54 regional schools will receive a funding boost to help get kids moving as they return to school for term two, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.
Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle today announced that Canadian Lead Primary School is one of 96 Victorian schools to receive $30,000 under the $24.2 million Active Schools program, which helps introduce a whole-school approach to physical activity.
54 out of the 96 schools to receive the $30,000 Active Schools Grant were based in regional Victoria.
17 regional schools in the North East, 13 regional schools in the North West, 9 regional schools in the South East and 15 regional schools in the South West will benefit from the grant.
Schools can use the funding to upskill their Physical Education teachers, purchase sports equipment, or engage local organisations and clubs to deliver sporting programs.
Schools will also be able to buy fitness equipment, make classrooms more active, encourage greater active travel to and from school through bicycle education programs, upgrade playgrounds, install sensory play areas and provide opportunities to students to do more recreation activities such as mountain biking and kayaking.
All regional schools will benefit from Active Schools which is designed to provide more opportunities for physical activity, sport and active recreation for Victorian students, helping them develop healthy lifelong habits:
- all schools will have access to a new toolkit with tips and tricks to make their school and kids more active
- a new team of physical education leaders will provide on-the-ground advice and support to more than 800 schools to improve their approach to sport, physical education and physical activity
- new approaches to increasing activity will be trialed through several partnerships, including working with the start-up community to explore how technology can get teens moving and adapting Deakin University’s Transform-Us! program for secondary schools to get teenagers moving more and sitting less
- a state-wide communications campaign will encourage children and their families to be more active and promote the importance of physical activity
Tayla Harris has just been announced as an ambassador for Active Schools, visiting schools around the state and doing other promotional work to further showcase the physical and mental health benefits of an active lifestyle.
As part of the program, 300 disadvantaged government schools received an Active Schools PE and Sport Funding Boost in term one this year to support them with the costs of physical education, sport and outdoor education.
In addition, 181 disadvantaged government secondary schools also received a funding boost to support the costs of providing extracurricular physical activity opportunities.
Further funding boosts will be provided to disadvantaged government schools again in 2022 to continue supporting students to be active.
Quotes attributable to Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle
“54 schools in regional Victoria will see an immediate funding boost to promote healthy and active lifestyles.”
“These grants will help more young people get into activities like bike riding, running and outdoor education. This will help them get the best start in life with an education linked to active and healthy lifestyles.”
“The evidence is clear – active kids are happy, healthy and resilient kids, who are able to focus more in class. That’s why we are investing $24.2 million in the creation of Active Schools.”
Regional Victorian Schools to benefit from $30,000 Active School Grants:
Name of school |
LGA Name |
Area Name |
Scope |
Colac Secondary College |
Colac-Otway (S) |
Barwon |
Implement a holistic whole school approach to physical activity through PD for school staff, development of year 7 Bike Ed program, installing bike storage shed, purchase sporting/active recreation equipment (class set of canoes, bikes, lifejackets, yoga mats, boxing gloves), |
Lavers Hill K-12 College |
Colac-Otway (S) |
Barwon |
Installation of outdoor education equipment (E.g. a gaga pit to play high energy ball games), upgrading the school walking track, memberships to Bluewater Fitness centre to access the gym, pool, sports courts |
Canadian Lead Primary School |
Ballarat (C) |
Central Highlands |
New kayaking program, (purchase of new class set of kayaks and PD for teachers), outdoor classroom and repair and revamp of outdoor playground |
Mount Rowan Secondary College |
Ballarat (C) |
Central Highlands |
New walking track around the oval with fitness equipment |
Woodmans Hill Secondary College |
Ballarat (C) |
Central Highlands |
Expand the current Bike Ed program, purchase new class set of bikes, bike racks and signage, bike ed PD for staff |
Creswick North Primary School |
Hepburn (S) |
Central Highlands |
Develop a outdoor fitness playground including 12 fitness stations to assist with fine and gross motor coordination, strength, fitness and agility |
Ardmona Primary School |
Greater Shepparton (C) |
Goulburn |
Resurfacing the asphalt outdoor court, creating partnerships with local sporting groups and community organisations to deliver sporting programs before and after school hours |
Gowrie Street Primary School Shepparton |
Greater Shepparton (C) |
Goulburn |
Engage external sporting providers for after school program activities |
Mooroopna Park Primary School |
Greater Shepparton (C) |
Goulburn |
Bike track for bike ed, fitness club and links to local community group 'Build a bike' program. |
Cobram and District Specialist School |
Moira (S) |
Goulburn |
Boost the existing bike education program with bike ed training for staff, purchase of specialist bikes and installation of new bike storage shed, implement the Transform-Us program |
Cobram Secondary College |
Moira (S) |
Goulburn |
Creation of a multi-purpose space in the school that encourages physical activity ) with sports equipment and gym equipment can be located for use by students. Purchase of standing desks to create active classrooms. Development of a new active play space for year 7-9 students including purchasing new play equipment, PD for staff |
Numurkah Secondary College |
Moira (S) |
Goulburn |
Purchase of equipment to create active classrooms (E.g. standing desks) |
Strathmerton Primary School |
Moira (S) |
Goulburn |
Whole school approach including upskilling PE teacher, transport, purchasing new interschool sporting uniforms |
Bass Coast Specialist School |
Bass Coast (S) |
Inner Gippsland |
Expand the current bike track to support the bike education program. |
Wonthaggi North Primary School |
Bass Coast (S) |
Inner Gippsland |
Installation of Ninja Course, engagement with Bass Coast Skate program for students to participating in before and after school |
Moe (South Street) Primary School |
Latrobe (C) |
Inner Gippsland |
Deliver lunchtime sporting programs, professional development training for PE teacher, and travel arrangements to and from sporting events |
Echuca Specialist School |
Campaspe (S) |
Loddon Campaspe |
Purchase equipment for mini fitness stations to add to the existing bike track to develop gross motor skills of students |
Echuca Twin Rivers Primary School |
Campaspe (S) |
Loddon Campaspe |
Implement a new walking/running track around oval with fitness stations to improve fine and gross motor skills |
Girgarre Primary School |
Campaspe (S) |
Loddon Campaspe |
Multi-use walking track with core strength and balance activity stations and road signs |
Lancaster Primary School |
Campaspe (S) |
Loddon Campaspe |
Implementation of new Bike Education program, and active classroom programs such as Transform-Us! And Go Noodle |
Talbot Primary School |
Central Goldfields (S) |
Loddon Campaspe |
Sensory & Indigenous garden learning area, upgrades to existing play equipment, implementation of new Bike Ed program, provision of Active Rec opportunities such as Pilates, yoga, surfing lessons |
Timor Primary School |
Central Goldfields (S) |
Loddon Campaspe |
Development a 'de-escalation' sensory play area for trauma affected students including equipment for climbing, heavy lifting, compression etc. |
Specimen Hill Primary School |
Greater Bendigo (C) |
Loddon Campaspe |
Upskill staff through PE professional learning and AustSwim courses, upgrading outdoor learning areas, install secure bike storage shed. |
Weeroona College Bendigo |
Greater Bendigo (C) |
Loddon Campaspe |
Multi-faceted approach across the framework including developing active classroom, weekly karate program and tennis training through local coaches, installation of basketball rings, purchase of bike trailer |
Mildura Primary School |
Mildura (RC) |
Mallee |
Engage external sports providers upskill school staff and to coordinate recess activities for students, PD for staff in active classrooms, subsidise travel costs for interschool sport, purchase sporting equipment |
Mildura Specialist School |
Mildura (RC) |
Mallee |
Development of a sensory area and nature trail within the school's kitchen garden, providing an outdoor learning space, sensory exploration area and calming space to assist with regulation |
Nyah District Primary School |
Swan Hill (RC) |
Mallee |
Development of new bike education program, including installing a bike trail/riding course within the school and purchasing new class set of bikes |
Swan Hill Specialist School |
Swan Hill (RC) |
Mallee |
Boost the existing PMP program through purchase of new PMP equipment, and set up of permanent PMP course |
Tempy Primary School |
Yarriambiack (S) |
Mallee |
Working with local sporting organisations to upskill PE staff to develop, oversee and supervise the Active Schools program - before school walking/running club, recess/lunchtime games, team sport program, purchase of sporting equipment |
Bairnsdale Primary School |
East Gippsland (S) |
Outer Gippsland |
Purchasing new sports equipment, installing new green open play space with hopscotch area and bike ramp. |
Bundalaguah Primary School |
Wellington (S) |
Outer Gippsland |
Development and installation of an active play area co-designed with students e.g. initial planning includes playground equipment such as climbing walls, rope structures, imaginative play areas etc. |
Cowwarr Primary School |
Wellington (S) |
Outer Gippsland |
Installation of new bike track and purchase of 1 class set of bikes (20-30) to support the existing bike education program |
Loch Sport Primary School |
Wellington (S) |
Outer Gippsland |
Implement active classroom outdoor learning programs for different subjects across the curriculum (E.g. mobile science program to participate in mobile field science investigations, nature art activities) and active recreation opportunities. |
Rosedale Primary School |
Wellington (S) |
Outer Gippsland |
Development of active recreation areas in the school (play pod, mud kitchen, walking track), building partnerships with local sporting clubs |
Sale and District Specialist School |
Wellington (S) |
Outer Gippsland |
Purchase and install in ground trampolines |
Benalla P-12 College |
Benalla (RC) |
Ovens Murray |
Purchase two class sets of new bikes, one for primary students and one for secondary students |
Wooragee Primary School |
Indigo (S) |
Ovens Murray |
Upgrading and modification to grounds increase physical activity and encourage active play - relocate sandpit, rural fencing, grassed area, completion of existing sensory garden project |
Walwa Primary School |
Towong (S) |
Ovens Murray |
Multi-faceted approach including resurfacing asphalt basketball court, installing new basketball rings, purchase sporting equipment, engage sporting specialists |
Carraragarmungee Primary School |
Wangaratta (RC) |
Ovens Murray |
Install new line markings and play equipment within existing playground areas |
Wangaratta District Specialist School |
Wangaratta (RC) |
Ovens Murray |
Engaging with local sports groups, running swimming carnivals and athletic days, renting sporting ovals and purchasing new mountain bikes and/or accessories to maintain existing mountain bikes (E.g. new tyres etc) |
Belvoir Wodonga Special Developmental School |
Wodonga (C) |
Ovens Murray |
Multi-faceted approach including purchasing new sporting equipment, providing student access to local community sports facilities, PD for staff, commencing new outdoor education programs, purchasing bike storage and maintaining existing bikes |
Melrose Primary School |
Wodonga (C) |
Ovens Murray |
Creation of green spaces and upgrading the school oval with new surface |
Wodonga Middle Years College |
Wodonga (C) |
Ovens Murray |
Enhance the weekly 'Activity Afternoon' program to enable students to participate in community sporting activities at no cost |
Wodonga Senior Secondary College |
Wodonga (C) |
Ovens Murray |
Multi-faceted approach including new sporting clinics, subsidy to transport costs, purchasing new sporting equipment, lunchtime sporting activities, PD for staff, installation of outdoor table tennis table |
Wodonga South Primary School |
Wodonga (C) |
Ovens Murray |
Implement active classroom programs like TransformUs, installing new bike storage shed, purchasing memberships of organisations like ACPHER or KIDDO for staff PD. |
Bundarra Primary School |
Glenelg (S) |
Wimmera South West |
Installation of new multi use bike track used for a range of programs (walking/running club, cross country, bike education, leisure play, community access and PE and sport classes) |
Portland Bay School |
Glenelg (S) |
Wimmera South West |
Purchase of new sensory playground equipment and new PMP equipment |
Merri River School |
Warrnambool (C) |
Wimmera South West |
Development of a new outdoor learning classroom and outdoor education program including swimming lessons, beach and river safety sessions, bike education and water based recreation activities. |