A QWalkshop (Walkshop) is a walking workshop; part stroll, part strategy session. Walkshops are designed to assist communities, councils, community organisations and others see streets differently, from the ground up!
Instead of sitting in a room, we head outside and explore a place together, noticing what works, what doesn’t and what could change to make places more walkable.
Walkshops provide a facilitated process to support participants to assess the walkability of an identified area (street, block or contained precinct), specifically:
Walkshops are a practical, people-first way to:
*Note: A Walkshop is different from a Walking Network Plan: Walkshops are a grassroots community engagement approach that use citizen science tools to capture local voices and lived experiences of walkability in an identified area. A Walking Network Plan(WNP) is a strategic framework, designed by the Department of Transport and Main Roads and developed by Local Governments, to enhance walkability within a specific area. The WNP guides Council infrastructure upgrades and investments.
Walkshops are for everyone!
Walkshops provide an opportunity for community representatives to share their voice, experiences and vision of the places that matter most to them. Whether walking in their local neighbourhood, to the park, school, public transport stops, main street or other places, community members know what’s working, what’s not, and have an opportunity to help shape ideas for change.
Use Walkshops to engage meaningfully with residents, gather real-world insights, and build more inclusive, place-based strategies. It’s a grounded, trust-building way to connect policy with lived experience.
Walkshops are a powerful tool for participatory engagement, advocacy, and program design. They help Not-for-Profits and community organisations hear and discover local stories and experiences, build relationships, and co-create grounded solutions with the communities they serve.
Queensland Walks offers a variety of Walkshops designed to explore how walkable our streets, neighbourhoods, and public spaces really are for everyone. Each Walkshop invites people to walk together, share their experiences, and identify what helps or hinders walking in different settings.
Daytime Walkshops bring together residents, local councils and community groups to assess everyday walkability. They focus on safety, accessibility, footpath quality, signage, shade, connectivity and more, identifying practical improvements that support walking for all ages and abilities.
On 8 May 2025, local residents and council staff came together to walk a neighbourhood in the Kingaroy–Booie area. Listening, observing, and reflecting on what makes walking feel safe and what doesn’t. From a busy connector road with no footpaths to quieter for walkable streets, the group identified key areas for improvement. Their shared insights are helping shape safer, more inclusive streets for everyone.
These evening Walkshops centre the lived experiences of women and girls walking at night. Participants explore how lighting, visibility, signage, and public activity influence feelings of safety and confidence. The goal is to better understand how to design safer, more inclusive spaces after dark.
Safe Cities | Safe Streets for Women and Girls project is a partnership initiative of Queensland Walks, Zonta Club of Brisbane and the University of Queensland.
On 21 May 2025, women and community members walked around Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium and surrounding streets to explore what safety feels like after dark. As part of the Safe Cities | Safe Streets for Women and Girls initiative, this night walk revealed powerful insights about lighting, visibility, and what it means to feel truly safe in public spaces.
Focused on key traffic routes, school zones, and high-risk areas, Road Safety Walkshops investigate how road design impacts pedestrian safety. These walks bring local stakeholders together to identify hazards and opportunities, from speed limits and crossings to footpath gaps and driver behaviour.
Queensland Walks offers Walkshops that focus on road safety, helping communities identify issues such as speed, crossings, footpath gaps, and traffic behaviour all through the simple act of walking. These Walkshops support safer streets for everyone, including children, older adults, and people using mobility aids.
Learn more about our road safety work through The Other Side and How Are You Travelling?
Queensland Walks partners with ‘hosts’ to design Walkshops that address local needs and/or issues related to walkability. Walkshops are bespoke, as each one is tailored to the unique needs, interests and locations identified by the host group. Queensland Walks works with the ‘host’ group to plan and develop the Walkshop.
There are several ways to join the Walkshop movement:
Walkshops help imagine what’s possible. Together, we can create more walkable, welcoming places across Queensland.
Walkshop pricing on application. Discounts available for:
*If travel required, these costs will be added to pricing.
While a Walkshop is not the same as a Walking Network Plan (WNP), it plays a valuable and complementary role in the planning process.
Walkshops are grassroots community engagement activities that use citizen science tools to capture local voices and lived experiences of walkability in a specific area. They provide real-world insights into how people move through their neighbourhoods and identify barriers and opportunities for walking.
A Walkshop often takes place before a Walking Network Plan is developed. The findings from a Walkshop can strengthen and inform a WNP by ensuring local context and community priorities are reflected. In addition, the Walkshop report can be used by councils to support grant applications for walking infrastructure funding by demonstrating community support and need.
Walking Network Plans are strategic documents developed by Local Governments using a framework provided by the Department of Transport and Main Roads. They are designed to guide infrastructure upgrades and investments that enhance walkability in key areas.
Queensland Walks is an advocacy organisation, and one of our key roles is to champion investment in walking infrastructure by engaging with local, state, and federal government bodies. While Queensland Walks does not directly fund infrastructure projects, we advocate for increased funding and support councils and communities in identifying opportunities for investment.
Local governments may be eligible to apply for a range of funding programs to help deliver walking-related improvements. Walkshop findings can strengthen these applications by providing valuable community input and evidence of need.
See links below for current and potential funding opportunities:
https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/about/local-initiatives/black-spots-program
https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/road-safety/community-road-safety-grants
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/travel-and-transport/pedestrians-and-walking/walking-local-government-grantshttps://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/safety/road-safety/targeted-road-safety-program
Walkshops are designed to bring communities and local government together to better understand walkability and identify opportunities for improvement. While these sessions often generate valuable ideas and feedback, it’s important to clarify that not all suggestions can be delivered immediately or within current budgets.
Expectations are managed through open communication during the Walkshop process. Participants are informed that their input helps guide future planning and prioritisation, and that any infrastructure changes are subject to local government processes, available funding, and long-term strategy alignment. Outcomes from Walkshops are documented and shared with councils to support advocacy, grant applications, and strategic planning, ensuring community voices contribute meaningfully to future improvements.
Yes. Queensland Walks provides a range of resources to support individuals, community groups, and organisations who want to advocate for better walkability in their area.
Our WeWalk sessions are free, online workshops that help build advocacy skills, share practical tools, and connect people with others who are passionate about creating walkable communities.
To learn more and register for an upcoming WeWalk session, visit: https://queenslandwalks.org.au/wewalk/
Walkshops are facilitated by experts in walkable communities
Queensland Walks is the peak body for walking in Queensland
Walkshops teach you how to survey your local area for walkability
Walkshops are specifically designed for your region and needs
Streamlining processes and improving operational effectiveness
Walkshops put you on the forefront of the communities and the future
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Queensland Walks respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we meet and walk. We pay respect to elders past, present and emerging.