- Registrations open for 2026 Education Minister’s Running Challenge
- WA primary and secondary school students, teachers and staff invited to sign up
- The nine-week challenge starting on 20 July encourages a healthy and active lifestyle
- Weekly and end-of challenge prizes awarded to top students
Students, teachers and education staff from across Western Australia are being encouraged to lace up their sneakers and register for the 2026 Education Minister’s Running Challenge.
Now in its fourth year, the challenge aims to inspire students to stay active, experience the benefits of physical activity and support their overall health and learning.
Registrations open today with the nine-week challenge starting on 20 July and ending on 18 September. Primary school students will be required to log a total of 200 minutes or more of activity over nine weeks, and secondary students and staff to log a total of 300 minutes or more.
Activities include running, walking, cycling, scooting and wheelchair-based activities, giving students the flexibility to participate in ways that suit their interests and abilities.
Prizes including vouchers from Rebel Sports, JB Hi-Fi, National Geographic and other popular outlets will be awarded to students who log the most minutes in each age category and the primary and secondary schools whose combined students clock up the most minutes.
The winners of each category will be presented with a medal for their efforts at Parliament House, while the top 100 students will receive a medal and be inducted into the 100 Club.
Participants could also receive free registrations to the Perth Running Festival on Sunday, 11 October.
All registrations were allocated last year so students are encouraged to get running, walking,
scooting or rolling early in the challenge.
Students and parents can register now at www.ministersrunningchallenge.wa.gov.au
Comments attributed to Education Minister Sabine Winton:
“I am thrilled to launch the fourth Education Minister’s Running Challenge, providing students and staff with a fun and engaging way to stay active and support their health and wellbeing.
“Whether students choose to run, walk, cycle, scoot, push or operate a wheelchair, it’s important they have opportunities to move their bodies and build healthy, active habits.
“We know physical activity plays an important role in supporting students’ academic performance, brain health, fitness and mental wellbeing all of which contribute to positive learning outcomes.
“The challenge has been embraced by students across Western Australia, with 422 schools and 5,000 students registering in 2025, logging almost 53,000 activities and 2.1 million minutes of movement.
“I encourage every Western Australian student and staff member to get involved, have a go and enjoy the benefits of being active.”
