Friday 1 September 2023 is Walk to Work Day supporting Diabetes Australia. The event encourages employees and employers to build regular walking into their daily routines.
Celebrating its 23rd year, the annual event encourages workplaces to walk to and from work, take a walk at lunchtime, and use the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator.
With millions of Australians living with all types of diabetes or at risk of type 2 diabetes, there has never been a better time to get walking and start on the path to a healthier workplace and a healthier you.
How you can get involved
It’s easy to get involved in Walk to Work Day. Here are a few suggestions:
- If you can’t walk all the way, use public transport and get off the bus, train, tram or ferry a few stops earlier and walk the rest of the way to work.
- If you do need to drive, leave the car a kilometre or two from your destination and walk the rest of the way.
- Take a half-hour walk at lunchtime.
- Where possible use the stairs rather than escalators or the lift.
- If you sit at a desk, be sure to get up and walk around at least once every hour.
- Get up and talk to your colleagues instead of sending them emails.
- If working from home, make sure you take a break and take a walk throughout the day.
- Rather than holding meetings around a table or over Zoom, host a “walking meeting”.
- Challenge your workmates and compare your step stats in the lead-up to the day.
Diabetes Australia promotes a healthy lifestyle
Walk to Work Day supports Diabetes Australia by raising awareness for the organisation.
Diabetes Australia is the national body for the 1.5 million Australians diagnosed with diabetes as well as people at risk. They are committed to reducing the impact of all types of diabetes.
The organisation works in partnership with people with diabetes, health professionals and researchers. In the last 12 months, 120,000 Australians have been diagnosed with all types of diabetes. It is the fastest-growing chronic condition in Australia and can lead to a range of costly and debilitating complications including vision loss, limb amputation and kidney and heart disease.
Diabetes Australia promotes regular walking as a healthy activity that can help people lower their risk of type 2 diabetes and help people living with diabetes manage the condition. The organisation promotes better physical, mental and social health for all Australians and encourages:
- Reducing the reliance on the private motor vehicle (reduce car dependency).
- Promoting and improving the use of public transport (less traffic).
- Improving air quality and the environment by reducing unnecessary vehicle emissions.
All workplaces are encouraged to get involved in Walk to Work Day Supporting Diabetes Australia.
To learn how your pharmacy can get involved, visit: walk.com.au.
