10.000 Steps

10,000 Steps

Project Goal

Part of the Centre for Physical Activity Studies, 10,000 Steps is Australia's first 'whole of community' health promotion physical activity project funded by Queensland Health.  In 2001, the Rockhampton region was chosen for a two year trial of the project as the residents showed 'typical' levels of inactivity.  During these two years, the 10,000 Steps Rockhampton Project was an exemplary model of an effective multi-strategy, multi-sector physical activity project.  The project has been successful in motivating local communities, workplaces and individuals to increase their physical activity (PA) levels.  As a result of the success in Rockhampton, QLD Health has extended their funding and 2004/2005 will see the rollout of the project as a sustainable statewide and beyond initiative.

10,000 Steps is committed to ongoing research, development, distribution and support of new and existing 10,000 Steps support materials at the local, state and national levels, all with web-based support.  The aim of this program is to increase participation in PA through the state and nation, with a particular focus on sedentary people from socially and economically disadvantaged groups.

Objectives:

Implement and Maintain Sustainable Strategies at State/National Levels by:

• raising state/national awareness of the health benefits of moderate PA
• strengthening the capacity of GPs and other health professionals to promote PA
• strengthening the capacity of communities within the state/nation to provide improved opportunities, social support, policies and environments for PA
• strengthening the capacity of individuals to be more active, by addressing modifiable individual, social and environmental determinants of (in)activity.

Disseminate the findings widely to communities, and to State, National and International stakeholders so that the lessons learned from this project can be applied in other communities.