Launceston students gear up at Road Safety Week event

More than 100 students from four schools recently took part in an action-packed day of interactive learning at the Launceston Road Safety Centre as part of National Road Safety Week 2025.

The event, a highlight of the week-long campaign, was the result of a unique collaboration between local schools, community organisations, government agencies and road safety advocates, all committed to keeping young Tasmanians safe on and around our roads.

Grade 3 and 4 students from Ravenswood Heights, Waverley, Invermay and St Finn Barrs primary schools rotated through sessions on bike safety, pedestrian awareness and passenger safety - all delivered by a team of local experts including AusCycle, TBUG, RACT and Tasmania Police.

City of Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said the program grew from community workshops held last year.

“A community Road Safety Working Group was formed last year in our northern suburbs, and following a series of workshops, told us that more road safety education in schools was a top priority,” Mayor Garwood said.

“This event is a direct response to that feedback and it’s been fantastic to see so many organisations come together to make it happen.

"It was a fun day for the kids, but it was also about helping them build knowledge and habits that will keep them safe for years to come.”

Tasmanian Community Fund (TCF) Chairperson Kym Goodes said the Let’s Talk Road Safety event had benefitted from funding and support through City Mission’s Community Champions program.

“Community Champions is a placed based, capacity building program that is empowering people to bring their community ideas to life,” she said.

“It is terrific to see the training and skills development in action through Let’s Talk Road Safety and we are pleased to see local schools engaging with road safety in such a positive way.”

The event was supported by the City of Launceston, City Mission, the Tasmanian Community Fund’s Community Champions Project and the Starting Point Neighbourhood House in Ravenswood, where the Road Safety Working Group meets regularly.

Road Safety Resource Packs were also distributed to six northern suburbs primary schools for school-led activities throughout the week.