Funded by the Palaszczuk Government and delivered by CQUniversity, the 10,000 Steps program has indicated that the 2018 Community Grants were a success after awarding 12 Queensland Organisations grants of up to $5,000.

The Grants aim to provide community organisations with funding to promote walking and physical activity through implementing one or more of the existing 10,000 Steps strategies which include:

•    Walkway Signage
•    The Dog Walking Strategy
•    Community Tournaments
•    Promoting 10,000 Steps

Project Leader Professor Corneel Vandelanotte said:

“We are excited to award the next round of Community Grants which provide an opportunity for groups and organisations to use the established, evidence-based 10,000 Steps program to implement strategies to encourage physical activity throughout Queensland. The implementation of these strategies have the potential to reach many people for years to come.”

“The grants fund strategies like the Walkway Signage which focus on environmental change. The implementation of this type of long lasting enhancement to local walkways can have far reaching outcomes compared to interventions solely focussed on individuals.”

“By increasing the community grants to $5000 for this round we have found that organisations have applied to conduct larger projects with more than one 10,000 Steps strategy often implemented.”

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Steven Miles said it was great to see more Queenslanders getting active through the 10,000 steps program.

“In Queensland, nearly half of adults and children aren’t getting enough physical activity and that’s why the Palaszczuk Government is funding programs like these,” said Minister Miles.

“We want families to create healthy habits together, building exercise into their daily lives and the 10,000 steps program does just that.”

Altogether the 12 grants will implement a total of 22 different 10,000 Steps strategies to promote walking and physical activity in the Queensland community.

Successful applicants in 2018 include:

• Mackay Hospital and Health Service
• Bundaberg Regional Council
• Rockhampton Regional Council
• Queensland Country Womens’ Association
• Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service
• Bulloo Shire Council
• Mackay Hospital and Health Service – Child Youth Family Health
• Mackay Regional Council
• Apunipima Cape York Health Council
• Charters Towers Regional Council
• Australian Catholic University
• Longreach Regional Council