WALKing towards health and fitness in the Community
Aiming to promote physical activity amongst women, the Women’s Active Living Kit (WALK) pilot project encourages the formation of walking groups in community settings.
The Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women’s Issues, the Hon Julie Bishop, today said the pilot will assist a broad range of women young and old, women who are busy with careers and families, indigenous women, and women from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
“While the primary goal of the WALK project is to increase the levels of health and fitness among women, other benefits include increased social participation, motivation, confidence and self-esteem among women, and increased family interaction,” Minister Bishop said.
Funded under the Howard Government’s Women’s Leadership and Development Programme, 48 grants of around $1500 have been made available through the WALK initiative, to support the development of walking groups in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
The funds will help to improve the social structure of the neighborhood, group or workplace and/or the social environment for physical activity.
The grants will be used by groups for a variety of purposes, for example training of coordinators, advertising to establish new groups, providing health promotion/education workshops or subsidising the purchase of health products such as hats, sunscreen, walking shoes or light dumbbells.
“Community groups will also be provided with information about establishing a walking program, the importance of exercise for long-term health and healthy eating as well as pedometers to enable participants to monitor their progress,” Minister Bishop said.
The WALK programme is being undertaken by Central Queensland University, which developed the highly successful 10,000 Steps program.
Attached is a list of community groups which received grants.
| Organisation | Project | City/State |
|---|---|---|
| Hornsby Shire Council | Walking with others | Hornsby, NSW |
| Blue Mountains Women’s Health Centre | Women on the Move | Katoomba, NSW |
| Kempsey Family Community Centre | Walk Up to Fitness | West Kempsey, NSW |
| Thou-Walla Family Centre | Walk & Talk Group | Irrawang, NSW |
| Greater Southern Area Health Service | Women’s Health in Action | Queanbeyan, NSW |
| Queanbeyan Community Postnatal Depression Advisory Group | Pram Walking for Wellbeing | Queanbeyan, NSW |
| Country Energy | Powerful Women Walking | Queanbeyan, NSW |
| North Coast Area Health Service | Biripi Walkabout | Taree, NSW |
| Crowley Retirement Village & Crowley Community Care | Stencilling Paths and Brochure Development | Ballina, NSW |
| Windale Women Walking School Bus | Windale Women Walking School Bus | Windale, NSW |
| Aboriginal and Islander Independent Community School | Mungindi Movers | Mungindi, NSW |
| Penrith Women’s Health Centre | Southern Sudanese Walking Project | Penrith, NSW |
| YWCA NSW – Family Abuse Prevention Centre | YWCA Family Abuse Centre | Nowra, NSW |
| HCCTAC: Tenants on the Move – Wheelin Women | Wheeling Women | Dangar, NSW |
| HCCTAC: Tenants on the Move – Walking Women | Walking Women | Dangar, NSW |
| BlueCare Brisbane South Allied Health Service | 10,000 Steps Team Challenge | Springwood, Queensland |
| Queensland Health – Thursday Island Primary Health Care Centre | Thursday Island Womens Fitness Challenge | Thursday Island, QLD |
| Queensland Health – Southern Downs District | Southern Downs Indigenous Women Walking Project | Warwick, QLD |
| Zest for Life Group | Pram Walking Group in Gympie | Gympie, QLD |
| Parents and Friends Association | Murri School Walking Group | Acacia Ridge, QLD |
| Deception Bay PCYC and Get Your Body Back | Get Your Body Back Pram Group | Golden Beach, QLD |
| Walkervale State School | Walkervale State School | Bundaberg, QLD |
| Logan City Council | Loganlea Walkers | Logan, QLD |
| Marlin Coast Neighbourhood Centre | Marlin Coast Neighbourhood Centre | Cairns, QLD |
| One Tribe | Inala Majeerah | Inala, QLD |
| Childers Neighbourhood Centre & Isis Childcare & Family Support Service | Isis Community Walking Group | Childers, QLD |
| Covenant Ark Ministries | Covenant Fitness Friends | Cairns, QLD |
| Girudala Community Cooperative Society Ltd | Walk n Talk | Girdula, QLD |
| Coen Justice Group | A Walk With Grandmother | Coen, QLD |
| NQ Community Services Inc | BABES | Rasmussen, QLD |
| Bendemere Walking Groups | Bendemere Walking Groups | Yuleba, QLD |
| Active Mums | Active Women | Gold Coast, QLD |
| Trim Gym fitness Centre | Walkers and Joggers Group | Rockhampton, QLD |
| Adrenalin Health and Fitness Centre | Burdekin Women’s Walking | Ayr, QLD |
| IMPACT Make Your Mark – Positive Start Program | Walk It Out | Bundaberg, QLD |
| Moranbah Community Health Centre and Moranbah District Support Service | Strollers Walk and Talk | Moranbah, QLD |
| Nungeena Aboriginal Corporation for Women’s Business | Women Walking Together | Glasshouse Mountains, QLD |
| Kingaroy Women’s Walk/Run Group | Walk/run Group | Kingaroy, QLD |
| Sunshine Coast Population Health Services – Central Area Services – Qld Health | The Pram Walkers | Maroochydore, QLD |
| Logan City PCYC | Logan Central Walking Group | Woodridge, QLD |
| Caboolture Mums & Little Ones – The University of Queensland | Caboolture Mums and Little Ones | Caboolture, QLD |
| Moreland Community Health Service | Get Active Walking Groups | Coburg, Victoria |
| Cardinia-Casey Community Health Service & Bunurong Health Service – Dandenong and District Aborigines Cooperative Limited | Aboriginal Womens Walking Group | Cranbourne, Victoria |
| Rumbalara Football Netball Club | Women’s Health and Wellbeing | Shepparton, Victoria |
| Bellarine Community Health | Working Walkers | Drysdale, Victoria |
| Chiltern & District Health Services | Chiltern Mothers Walking Group | Chiltern, Victoria |
| Sacred Heart Parish | Sacred Heart Parish | Diamond Creek, Victoria |
| Diamond Valley Learning Centre | Wednesday Walkers | Greensborough, Victoria |