$30,000 has been dispersed to fourteen community groups and organisations participating in the 10,000 Steps’ Community Initiatives Grant Scheme. The money will be injected into Rockhampton for the development of physical activity programs.

“This is the first financial incentive of this type in Rockhampton and Queensland. It is so successful -- we exhausted resources -- that we have planned another round of new funding for the middle of this year,” stated Glenn Austin, 10,000 Steps Project Officer at CQU.

Under the program Rockhampton residents applied for small initiatives ($100 - $1, 000) or large initiatives ($1,000 upwards). The only criteria were that funds had to be spent on projects that would encourage and develop various forms of physical activity.

“We are delighted to be on board with such a worthwhile community project. Some of our staff members have already enjoyed participating in the 10,000 steps program,” said Peter Mogg, General Manager of Capricornia Credit Union, supporting partner of the community grant initiative.

“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,” he added.

Local groups and organisations through the Community Initiatives Grant Scheme -- a unique fund established to support community initiatives for increasing physical activity within the Rockhampton community -- had sought almost $70,000 in November.

The 10,000 Steps Rockhampton project, funded by Queensland Health and located at Central Queensland University, 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.