South Australia’s City of Salisbury is helping the local community take steps to improve their health through its commitment to offer health programs that are accessible, easy and fun to participate in, such as Heart Foundation Walking.
The Heart Foundation recommends that adults participate in physical activity like brisk walking for at least 30 minutes a day on most, preferably all, days of the week.
But it’s ok to start with three ten minute walks and build up to longer sessions to get even more health benefits.
As part of its Positive Ageing Services Program, the City of Salisbury initiated Heart Foundation Walking groups to assist its older residents become more active to help maintain good health.
Program Development Coordinator Jim Binder said that the promotion and support from the Heart Foundation in implementing the program was key to the program’s success.
“A large portion of our local population are mature aged, so we look for health programs that are accessible and easy to implement,” he said.
“Heart Foundation Walking was an obvious choice for us because it is an activity that everyone can participate in and the support structure provided by the Heart Foundation, such as training and resources, makes it easy to implement.”
Six Heart Foundation Walking groups comprising more than 200 walkers operate in the Salisbury Council area.
The groups walk on a regular basis and cater for all ages and cultures.
The JYC Walkers, led by Dawn Sandford, was established four years ago.
This group has ten regular walkers who are becoming active again.
“We’ve had people join our group who haven’t exercised for years and they are now among our keenest participants because they are reaping the health benefits and enjoying the social benefits of walking in a group too,” said Dawn Sanford, who received a Council of The Ageing (COTA) ‘Every Generation’ Physical Activity Award in recognition of her commitment to walking and physical activity in her community.
Heart Foundation Walking is Australia’s largest network of free community based walking groups, with more than 10,000 walkers, led by volunteer Walk Organisers.
Other councils or communities interested in starting Heart Foundation Walking groups should visit www.heartfoundation.org.au/Walking or telephone 1300 362 787 for the cost of a local call.
