Encouraging people to walk
Images credit: 10,000 Steps
Action 3.6, Action Plan for Walking 2019–2021
Status: Complete
Support Heart Foundation Walking and 10,000 Steps programs to encourage walking through individual and workplace participation, community engagement and by creating supportive environments.
Achievements
The vision of Health and Wellbeing Queensland is that every Queenslander achieves and sustains a healthier weight by moving more and making healthier food and drink choices.
The 2020-2024 strategic plan for Health and Wellbeing Queensland explicitly commits the agency to support the Queensland Walking Strategy.
One of the ways it has done this is by funding 10,000 Steps and Heart Foundation Walking to get more Queenslanders to walk, more often.
10,000 Steps raises awareness and increases participation in physical activity by encouraging walking and other forms of movement. The program engages with Queensland adults and has a focus on workplaces and communities. 10,000 Steps is delivered by Central Queensland University.
In 2019-2020, more than 14,560 Queensland individuals registered with 10,000 Steps for the first time. Overall, 7.4 billion steps were logged by Queenslanders from more than 390 postcodes. There were more than 380 team organisation tournaments started by Queensland organisations involving more than 2,770 teams (over 17,300 individuals). More than 60 Queensland community organisations across 33 local government regions implemented community-based strategies, such as improved walking signage.
Heart Foundation Walking also promotes the incorporation of more movement into Queenslanders’ lives, and supports wellbeing and participation in the local community. It is Australia’s largest free walking community, with volunteer-led groups catering for all ages and abilities. Heart Foundation Walking is delivered by the National Heart Foundation.
In 2019-2020 there were more than 1,780 new group walkers and nearly 40 new groups in Queensland, including 14 new groups in the Torres Strait islands. There were nearly 70 new walk organisers and more than 40 new local coordinators across the state. In total, Queensland’s Heart Foundation Walking program recorded 8,648 registered participants in 297 walking groups, with an 81 per cent participant and group retention rate.
Heart Foundation Walking also created a design competition to engage rural and remote communities and this resulted in walking shirts for walk organisers who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
While walking groups paused due to COVID-19 restrictions, communication with walkers, walk organisers and host organisations increased to support health and wellbeing and encourage physical activity at home.
Next steps
Heart Foundation Walking and 10,000 Steps are part of a suite of programs and initiatives supported by Health and Wellbeing Queensland. Being part of Health and Wellbeing Queensland encourages stronger links and collaboration between healthy lifestyle programs and new opportunities to support community aspirations for healthy living.
Lead agency
Health and Wellbeing Queensland
More information
- Last updated 4 August 2021