The annual event raises awareness of the health, road safety, transport and environmental benefits of regular walking, especially to and from school.

The school's business manager Jacqui Paull said she is hoping the event will encourage students to build walking into their daily routine.

"The whole school will be meeting at 7.30am tomorrow at Ryan Park, to walk to school.

"Parents, teachers and students get involved every year, and it helps to get kids thinking about road safety and their health."

Ms Paull said the physical exercise payed off later in the classroom, with children often able to concentrate longer on tasks.

According to Sport Australia CEO Kate Palmer, Australian kids need to do more to help "super-charge their health, wellbeing and learning".

"Let's not hide from the fact Australia has an inactivity crisis, so it's vital for the health and future of our nation that we help our children find any opportunities to be more active," Ms Palmer said.

"Data shows 81 per cent of children are not achieving the recommended physical activity guideline of one hour a day. A quarter of Australian children are obese and it will only get worse if we don't intervene now.

"Walking is a simple, accessible and effective way to get children active, but also to help super-charge their learning. It's well researched that sport and physical activity play a positive role in children's educational achievement, helping improve their cognitive development and attention at school."

Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases, including mental illness, heart disease, diabetes and cancer, chairman and CEO of the Pedestrian Council of Australia, Harold Scruby, said.

"Primary school aged children across Australia - it's time to get walking. One in four children in Australia is overweight or obese, and it is expected that numbers will reach one in three by next year," he said.

"We really need teachers, parents, carers and the community at large to get behind this event and its objectives, the best exercise for all of us is regular walking.

"Children require at least 60 minutes of huff and puff physical activity every day. We should encourage them to include walking at the beginning, during and end of each day.

"If you can't walk all the way, use public transport and get off the bus, train, tram or ferry a few stops earlier and walk the rest of the way to school."

National Walk Safely to School Day also encourages parents and carers to walk more - reducing traffic congestion and car-dependency.

"The event is also about spreading the vitally important road safety message: until they are 10, children must always hold the hand of an adult when crossing the road," Mr Scruby said.

Ms Palmer is encouraging parents and carers to use National Walk Safely to School Day as an exercise to kick-start healthy habits in families.

"Every parent encourages their children to take their first step, let's keep that encouragement going as they continue to grow-up. Maybe consider walking to school together when you can.

"Escape the chaotic school drop-offs and spend some quality time walking with your kids or grandkids to and from school, or park the car a few blocks away and walk part of the way. It's good for children, parents and the environment."

"It iscritical that we keep growing sport and physical activity in schools too".

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