The ALAT Parent Engagement Trials were designed to solve a key challenge in school active travel programs: how to effectively engage parents. While parents are essential in shaping school travel behaviours, there were few proven models for their involvement. BDW, in partnership with the Western Australia DoT, led a first-of-its-kind initiative across four schools to research, design, and test parent engagement strategies.

At Lathlain Primary School, the focus was on laying the groundwork for street art crossing improvements to enhance pedestrian safety. BDW facilitated a field trip and street audit, bringing together parents, school leaders, Main Roads WA, the City of Victoria Park, and DoT. This process led to the identification of two priority intersections for improvements. Following the stakeholder engagement process, the project transitioned to DoT, Main Roads WA, and the local council, who are progressing the design and approval process for a planned installation in 2025. This was considered a major success, as it established a collaborative model for future low-cost safety enhancements tied to school active travel. 

At Ashburton Drive Primary School, BDW designed and implemented a six-week Active Parents Challenge to encourage parents to walk, run, or cycle alongside their children. Student-led invitations played a major role in recruitment, and engagement levels were high throughout the trial. Key results included:

• Over 120 families participated, with many parents trying active travel for the first time.
• 23 parents attended bike skills training and maintenance workshops, helping them gain confidence in cycling.
• The program culminated in a Move Train event, where over 200 students and parents formed a human chain around the school oval, celebrating their achievements.

At Gosnells Primary School, BDW launched a Parent Walking & Riding Challenge, focusing on social motivation and habit formation. Over a four-week period, students and parents logged their active travel, earning rewards based on participation. Highlights included:

• 157 students and parents took part, showing strong engagement.
• Four new parent-led WhatsApp groups were created to help families coordinate walking and cycling to school, strengthening peer support.
• A final celebration event brought together more than 80 families, reinforcing community engagement and solidifying new habits.

At Challis Community Primary School, BDW co-designed the Challis Active Train (CAT), a structured walking bus system based on four routes from local parks. The program was developed with strong parent involvement, ensuring its sustainability. Key outcomes included:

• 70+ students participated weekly, showing a steady increase in active travel.
• Eight parent volunteers led the walks, ensuring safety and supervision.
• A progressively expanding model allowed new families to join at any time, increasing inclusivity.

Across all four trials, the results demonstrated that well-designed parent engagement strategies significantly improve school active travel participation. Schools saw stronger parental involvement, higher rates of student walking and cycling, and greater overall community support. These trials provided Western Australia’s first validated case studies on engaging parents in school travel programs, offering a scalable model for future expansion.