Rockhampton’s successful 10,000 Steps project – which supports physical activity in the community – starts a major health initiative this month challenging industries and local businesses to have their employees walk to the Gold Coast or equivalent.

“That’s about one-point-eight-million steps,” according to Glenn Austin, 10,000 Steps Project Officer at Central Queensland University. A powerful ally, Ergon Energy has already been enlisted to help lead the charge to have a thousand workers enrolled in the program. Four teams, or 40 deskbound Ergon employees have accepted the challenge.

“The challenge has been a great initiative for [our] office based staff,” said Leigh D’Arcy, Network’s Performance Manger at Ergon. The program will deliver long-term health benefits for staff and so benefit both the company and its people according to D’Arcy.

Credit is also given to the staff at Capricornia Credit Union. “The challenge of walking... as a team has assisted in moulding staff into one unit in our workplace,” explained Wayne Clifford, Executive Manager of Member Services at the credit union. The organisation has supported the 10,000 Steps program since it began last year.

Research shows that workplaces that support physical activity improve productivity and moral. It is likely to increase job satisfaction and cut down on absenteeism and stress levels of workers, according to organisers.

Participants who meet the challenge will walk about 1450km during the program. It should take a team of 10 employees about 6 to 8 weeks to finish.

“We don’t expect many groups to actually trek from Rocky to Gympie to Brisbane and the Gold Coast, but we do want them to implement walking into the daily activities of their workplaces,” explained Austin. “All they need is a commitment to improve their health and log how many steps they take while on the job or walking around the area. You’d be surprised how quickly they add up,” he added.

Local businesses that enrol employees will receive a personal presentation by 10,000 Steps, plus pedometers (step counters) and personal log books, journey maps, and merchandise to be used as participation incentives.

“We expect that businesses will want to join Ergon and Capricornia Credit to reinforce their commitments to the health and well-being of the Rockhampton workforce by participating in the program and rewarding their employees,” said Austin.

Companies wanting more information on the 10,000 Steps Challenge should contact the projects office at CQU by calling 4930 6751 or emailing 10000steps@cqu.edu.

The 10,000 Steps Rockhampton project, funded by Queensland Health, is a community-based and multi-strategy program focused on physical activity and the social determinants of health.