25 years and counting for 10,000 Steps
Queenslanders will continue to take steps towards better health with CQUniversity’s 10,000 Steps program receiving renewed funding for the next two years.
The 10,000 Steps program is one of six evidence-based preventive health initiatives, funded by the Queensland Government through Health and Wellbeing Queensland.
Additional initiatives receiving renewed support include Deadly Choices, My health for life, Queensland Association of School Tuckshops’ Healthier Tuckshops Program, QCWA Country Kitchens and Life Ed Queensland.
Dr Robyn Littlewood, Health and Wellbeing Queensland Chief Executive said prevention wasn’t a quick fix.
"It takes commitment, partnership, respect and time - but we are seeing results that I’ve never seen reported anywhere else in Australia," she said.
10,000 Steps project leader Professor Corneel Vandelanotte said he was proud be a part of the longstanding program which will reach a 25-year milestone in 2026.
"10,000 Steps is the program that just keeps on giving," Prof Vandelanotte said.
"With this latest new funding just being announced, it means the program will be around for at least a quarter of a century.
“That is an amazing feat for any health promotion program and wouldn’t be possible without the ongoing partnership between CQUniversity and Health and Wellbeing Queensland,” he said.
“People still love the program and there has been no drop in popularity at all over all these years.
“I think this is testament to our dedicated team who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the program up to date, interesting and relevant. In an ever-changing technology landscape, the program has been very agile to keep up with new evolutions and trends, and we’re very keen to keep it going.”
10,000 Steps has inspired hundreds of thousands of Queenslanders to move more, promoting all movement matters through step-counting tools, online challenges and community campaigns.
Regular user Alison Moody became a 10,000 Steps member in 2003 and has since logged more than 86.7 million steps over more than 8,000 days.
“I’ve been using 10,000 Steps to track my steps for 22 years now. It’s just part of my day. I like that I can see what steps I am doing and have done, over so many years,” Alison said.
“My pedometer’s been with me through it all and logging my steps has become a long-term habit.”
As a 10,000 Steps member since 2007, Arthur Hadaway has participated in 75 monthly challenges and logged more than 80 million steps.
“I am appreciative of the role the 10,000 Steps program has played in helping me to live a healthier life,” Arthur said.
The Queensland Government acknowledged the significant impact heath initiatives such as 10,000 Steps had made in the community.
“While it’s well known that prevention is often the best medicine, finding the support needed to make healthy change can be difficult," the Honourable Tim Nicholls MP, Minister for Health and Ambulance Services said.
“That is why programs like those offered through Health and Wellbeing Queensland are so beneficial.
“These simple, evidence-guided programs help Queenslanders develop healthy habits that lead to better personal outcomes and ease pressure on our health system in the long run.”
Sign up at 10 000 Steps website or download the free mobile apps, to start tracking steps.
