Like they did 20 years ago, St Paul's Catholic Primary School students will take part in National Walk Safely to School Day on Friday.
"I wasn't here back then but I'm told our students took part in the first event 20 years ago," principal Colleen Easton said.
"We've been long time supporters of the annual National Walk Safely to School Day. We use it as an opportunity to teach students road safety rules."
As in previous years, students and parents will meet members of staff outside the entrance to the Albion Park Swimming Pool car-park in Russell Street. Students and staff will start walking to school by 8:15am.
Albion Park Woolworths is again on board and will give students a drink and fruit when they get to the Albion Park school.
National Walk Safely to School Day organisers are urging parents, caregivers and teachers to take a more active role in ensuring that children are getting enough physical activity every day.
Their calls follow the release of a new national research survey, developed for kids by kids, that found 86 per cent of Australian children believe physical activity is important for their health and wellbeing.
Despite knowing the benefits, only 12 per cent of child respondents reported accumulating the recommended 60 minutes of huff and puff physical activity every day, and just four per cent met the suggested guidelines of no more than two hours of daily recreational screen time use.
Active Healthy Kids Australia (AHKA) released the findings, which saw more than 700 young people from across the country take part in a survey which explored children and youth's perceptions of the importance of physical activity and the barriers and enablers to them being more active.
Dr Natasha Schranz, Co-Chair of AHKA, and research and translation manager for the Heart Foundation, said the findings have highlighted that kids understand the importance of being active and they want to be more active, yet there are barriers preventing them from doing so more regularly.
"Parents, caregivers, teachers - and society as a whole - have a vital role to play in ensuring our young people remain active on a daily basis," she said.
"It's absolutely essential they lead the way in promoting healthy habits for our kids early on so these become part of their everyday lifestyle in years to come."
Dr Schranz said National Walk Safely to School Day provided a great opportunity for families to put their best foot forward and start prioritising physical activity.
The May 17 event encourages all primary school-aged children and their families to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle by walking and commuting safely to or from school.
The day also encourages healthy eating, reduced car dependency, better use of public transport, cleaner air and road safety.
Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
