Acknowledgement of country
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Acknowledgement of country The Heart Foundation acknowledges the Traditional Owners and custodians of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respect to them and their cultures, and Elders past, present and future. Artwork on this presentation was designed and developed by Kyra Edwards, a proud Gunandji woman from a community near Cairns called Yarrabah. Kyra completed a career trackers internship at Heart Foundation Walking in Brisbane 2019.
Proudly supported by Maryam Abdul Razak Walking Program Officer
Heart Foundation Walking
Australia’s largest
free walking
• Australia’s largest, free walking community. community
• Program started in 1995 so into it’s 26th year.
• Aims to help people meet the National Physical Activity Guidelines in a fun, social, and accessible
environment.
Our community
• Has reached over 145,000 participants with 82,000 active participants who have logged 6 million has walked over
walks. A social, fun, free and easy way for people to walk and be active
14 billion steps
• Important for health and community cohesion.
• Some of the original groups established in 1995 are still walking today.
• Heart Foundation walkers are 63% more likely than the average Australian adult to be meeting Social, fun and
national recommendations for weekly physical activity. free
• Longest standing member – Heather Watson, joined in November 1995
The combination of physical health benefits, mental health and social support gained from participation are key factors in
the program’s very high retention rate. Our walking groups have achieved outstanding retention rates with over 90% of
participants remaining in the program after 6 months and 80% after 1 year.
3
Why walking?
Reduce risk of heart disease and stroke
Manage weight, blood pressure and blood cholesterol
Prevent and control diabetes
Reduce risk of some cancers
Maintain your bone density.
Improve balance and coordination
4
Why walking?
A ‘sport for all’ approach
• Australia’s most prevalent and population
physical activity
• Caters to diverse capabilities
• Accessible to almost everyone
• Little to no cost involved
Australian Physical Activity
Guidelines
• Keeping physically active is vital for better heart health
• When it comes to getting active, the Heart Foundation recommends
that we all aim to do:
• 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity each
week
• muscle-strengthening activities on at least 2 days each week
• Can reduce your risk of heart disease by up to 35%, boost your general
health and your mental health. ☺
6
Our group walkers 60.0%
% Participants by Age
49.6%
•
50.0%
65% are 60 years+
40.0%
• 28% live alone
30.0%
• 78% female
20.0%
• 41% with annual household income < $55k 10.1%
14.3%
10.3%
10.0% 7.6%
5.6%
• 29% of groups are in disadvantaged areas 1.9% 0.5%
0.0%
• 1% Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander 0 - 18 yrs 19 - 40 yrs 40 - 50 yrs 50 - 60 yrs 60 - 65 yrs 65 - 80 yrs 80+ No DOB
• 13% said English is their second language
% Participants by Location
• 61% of participants report as being overweight or obese 30.0%
27.2%
26.9%
on the BMI scale 25.0%
• A mix of inactive and already active 20.0%
17.6%
15.0%
11.1%
9.3%
10.0%
5.0% 4.1%
2.3% 1.6%
0.0%
ACT NSW NT QLD SA TAS VIC WA
7
What our walkers say
• 89% said they remain to improve their health; 58% remain to spend time with other, and 55% remain to meet new
people
• 96% said they would recommend the program to others “The walking group has saved me
from becoming depressed.
• 98% said HFW is important to their physical wellbeing, and 93% for their mental wellbeing
Walking also keeps me healthy,
• 93% said that HFW increase their daily walking which has allowed me to continue
to live independently.”
• 92% of participants achieve the recommended 150 mins of physical activity per week
National winner in the Golden
• 90% of participants remain in the program for at least 6 months (77% at one year). Shoe Walker category
“The Heart Foundation Walking Team always tell me that
I’m an inspiration to them but in fact, HFW is an inspiration “I had a stroke 2 years ago, which was partly caused by a hole in my heart. After I got that repaired, I initially
to me! I gave up golf years ago because of my husband’s lost weight, but then I gained it back. I started seriously walking in Jan 2019 & have walked over 2,000
illness, so instead I took up walking which has now kilometres. A real advantage is that I have also lost 20 kgs & my health and fitness has improved greatly. I am
improved my social life and provides good exercise. going back to my heart specialist soon for a check-up and am looking forward to showing him how walking
Walking has improved my health in many ways as I’ve has transformed me, as he told me I needed to lose weight. My heartfelt thanks go to the Heart Foundation.”
reached the age of 90 with no arthritis, no heart problems Gordon, Heart Foundation walker
and no need for glasses while driving. My doctor is even
amazed at how well I am!”
Anne, 90 years old – Current group walker
8
*Above stats from the 2019 Annual HFW Survey
Our volunteers
At the community level Heart Foundation Walking is entirely volunteer led. Local walking groups are led by volunteers known as
Walk Organisers who are supported by their Local Coordinator to get members of their community moving.
Walk Organisers Local Coordinators
An average age of 59, they are interested in keeping healthy and willing An average age of 44, majority female.
/ interested in taking on a leadership role in their local community.
Work in organisations that work quite closely with their local
They are often already active and likely to be involved or aware of HFW community. We find most of them have an overarching interest in
before signing up as a Walk Organiser. wellbeing and are passionate about improving the health of their
community.
They also stay for their health, fitness and social connectiveness.
"I always enjoyed the experience but struggled to commit to regular walks after the
initial period of 4-6 weeks. Then I heard a local community health nurse talking
about becoming a Heart Foundation Walk Organiser. I started our walking group “A lot of people think the council is just there to collect
two years ago and I have one member who has been with me from the start and rates and manage parking. But as a host for Heart
still remains strong and committed! Another walker has high blood pressure, high Foundation Walking, we are being active and interested in
cholesterol and heart disease. Another walker also has health problems but always encouraging people to develop healthy lifestyles.”
shows up for walking with great improvements in weight, mood and her doctor has Jim Binder – City of Salisbury Local Coordinator
removed her off two medications. I love my walking group and am proud of the
achievements."
Karen – Walk Organiser
9
Benefits of walking with the Heart Foundation • It’s free! • Monthly Heart Foundation Walking eDM “From the Heart” featuring events, special offers and health information. • The chance to participate in group walking events & campaigns e.g., Heart Week Walks, Park Walks • Social engagement and opportunity to make new friends, either by walking in a group of engaging with other walkers via social media channels and sharing capability i.e., “we come for the walking but stay for the talking”. • Option to join the Walker Recognition Scheme offering incentives at various milestones. • Annual competitions to enter with prizes to win For Volunteer Walk Organisers • Quality training and preparation for the role • Insurance coverage under the Heart Foundation’s Policy for volunteers • Ongoing support from Local Coordinator • Free merchandise as a thank you • High quality resources available • Annual workshops 10
Heart Foundation Walking Structure 11
Heart Foundation Walking team
• Manage and promote the program of Heart Foundation
Walking groups
• Provide training, support and resources for Local
Coordinators
• Acknowledge all Walker achievements through the Walker
Recognition Scheme
• Provide customer service and access to events to walkers
• Troubleshoot website and dashboard issues, e.g.
recording attendance
• Answer general enquiries
12Local Coordinators
• Recruiting new Walk Organisers and Walkers
• Assisting Walk Organisers who lack web access
to complete their induction
• Promoting Heart Foundation Walking within your
local area, organisation and networks
• Being the point of contact for the program in your area
• Supporting existing walking groups in your area
13Walk Organisers
• Plan the walking route
• Welcome new walkers
• Record attendance
• Report any incidents
• Update Local Coordinator about any major
changes
14What’s in it for Host Organisations? What’s in it for Host Organisations? • Form genuine connections with community, clients and customers. • Helps Host Organisations meet a range of business goals e.g. can build business and boost their brand, improves corporate image etc. • Helps to build inter-sectoral partnerships and deliver health promotion programs. • By working in partnership with the Heart Foundation, walking groups offer a sustainable physical activity option for your community. • Heart Foundation Walking can provide data to measure participation and help evaluate improvements to community health. How much time does it take? To become a Host Organisation: An initial couple of hours to do your online induction and organise some promotion. To keep it going: One to four hours per month for general maintenance depending on the number of groups active in the area. The fewer groups in your area, the less time required. 15
Support from the Heart Foundation 1. Resources 16
Support from the Heart Foundation 2. Media support 17
Support from the Heart Foundation 3. Ongoing development and training 18
Support from the Heart Foundation 4. Regular communication and assistance from Heart Foundation 19
“At the beginning of 2017 if someone had said you would be walking daily
and enjoying it I would of thought them crazy but after going through a near
death event things in one’s life changes for the better.
It has and is a help to my mental health as well.
Keep on walking.”
Lynn Richards, 61, Reynella SARewards & Recognition Walker Recognition Scheme • Recognition for group walk milestones • Certificates and discounts for the Heart Foundation shop Annual photo competition • Photos form the free HFW calendar
Website • Find and join groups in local area • Track walk numbers • Connect with other walking groups • Walk Organisers can log in to record group attendance, register new walkers, and gain access to promotional materials • Local Coordinator have additional reporting functions available
Personal Walking Plans
Personal Walking Plans
Easy-to-follow 6-week physical activity
plans designed to get people moving 30
minutes or more on most days each
week.
• Launched 28 March 2021
• Four ‘base plans’ that address broad physical
activity levels, using walking as the main activity.
• Plans will progress each week in either number of
sessions, duration or intensity.
• Plans will also incorporate both flexibility
and strength exercises, where appropriate.
• Based on an evidence-based behaviour change
framework.
• Participants will receive regular supportive and
encouraging messages throughout their plan.
24Objectives
• Acquire 75,000 Australians to use and complete the
new walking plan tool before 30 June 2021
• Participants demonstrate an increase in physical
activity during and/or after 6 weeks
Target audience
Australian men and women aged between
40-70 years who are not currently meeting
the Australian Physical Activity Guidelines.
They may:
• Be relatively new to physical activity or are getting
started again.
• Understand the benefits of physical activity at a
level but not fully understand the breadth
of these benefits.
• Know they should be more active
but likely face several barriers to being active.
25EAST Framework for Behaviour Change
Make it easy Make it attractive
• Easy to follow and understand. • Follow a basic habit loop (Cue, Routine and Reward)
• Focus on starting small and progressing. • Ensure there's a clear value and incentive (walking
• Keeping the experience simple i.e. not overwhelming benefits) that are meaningful
with loads of information and advice. • Ensure these benefits are tangible
• Celebrate the small changes
Make it social Make it timely
• Use comms to help reinforce social norms • Reaching and prompt people when they are likely to be
• Encourage engagement across FB social group most receptive, across appropriate channels.
• Use case studies to tell the story • Prompt and people plan and goal-set.
*London Behavioural Insights Team
26Getting started
Users will complete a 2-minute
questionnaire
• The questions cover:
• Contact data (Email + Mobile)
• Current physical activity level
• Current health issues
• Goal setting
• Those users who do not pass screening questions
will be directed to seek advice from a health
professional.
• Based on the answer to one ‘current physical
activity level’ question, users will be assigned to
one of the four plans, which will be sent to their
email.
27Overview of each plan
• Walking Plan A (getting started)
• Those who are new to exercise, have indicated that they don’t exercise or exercise infrequently
• Lack motivation to exercise or may be just getting back to exercise after a long-term break
• Very gradual progressions to create exercise routine
• Starts off 3x week 20min walking and finishes meeting the PA guidelines
• Walking Plan B.1 (meet guidelines, shorter bouts)
• Indicated they do some exercise (2-3x week)
• They find it hard to find the time to exercise
• Encourages shorter more frequent bouts of PA to accumulate across the day
• Walking Plan B.2 (meet guidelines)
• Indicated they do some exercise (2-3x week) but not meeting guidelines
• May have graduated from Plan A
• Walking Plan C (advanced)
• Indicated they are already quite active (5+ x week) but what to do more
• Self-motivated
• May have graduated from Plan B
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• Progress walking to include higher intensity bouts (intervals)
• Introduce strength exercises earlier in program and progress to more challenging exercises throughoutSupport
Participants will receive regular messages
of support and encouragement
• Communication will be split across two core
channels – eDMs and SMS
• Email:
• Weekly emails that check in, with general information
and advice and directing users back to their plan web
page. (E.g. check out the plan for the week ahead)
• SMS:
• All users will receive SMS messages. They will be a
combination of general supportive and encouraging
messages, or pointing them back to blog content
29Encouragement to Continue
At the end of the six-week plan,
participants will be encouraged to
continue their walking habit.
• Participants will be directed to:
• Another walking plan
• A Heart Foundation Walking Group
• Other Heart Foundation programs (Heart Age
Calculator, Healthy Meal Plans etc)
30Further questions? • Walking.org.au • walking@heartfoundation.org.au • 13 11 12 • Email me at maryam.abdulrazak@heartfoundation.org.au 31
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