CQUniversity and Health and Wellbeing Queensland deliver 10,000 Steps program to boost physical activity

CQUniversity's 10,000 Steps program, led by Professor Corneel Vandelanotte, and Health and Wellbeing Queensland have joined forces encouraging Queenslanders to take on 'The Billion Steps Challenge' to boost physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Support from community leaders has seen the challenge already achieve over 270 million steps in as little as 11 days.

The initiative has strong support from Queensland Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk and was officially launched in Brisbane on 2nd May by Queensland Minister for Health Steven Miles and Queensland Minister for Sport and Recreation Mick de Brenni.

Prof Vandelanotte advises “we are proud that CQUniversity has been funded by the Queensland Government to deliver the free 10,000 Steps program for nearly 20 years, and I’m keen to help promote the latest challenge for the good of all Queenslanders.”

Others supporting the Billion Steps Challenge include former Australian Cricket Captain Jodie Fields and Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HWQld) Chief Executive Robyn Littlewood.

Fields, the first Queenslander to captain the Australian Women’s Cricket team, has stepped up as an Ambassador for The Billion Steps Challenge – part of the Boost your Healthy initiative led by Queensland’s new health promotion agency HWQld.

Some of Queensland’s favourite community programs are partnering with HWQld to roll out a series of Boost your Healthy challenges over the coming weeks, and the first is the Billion Steps Challenge in partnership with the 10,000 Steps program.

Fields said staying physically and mentally healthy during this time was important for all Queenslanders, including for her sporting peers who currently had competitions on hold.

“The opportunity to show Queenslanders that there are still some great ways to stay active right now, even simply challenging yourself to a walk, is why I’ve put my hand up to be an ambassador for The Billion Steps Challenge. Now more than ever we need to keep moving so, whether you’re walking or wheeling, join me and let’s boost to a billion steps together.”

Prof Littlewood adds “Queenslanders have already taken more than 270 million steps towards The Billion Steps Challenge since we launched on Saturday 2nd May. So far residents from across 300 postcodes are logging their steps and we would love to see this grow and reach every region within our State.

“This is an incredible effort by Queenslanders and a demonstration of what we can achieve by starting with a step.”

Prof Vandelanotte explained that regular physical activity was important now more than ever noting “there is overwhelming evidence that regular physical activity improves mood, happiness, and quality of life, as well as reducing feelings of anxiety, stress, negativity and depression.

“A step is a very simple and effective unit of activity. Steps make it easy to set goals and see if you have met them.

“And best of all: there is overwhelming evidence for the health benefits of taking more steps.”

Prof Vandelanotte said social support was an important part of being active, and while this was being challenged by the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it is still possible to be physically active within social contexts through web-based and app-based programs that can connect people online.

“The perfect example would be how our Queensland 10,000 Steps participants are coming together as one team to work towards a common goal in The Billion Steps Challenge.”

For details on The Billion Steps Challenge and to see what other challenges are coming up visit: www.hw.qld.gov.au/boostyourhealthy .

For more information on the 10,000 Steps program go to https://www.10000steps.org.au .