On 10 December, a practical shift in how regional access is addressed began at Marble Bar Primary School, where the national AusBike program was delivered in the Kimberley for the first time. The initiative, developed by AusCycling in partnership with Variety WA and IGA, marked a considered response to long-standing gaps in access to bike education, safety training and essential riding skills for children living in some of Western Australia’s most remote communities.
The program is expected to reach more than 1,600 children across the region, many of whom have previously lacked access to safe bicycles, protective equipment and trained instructors. While learning to ride is often treated as a given in metropolitan Australia, educators in the Kimberley have long highlighted that this basic childhood milestone has been far less accessible in regional and remote settings.
Those concerns were the catalyst for the program’s development. AusCycling designed the Kimberley rollout after local educators raised repeated issues about safety risks and the absence of formal riding instruction in schools, concerns that were compounded by distance, limited resources and the difficulty of bringing specialist programs into remote areas.
According to AusCycling Project Lead – Your Move, Toby Brown, the response from schools made it clear the need was immediate.
“This is the first time AusBike has ever been delivered in the Kimberley, and schools have embraced it straight away,” Brown said. “Many children don’t have access to safe bikes or trained instructors, so bringing the program directly into schools is genuinely life-changing.”
Brown said the project stemmed from conversations with Kimberley educator Amy Quartermaine, who articulated the gap between students’ enthusiasm for riding and the lack of infrastructure to support it safely.
“Teaching children to ride safely has a direct impact on their independence, confidence and connection to community,” she said. “We’ve seen children go from hesitant beginners to confident riders within a single session. The change is immediate.”
The AusBike program delivers structured riding and road-safety education through trained instructors, supported by a fully equipped mobile trailer that enables consistent delivery across large geographic distances. The model reflects a deliberate focus on execution rather than aspiration, recognising that regional initiatives often fail not because of intent, but because of logistics.
Variety WA’s involvement in the partnership reflects a longer-term view of regional equity. The organisation has supported delivery, community engagement and sustainability of the program, reinforcing its broader mission to reduce barriers for children regardless of geography.
“Everything we do at Variety is about breaking down the barriers children face, whether that’s distance, disadvantage, disability or access,” said Variety WA CEO Chris Chatterton. “Supporting AusCycling to bring AusBike to the Kimberley ensures kids in remote communities receive the same opportunities as children anywhere else in the state.”
That commitment will extend beyond the current rollout. Variety WA has confirmed it will establish a regional office in the Kimberley in 2026, expanding year-round support for children and families across Northern Western Australia and embedding a more permanent presence in the region.
IGA’s participation addresses another critical challenge in regional delivery: the cost and complexity of transporting equipment and personnel across remote Western Australia. Without private-sector involvement, these logistical barriers often limit the reach of otherwise effective programs.
“Supporting local communities is at the heart of who we are at IGA,” said Metcash Food & Grocery State Events Specialist Kelly Henderson. “Every time customers shop locally, they help fund programs that genuinely change lives. Bringing AusBike to the Kimberley gives children confidence, safety and a sense of independence, things every child deserves, no matter where they live.”
Henderson said the initiative aligned with IGA’s long-standing commitment to regional communities.
“This program empowers children through mobility, safety and confidence. In remote areas like the Kimberley, those skills can be life-changing, and IGA is proud to help bring this initiative to communities that often miss out due to distance and resourcing,” she said.
Following its launch at Marble Bar, the program will begin expanding to other schools across the Kimberley, including Cable Beach Primary School, Broome, One Arm Point and Looma, with further locations scheduled as the rollout continues.
AusCycling and Variety WA have committed to a three-year partnership, providing the stability required for sustainable growth rather than short-term impact. Brown said the model positions the program for expansion across regional Western Australia.
For the children involved, the benefits are immediate and practical. For the organisations delivering the program, the initiative offers a broader lesson, when regional concerns are met with well-designed partnerships and operational focus, even modest interventions can deliver meaningful and lasting outcomes.
In a landscape where discussions about regional disadvantage often remain abstract, the AusBike rollout demonstrates how execution, collaboration and long-term commitment can translate intention into impact one school, and one community, at a time.
By Hearts and Minds
