The Pedestrian Council of Australia has announced a new look Walk to Work Day campaign, turning the spotlight on the benefits of walking regularly for better mental health.
Now taking place on 26 March, Walk to Work Day supporting Black Dog Institute will bring a refreshed focus to the national initiative.
Pedestrian Council of Australia CEO Harold Scruby says the partnership is a natural fit and an exciting evolution for the campaign.
“We are thrilled to partner with Black Dog Institute. Given the benefits a simple walk can have on mental health issues like anxiety, depression and stress, we hope this simple reminder will go a long way in getting Australia’s working population to walk more, not just on Walk to Work Day, but every day,” he says.
The latest research from Black Dog Institute highlights the scale of the challenge facing Australian workplaces, with mental illness estimated to cost businesses more than $39 billion each year through lost productivity, absenteeism and staff turnover. Around one in five surveyed Australians experience a mental illness each year, yet almost half will not seek professional help.
Black Dog Institute Fundraising Director Laura Edwards says that regular physical activity has been shown to play a powerful role in supporting mental health.
“Engaging in exercise has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms of depression, including major depressive disorder, with studies finding that walking for an hour a day can reduce the risk of major depression by up to 26%,” she says. “This is because exercise promotes positive changes in the brain, including neural growth, reduced inflammation and new activity patterns that support calm, focus and overall wellbeing.”
The role of workplaces
Ms Edwards says that workplaces have an important role to play in creating mentally healthy environments.
“Initiatives like Walk to Work Day are a simple and cost-effective way for organisations to prioritise wellbeing while supporting positive, sustainable habits with their employees and the results are a happier workplace with significant savings to your bottom line,” she says.
Mentally healthy workplaces are linked to increased employee engagement, improved retention and stronger organisational performance. This year’s Walk to Work Day campaign highlights how regular walking can help reduce stress, lift mood and improve focus and connection at work.
“For many people, walking before, during or after the working day is one of the easiest ways to reset and feel better — benefits that are amplified when people walk together and support a shared cause.
“And it’s not just for working Australians — this Friday, 27 March, we’re encouraging everyone across the country to walk, run or roll in whatever way fits their routine. That could mean making all or part of your daily commute active or simply taking a break during the day to get moving for your mental health.”
Fundraising
As part of the refreshed campaign, individuals, workplace teams and businesses are encouraged not only to walk, but to fundraise together between now and 27 March to support better mental health outcomes nationwide.
Mr Scruby says active transport remains one of the most practical ways to embed walking into everyday life, and the fundraising element adds extra purpose.
“There are so many benefits to walking more every day,” he says. “As an added incentive, we’re asking Australia’s workforce to come together to raise funds for Black Dog Institute, using Walk to Work Day as a catalyst for positive change.”
Working Australians are encouraged to get involved by forming workplace walking groups, introducing walking meetings or lunchtime walks, setting personal or team step challenges, and inviting their employers, colleagues, friends and family to support their walk through donations.
Funds raised through Walk to Work Day will support the translation of research into real-world clinical care, the delivery of evidence-based education programs for schools, workplaces and health professionals, and the expansion of digital tools that help people manage their mental health.
Now in its 27th year, Walk to Work Day has long encouraged Australians to build walking into their daily routines.
Mr Scruby adds that walking also delivers benefits well beyond mental health.
“Walking supports healthier, more productive workplaces while improving physical and mental wellbeing, reducing car dependence, easing congestion and benefiting the environment,” he says.
“It’s a simple action with wide-ranging benefits for individuals, employers and the broader community.”
