Diamantina Shire Council is encouraging councils to follow its lead and take part in the 10,000 Steps a Day program. 10,000 steps is the recommended daily step goal for a healthy adult, and because most adults spend half their waking hours at work, increasing physical activity during the work day is a practical way to become more active.
Diamantina is an outback council in the southwest of Queensland and comprises two main towns – Birdsville and Bedourie – and a third town, Betoota.
Council began its most recent 10,000 Step challenge in June, with its winning team expected to cross the finish line some time this month.
Council’s 10,000 Steps Coordinator, Kerrie Brauman, said it is the second time Council has run the challenge, having held another earlier this year.
“The current virtual challenge will take us across the continent from our home town of Bedourie to Boodarie in Western Australia,” she said. “With a total of 4,305,000 steps, this is equivalent to walking 3,444 kilometres.”
Kerrie Brauman said 30 participants from both Council and the wider community are participating in the challenge.
“This is a dramatic increase from the first challenge, where only 14 people took part,” she said. “We have organised the participants into three teams – the Diamantina Centipedes, the Fantastic Flyers, and the Road Runners. Each team member has been issued with a pedometer, which they wear from morning till night.
“We have a walking group each night during the working week, which commences at 5.30pm. Any team member can join in, and we average an extra three to four thousand steps each. Most team members also use lunch breaks, but it is up to the individual to build their steps.”
At the end of each day, participants log the steps from the previous day on www.10000steps.org.au, where they can view their progress on a virtual map.
“It’s game on!” Kerrie said. “Each team wants to be first across the line.
“At the moment, we are just competing against the other teams here in Diamantina, but we would really like to compete against other councils in the future. Not only will it provide a bit of ‘healthy’ competition, but it will see a larger number of council staff and community members becoming active.”
10,000 Steps is Australia’s first ‘whole of community’ health promotion physical activity project funded by Queensland Health.
The primary goals of the challenge are to increase people’s physical activity awareness, increase the overall physical activity levels in the workplace, and to create awareness of the coincidental health benefits that can occur in the activities of daily living, including work.
For further information contact Kerrie Brauman on (07) 4746 1202 or visit 10000steps.org.au
