10,000 Steps Rockhampton entered a new phase in its research and physical activity promotion, with the launch of the Community Initiative Grant Scheme last week at the Capricornia Credit Union East Street Branch.

The Community Initiatives Grant Scheme is a fund set up to support community initiatives for increasing physical activity in neighbourhoods, small workplaces, organizations and communities.

Rockhampton residents will be urged to apply for small initiatives ($100 - $1, 000) or large initiatives ($1,000 upwards). The only criteria is that funds must be spent on encouraging and developing forms of physical activity.

“It could be as simple as the installation of a bench and water fountain on a walkway or a bike rack at a workplace to encourage employees to cycle to work,” stated Glenn Austin, 10,000 Steps Project Officer.

A Community Initiatives Grant Scheme Board has been set up to assess applications and disperse funds and has representation from a variety of local groups and organisations.

Peter Mogg, General Manager of Capricornia Credit Union said: “We are delighted to come on board with such a worthwhile community project. Some of our staff have already enjoyed participating in the 10,000 steps program. It is now heartening to know that we are going to be instrumental in the evolution of such an exciting and rewarding concept for the community.

The 10,000 Steps Rockhampton project, funded by Queensland Health, is developing, implementing, and evaluating an innovative community-based and multi-strategy health promotion program. The overarching goal of the project is to create a sustainable model of community-based physical activity promotion. The aim is to increase participation in physical activity in the adult population, especially on sedentary people from socially and economically disadvantaged groups.