IINTERVIEWS ARE AVAILABLE TODAY AND NEXT WEEK
- Local ACT Principals
- Harold Scruby, Pedestrian Council CEO on 0418110 011
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RETHINK THE SCHOOL RUN: SA PUSH TO GET KIDS WALKING AGAIN
15 May 2026: South Australian parents are being urged to rethink the school run ahead of Walk Safely to School Day next Friday, 22 May, as research shows active travel to school has halved since the 1970s and fewer than one in four Australian children meet daily physical activity guidelines.
Now in its 27th year and part of National Road Safety Week, the initiative calls on families to build regular walking into children's daily routines - not just on the day itself, but every day.
Kilkenny Primary School in Adelaide’s west is participating on the day, with Acting Principal Brenton Willson saying the school is proud to be involved and use Walk Safely to School Day to bring students, families and the broader community together.
"Walk to school day is a great way to celebrate community, be active together, strengthen student and parent connection, and for the community to model the important skills needed to safely navigate road and rail crossings. We will celebrate our arrival at school with a community breakfast from our wonderful support organisation, Kick Start 4 Kids," he said.
Pedestrian Council of Australia CEO Harold Scruby agreed, saying the benefits of ditching the car, even partially, are impossible to ignore. "If you have to drive, park a few blocks from school and walk the rest of the way together. In doing so, you teach your children about health and road safety and how to cross roads safely. Plus, you both get exercise - and we know children perform far better in the classroom when they are active before school. You won't cause a dangerous traffic jam at the school gate. Your car won't emit those dangerous particulates that cause respiratory disorders in children. And you can walk back to your car, getting more exercise for yourself. It ticks every box," Mr Scruby said.
The 2026 Australian Government physical activity guidelines recommend children aged 5-17 accumulate at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily, but research shows only one third of Australian children use active travel for even part of their school journey.
“Come on SA – let’s get our kids walking to school! It’s also the easiest ways to help children get the daily physical activity they need. And don’t forget, until children are 10 years old, they should always hold the hand of an adult when crossing the road,” Mr Scruby said.
Schools across South Australia will take part in community walks, healthy breakfasts and road safety activities as part of this year’s Walk Safely to School Day. At Kilkenny Primary School, families and students will gather at McInerney Reserve before taking part in a community walk to school, with coffee, music, chalk drawing activities, temporary tattoos and breakfast activities planned throughout the morning.
Across the state, schools are putting their own local spin on the event through community walks, healthy breakfasts and creative activities designed to get families moving together before school. In Port Pirie, Airdale Primary School students will walk to school from local parks before enjoying fruit, yoghurt, stickers and temporary tattoos on arrival, while nearby Solomontown Primary School will bring together staff, families and SAPOL officers for a community walk to school.
Schools including Coorara Primary School in Morphett Vale, Salisbury North Primary School and Catherine McAuley School in Craigmore are bringing entire school communities together through large group walks from local parks and community meeting points, followed by healthy breakfasts and shared morning activities.
In Adelaide’s south and hills, Colonel Light Gardens Primary School’s Year 6 boys cooking group, The Foodery, will help run breakfast activities featuring fruit, raisin toast and milo while parents enjoy a coffee cart onsite, while schools including Crafers Primary School, Stirling East Primary School, Littlehampton Primary School and Lenswood Primary School are organising community walks, breakfasts and coffee carts for families.
In Yorketown, students travelling on school buses will instead be dropped at the local playground to share breakfast with police and community members before walking to school together with a police escort, and at Quorn Area School, students, families and community members will gather at the local Pichi Richi Railway Information Centre before walking safely to school together and sharing a healthy breakfast on arrival, while schools including Watervale Primary School, Riverton Primary School, Naracoorte Primary School, Our Lady of the River – Berri, Port Lincoln Primary School and St Barbara’s Parish School in Roxby Downs are also hosting community walks and breakfast activities across the state.
Walk Safely to School Day is proudly supported by the South Australian Government through the THINK! Road Safety Community Grants Program. The Community Grants Program is a stream of the THINK! Road Safety Partnerships Program, which empowers and educates South Australians to be lifelong learners of road safety. The Program partners with organisations who deliver road safety education, ambassador content, community programs and events.
It is not too late to get involved. Visit walk.com.au for more information. ENDS
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES ON WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL DAY - FRIDAY 22 MAY
ADELAIDE
School: Kilkenny Primary School, 19 Jane Street, West Croydon SA 5008
Media contact on the day: Gabrielle Leonello – [email protected] | 0425 554454
Media contact on the day: Meg McLeod - [email protected] | 0401 601 479 (school mobile- 0455 579 834)
Media Spokesperson: Acting Principal Brenton Willson
Runsheet on Friday 22 May 2026:
- 7.45 am-8.20am:
- School community meet at McInerney Reserve for festive start to the day; coffee van, chalk drawing activities, music, temporary tattoos and Walk Safely to School Day t-shorts will be handed out to kids, plus caps, water bottles and other great merchandise from the THINK! Program
- Student Leaders & spokespeople available for interviews
- Media are encouraged to meet at McInerney Reserve, which will serve as the official meeting point for the walk and opportunity for interviews
- 8.20am – 8.30am:
- Community Walk Safely to School walk for students, families, staff and media from McInerney Reserve to Kilkenny Primary School.
- 8.30am-8.55am:
- Students arrive at school, with Breakfast Club activities, Kick Start for Kids Breakfast and Walk to School Day specials available onsite.
- Students who complete the Walk to School Eye Spy activity will receive a Golden Gecko keyring.
- 8.45am: School siren sounds and students head to class.
FAST FACTS
WHAT: National Walk Safely to School Day
WHEN: Friday 22 May 2026
WHERE: Primary schools across Australia
CONNECT WITH A SCHOOL: See register of schools in your state that are happy to work with media across the country HERE
WHY: This national initiative aims to encourage children to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle by simply including a walk at the beginning, at lunchtime and at the end of each day. The event also promotes reduced car dependency, greater use of public transport, cleaner air, improved diets and road safety to primary school children across Australia.
HOW: Encourage children to build regular walking in their daily routine by walking to, during, and from school
MORE INFO & ASSETS: https://www.walk.com.au/WSTSD/ & https://www.walk.com.au/WSTSD/material.asp
MEDIA ASSETS & IMAGES: HERE
CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nationalwalksafelytoschoolday/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natwalktoschool/
X: https://x.com/natwalktoschool
Hashtag: #WSTSD
RESEARCH:
*ABS National Health Survey 2017-18
Australian Government Physical Activity Guidelines (updated 2026) - HERE
Heart Foundation / Healthy Active by Design – Active School Travel Research (2025) - HERE
Australian Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Young People (2022) - HERE
Contact details:
Gabrielle Leonello, littlelion PR - 0425 554454 [email protected]
