Move More
Being physically active can reduce the risk of chronic disease and obesity.
Seventy one percent of the Australian working population is not getting enough physical activity. Unhealthy living and low levels of physical activity, including sitting for long periods of time, are likely to be attributable to the increase in preventable disease and workplace injury is a major cause of workplace absence.
Workplace health programs can support physical activity by implementing a workplace physical activity policy, encouraging employees to break up sitting time and providing access to or opportunities for physical activity both at work and through active travel to and from work.
Have a look at the case studies for Sydney Water and Synergetic to see how they encourage their employees to be more physically active.
Employers
This section includes resources for employers who wish to promote physical activity in their workplace.What can I do together with my employees to Move More?
Checklist of things you might consider:
- Provide employees with information about why it is important to be physically active
- Alert employees to government health campaigns such as:
- Develop a workplace policy that encourages active travel to and from work and provide end of journey facilities such as showers and bike storage
- Encourage employees to talk to their doctor and/or an exercise physiologist about their level of physical activity
- Encourage employees to use the credible sources of information on physical activity found on this site
- Encourage employees to join a gym or use or personal trainer
- Subsidise physical activity equipment such as joggers or gym memberships
- Encourage participation in corporate games
- Undertake a workplace ‘pedometor challenge’
- Encourage employees to use the stairs by making stairwells more attractive and promoting stair use with signage
- Conduct ‘walk and talk’ or standing meetings
How to plan and deliver a program to support my workers to Move More
Use this section to help you to come up with some ideas about how you could plan and deliver a program to encourage more physical activity in your workplace, such as conducting walking meetings, making your workplace bicycle friendly or starting a walking group.
Heart Foundation
- Workplace walking
- Becoming a walk organiser
- Heart Foundation Staff Wellness Program 2009 - a case study
- Walkability-Checklist - Checklist to gauge the walkability of your local area
South Australian Government
- Brochure - Creating cycling friendly workplaces
- Creating a cycling friendly workplace - How to encourage and support employees to cycle
Tasmanian Government
- Get Moving Tasmania - Get Moving at Work Employee Survey (2011)
- Resources for implementing a workplace health and wellbeing program
New South Wales Government
- Cycling information and resources for workplaces - Support for employee cycling programs
- How to set up a successful bike fleet - 35 page toolkit for setting up a successful bike fleet
NSW Premier's Council for Active Living
WA Government
- A resource kit for physical activity and health in the workplace
- Live lighter program
- TravelSmart Workplaces Program
Worksafe ACT
- Promoting Physical Activity in the Workplace - A publication designed to provide both businesses and workers around the ACT with guidance on how to promote and implement physical activity and wellbeing initiatives within their workplaces.
Victoria Walks
- Walking meetings
- Workplace walking groups
- Smart steps for business
- Walk the Block
- Exercise Snacks
- Map your local area
CCOHS (Canada’s National Centre for Occupational Health and Safety)
- Healthy Living at Work - Workplace Action Guide - Guide to worksite implementation of healthy living programs and policies
- Information on workplace health programs
Public Health Agency of Canada
- Business Case Template for Active Living at Work - Summary of Canadian web site on Active Living at Work
- Template to create a business case ppt for active living at work
fittogether (USA)
United States Department of Health
Developing a policy to encourage physical activity
Here are some references you can use to help you develop a workplace policy that encourages physical activity.
South Australian Government
- Beactive - Workplace Physical Activity Resource Kit
Tasmanian Government
Workcover Tasmania
Victorian Government
Tools for Employers
Below you can find some simple resources to help encourage your employees to become more physically active, including posters, tools to calculate Body Mass Index and fitness self-assessments.
Australian Government
- Healthy checklist - Download 11 week healthy checklist, meal planner and diary
- Shape Up Australia
- Videos of Success stories - Three success stories
Heart foundation
Queensland Health
Tasmanian Government
- Get Moving at WorkResource Kit
- Get Moving Tasmania - Get Moving at Work Employee Survey (2011) - Employee survey
NSW Premier's Council for Active Living
Vic Health
- Worksafe Victoria - Healthy workplace kit - Health and wellbeing mission statement and policy (sample)
- Walkability Action Groups
- Walking meetings
- Victoria Walks Films
- Walking Group Poster - Poster template to promote walking
Cancer Council Tasmania
- Eat Well Tasmania
- Physical Activity - Tips of being active and tool - Calculating Body Mass Index (BMI)
NHS (National Health Service, United Kingdom)
- Couch to 5K running plan for complete beginners - Running Plan for beginners and downloadable iTune plan
- Fitness self-assessment tool
- Online fitness assessment tool
Public Health Agency of Canada
Employees
Tips for moving more and sitting less
Australian Government
Heart Foundation
Queensland Health
- Want a simple way to improve your Health and Fitness age?
- How much physical activity do I need?
- Tips and tricks on getting active
- An example of a typical exercise profile with video link - warm up, abdominal program, strength program, cardio and cool down
Tasmanian Government
WA Government
Victorian Government - Better Health Channel
- Exercise and health conditions
- Fact sheet - Everyday activities
- Fact sheet - Exercise safety
- Fact sheet - the benefits of exercise programs
- Fact sheet of the importance of physical activity
- Fact sheet Physical activity - goal setting
- Fact sheet Physical activity – men
- Fact sheet Physical activity - staying motivated
- Fact sheet Physical activity - women
Cancer Council New South Wales
- Physical Activity and Cancer - Position Statement
- Fact sheet on eating well and being active - How to reduce cancer risk by eating well and being active
Cancer Council Northern Territory
Cancer Council Queensland
Cancer Council South Australia
Cancer Council Victoria
Cancer Council Western Australia
Australian Diabetes Council
- Eating Well: take the challenge!: Fact sheet
- Information on physical activity for those with diabetes: FS - Talking diabetes No.27 - Physical activity & type 2 diabetes