HOT…HOT…HOT! Hands Up Survey – Term 1 2024

At the end of our third year of the Your Move Program (2023), Bramfield Park PS achieved amazing behaviour change results since we completed our first Hands Up survey in Term 1, 2021. Overall, a 12% decrease in our drivers with increases in walking (17%) and cycling (29%). The results demonstrate a positive change in behaviour with significant increases in active travel to school. It’s this behaviour change that we want to see continue in an upward trajectory over the next few years to help instil lifelong healthy and positive habits while also reducing carbon emissions, reducing traffic, and improving safety around the school.

So, at the beginning of Week 4, Term 1 2024, a day was randomly picked to complete the Term 1 Hands Up Survey to continue into our fourth year of the Your Move Program. This important tool helps us to track how our students are getting to school, compare with the statistics from the past three years. It allows for important discussion with our YMAT and address any areas of improvement for 2024 and beyond.

Of the 275 students surveyed, it was pleasing to see that we have started the year off with 32% of students choosing active travel. This is a great baseline to work with, so YMAT went about comparing results from last year. These results were shared in our school newsletter to families.

First, we compared results to Term 4, 2023 and looked at the behaviour change.

Whilst there are decreases in active travel and an increase in driving, it gave us an idea of what we must work with to get back to that positive behaviour change that we had at the end of 2023. YMAT discussed this and felt that it takes a few weeks in Term 1 to get back into walking and riding to school. The day that was randomly picked for the Hands Up Survey ended up being a very hot day and we have seen an upward trend in the driving to school on these extra hot days.

Next, we compared our results to the same time in Term 1, 2021 our very first Hands Up Survey.

Overall, there is a 4% increase in car trips, and a decrease of 4% in active travel. This is the first time we have had a decrease in active travel with this comparison to our very first Hands Up Survey. The YMAT discussed this and felt that the extremely hot…hot…hot…weather days have certainly played a part in this statistic.