Do your (walking) thing

Action 2.5, Action Plan for Walking 2022–2024

Department/Agency: Department of Transport and Main Roads

Status: Long-term

Encourage and support local governments to identify opportunities to create more walkable communities through initiatives such as the Healthy Places, Healthy People Framework.

Overview

Health and Wellbeing Queensland has worked with Bundaberg Regional Council. They developed a community-led initiative called Do Your Thing. It has empowers people across the region to participate in health and wellbeing programs. This includes walking.

Achievements

Before developing Do Your Thing, Bundaberg Regional Council found high obesity rates a concern for the local community. They approached Health and Wellbeing Queensland to help design a solution.

This led to the development of Do Your Thing. It is a cornerstone project of the Building a Healthy Bundaberg Alliance. It is led by a partnership between Health and Wellbeing Queensland, Sport and Recreation (Department of Tourism and Sport), and Bundaberg Regional Council. It includes several peak health bodies, local community groups, and research organisations. The 10,000 Steps program is one of the initiative's offerings. It encourages participants to be more active by tracking their steps.

Do Your Thing is a community-led behavioural science initiative. It encourages all ages in Bundaberg to pursue personal health. It improves the delivery and awareness of services on nutrition, physical activity, mental health, and social wellbeing. It aims to improve the way these programs are coordination, delivered and communicated across the region.

More than 40 local community members meet regularly to shape priorities. The Local Leadership Group comprises of community groups and state and local government representatives.

Results from an evaluation in January showed that better links between programs improved coordination and decision-making in the local leadership group. It also increased community engagement and participation.

Next steps

The Do Your Thing project is in phase 3. There are ongoing discussions with project partners and local leaders to support the long-term legacy of the initiative.

More information

• Read more at Bundaberg Regional Council website.