Local government forum - active travel to school
This free half-day workshop was for Local Government officers involved or interested in encouraging more active travel to school.
The workshop was facilitated by Alice Woodruff and Tara Watson. Alice and Tara are leading practitioners in travel behaviour change interventions and have extensive experience working with schools and councils to encourage more walking, cycling and scooting to school.
The forum included presentations from Alice, Tara, and councils with successful experience in delivering active travel to school programs, followed by hands-on workshop sessions.
These events are designed to complement the Walk to School Program and are proudly supported by VicHealth.
The workshop was held in Melbourne on 5 June and Shepparton on 7 June 2018.
About the workshop
The workshop included:
- Integrating behaviour change interventions with active transport planning and infrastructure.
- Successful case studies, shared by other local government officers.
- Problem-solving common challenges (eg responding to parental fears, establishing kiss and go zones).
- Strategies for program success (eg student-led programs; school engagement and support; building on short term interventions).
- Strategies for sustaining action and support by council.
About the facilitators
Alice Woodruff
Alice Woodruff is Director of Active City, a practice that specialises in travel demand management and behaviour change interventions. Her work and interests sit squarely within how we make our cities and towns - especially our precincts, schools and workplaces – sustainable, happy and healthy communities.
Active City’s projects intersect transport planning, place making, behavioural insights and organisational change. Alice has worked with dozens of schools and other local communities across Australia and a host of organisations including major companies, small businesses, shopping centres, universities and hospitals.
Tara Watson
Tara Watson is a leading practitioner in active travel programs for school communities. Tara works with councils and schools to create practical and effective travel behaviour change strategies that encourage walking and cycling to school and lessen school traffic and parking congestion.
Having worked with parents and students in over 200 school communities in Victoria Tara brings a wealth of active travel project knowledge and experience to assist councils.
Tara’s mission is to help children become resilient, healthy and active through active travel. Through active travel with school communities Tara seeks to inspire with ideas and encourage action.