Blueprint steps out path to healthier nation
CQUniversity physical activity researchers have helped shape a major new national roadmap to get more Australians moving to improve health and wellbeing.
The urgent call-to-action comes as just 18 per cent of children and young people meet recommended levels of physical activity, and more than three quarters of adults under 65 aren’t getting off chairs and moving enough.
But behaviour-change initiatives can make a difference.
The blueprint highlighted CQUniversity’s free digital goal-setting and step-tracking initiative 10,000 Steps among a range of evidence-based game-changers for shifting activity levels at scale.
The Heart Foundation released the fourth edition of its Blueprint for an Active Australia on Thursday 12 November, with 70 leading Australian researchers and practitioners contributing to the evidence-based framework.
CQU Physical Activity Research Group lead Professor Corneel Vandelanotte and Research Fellow Dr Stephanie Schoeppe shared their expertise for three of the 12 key priorities areas: Sport and active recreation, workplaces, and mass reach strategies.
Part-of-life approach
Prof Vandelanotte said people needed easier, accessible ways to build activity into their days, and better policy could create encouraging environments.
“For instance, most adults spend a big part of their lives at work – so workplaces have the potential to transform opportunities physical activity on the job, and that would also contribute to healthier, happier and more productive workers, and reduced healthcare costs,” he said.
“The Blueprint calls for the development of a comprehensive National Physical Activity Plan to align efforts across all levels of government, and funding to make it happen.”
The Blueprint highlights that cardiovascular disease accounts for around one in four deaths in Australia, with physical inactivity is a key modifiable risk factor.
In 2024, physical inactivity contributed to 5.6 per cent of deaths from coronary heart disease, while being active also lowers the risk of other chronic conditions and supports mental health, wellbeing and social connection.
Urgent call-to-action
Prof Vandelanotte said the 12 priority areas highlighted a wide range of levers for improving physical activity, and decades of evidence showing what works.
"We know physical activity is one of the most important contributors to good health, but making it easier for people to be active requires more than individual motivation – we need a coordinated, whole-of-community approach.
"This Blueprint focuses on creating supportive environments, systems and policies that make physical activity a natural part of everyday life.”
Since 2001, CQUniversity’s 10,000 Steps initiative has supported hundreds of thousands of Australians and users around the world to increase their physical activity, through goal setting, self-monitoring, team challenges and workplace health initiatives.
Professor Vandelanotte said the inclusion of 10,000 Steps in the Blueprint demonstrated the importance of translating research into practical community solutions.
"10,000 Steps is a strong example of how research can be turned into a scalable, sustainable program that helps people build healthier habits," he said.
Heart Foundation Senior Advisor Physical Activity Elizabeth Calleja said Australia’s consistently low physical activity signalled the urgent need for change.
"We already know a great deal about what supports physical activity… the opportunity is to translate that evidence into action, building on what is already working and strengthening collaboration across sectors," Ms Calleja said.
Discover CQUniversity's 10,000 Steps to step up your daily physical activity.
