Golden Plains Shire Council’s Aged and Disability team has won the ‘Outstanding program/project’ award at last night’s LGPro Aged and Disability Services 2016 Awards.
The Victorian council won for their ‘Walk about Australia and up the guts’ program – an interactive, low cost, high impact, easy-to-follow program that targets the physical health and emotional wellbeing of participants by tracking steps towards a virtual walk around Australia.
All participants are provided with a pedometer where their weekly step count is recorded on a large map of Australia that details the combined progress of the walk.
Participants have given great feedback about the impact on their lives, such as, “I can now walk to my letter box to get my own mail!”; “I walk up the street twice a day not just once,” and “I feel better already.”
Along the journey, participants ‘visit’ places of interest by Skype, YouTube, Google Earth and internet searches. Participants are encouraged to share places where they have lived, holidayed or worked. Experiences are shared using technology within the group setting that elicits stories and memories of the past.
Golden Plains mayor, Des Phelan, says the award recognises the hard work and dedication of Council staff.
“It is great for this fantastic project to be recognised for the positive impact it has had on our community, as well as other groups that have picked up the program and run with it.
“The staff involved have done an amazing job and it’s great to hear the fantastic feedback from participants.
“Projects like this can have little-to-no funding but are pushed forward by the passion of our staff for the wellbeing of the community. Congratulations to all involved, especially those contributing to the walk and their own health.”
