participated this year and 11,000 more children walked as compared with last year." said VicHealth Chief Executive Officer Todd Harper. "It's a great result, but the challenge remains for us, as a community, to turn this into a regular, everyday activity."

On the day of Walktober Walk-to-School this year, over 60 per cent of children from participating schools walked, while on the previous day only 33 per cent of children reportedly walked to school.

"It's encouraging to see such commitment from students, teachers and parents on the day," Mr Harper added.

In recognition of their efforts, participating schools will receive a certificate and 'It's Cool to Walk to School' stickers from VicHealth.

A total 34 schools also won a prize.

The two schools that demonstrate the greatest increase in the proportion of the student population walking to school on the day of Walktbober Walk-to-School compared with the day prior will win the Golden Shoe Award for one year.

The top 10 schools from each category that achieve the greatest proportion of the student population walking to school on WWTS Day Will win a $300 sport equipment voucher each. The school’s enrolment figure determined which one of the prize categories is relevant.

Prize category 1 — School enrolment = 1 to 199 students.

Prize category 2 — School enrolment = 200 to 349 students.

Prize category 3 — School enrolment = 350 students and above.

All schools that enter the competition go in to a draw to win one of two Sports Carnivals.

Links

Walktober Walk to School website — www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/walktober

Streets Ahead: Supporting children to get active in their neighbourhoods involves local communities reclaiming neighbourhood streets — making them safer for children and more welcoming for us all. www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/streetsahead

Walking School Bus: The Walking School Bus (WSB) program is a VicHealth initiative that has given communities a way to get children walking to and from school. www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/wsb