'Run Around Australia' was created by PDHPE Teacher Emily McLachlan in 2019 as an alternate activity to increase engagement in physical activity. She undertook a preliminary pilot of RAA at her school, Chatswood High School, along with 11 other schools, which showed outstanding success.
In 2020, through partnerships with the DoE School Sport Unit and PDHPE curriculum, the Race Around Australia web application* was developed. The web app creates greater interaction within the program, minimises the workload for teachers, and provides links to curriculum. Three important aspects to ensure long term success of this initiative. The app was trialed in 46 schools, and 43 corporate staff teams.
Preliminary feedback of this trial showed that RAA has great potential for a range of health, wellbeing and academic benefits for participants.
Race Around Australia 2021
RAA has been added to the NSW Premier’s Sporting Challenge as part of the suite of programs available to DoE schools and corporate staff to motivate more students and staff to be more active, more often. The challenge will be available to schools and corporate teams to run in Term 2. Schools and corporate teams may choose to run RAA as an alternate to the 10 week Challenge (10wC), but teams can complete RAA in Term 2 and the 10wC in Term 3. Schools can select some classes to complete RAA while others can do the 10wC.
* Disclaimer: This link is provided with the intention of increasing the information available to you. The NSW Department of Education has no control over linked websites, and is not responsible for the views, opinions, standards or information expressed on linked websites. The provision of a link does not imply that the NSW Department of Education endorses those websites or the people or companies who own them, and vice versa. Please also refer to NSW Government’s full disclaimer regarding links to external sites.