Partnership gets Geelong workers moving
A new health partnership is aiming to make Geelong the most active city in Australia.
Local health collaboration Active Geelong has been working with Barwon Health’s Healthy Communities Unit (HCU) since 2019 to support workplaces to increase physical activity and reduce staff’s sedentary behaviour.
Health promotion officer Rowena Rittinger said the partnership would create a range of new opportunities and initiatives to improve the health of local workers.
“Facilitated consultations are being conducted with staff from local businesses, to understand the experience of local workers and what helps and hinders them being active,” she said.
“These participatory workshops engage workers to understand the factors influencing how active they are, explore where action can be taken to increase their physical activity, and prioritises actions the workplace can put in place to support healthier activity levels in staff.
“A range of other innovative initiatives to increase physical activity for workers are promoted by each partner to create change in local workplaces.
“From Walk and Talk events, learning forums delivered by experts in the field, and promotion of practical Workplace Health support available, Active Geelong and the HCU are committed to improving health outcomes for local workers.”
The Active Geelong ‘Walk & Talks’ are an opportunity for workplaces to get moving during lunch, take in the sunshine and fresh air, increase their physical activity for the day, network with likeminded professionals and hear from a host organisation about what they are doing to encourage physical activity in their workplace.
The Barwon South West Public Health Unit hosted the September Active Geelong Walk and Talk event. The group joined the Public Health Unit for a walk around Geelong city and waterfront and heard about how the Public Health Unit is addressing physical inactivity in the region.