Strategy: Community Tournament
The Mackay Hospital and Health Service was one of 12 10,000 Steps Community Grant recipients awarded funding for the implementation of 10,000 Steps Community Strategies in 2018. The Mackay Hospital and Health Service aims to reduce the weight of their community to be more in line with the state average and to identify 5,000 community members at risk of Type 2 diabetes and to connect them to activities to reduce this.
Background
The Mackay Hospital and Health Service region covers a large area from Sarina in the south, Clermont in the west and to Bowen and the Whitsunday Islands in the northeast, which has a population of approximately 190,000 people. The Mackay region has been identified as being one of the state's most overweight regions with a significant prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes.
Implementation
- A Community Tournament was created and was added to a Health Challenge against the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service.
- The Challenge was launched by the Minister for Health and promoted on websites, radio, TV ads, newspaper and on social media.
Outcomes
- 500 participants formed 21 teams across from 50 locations.
- 20 Organisations across Mackay and Central Queensland participated, including Council departments, CQUniversity campuses as well as the Hospital and Health Services.
- Participants are continuing to meet for group walks along the 10,000 Steps signed track.
“Participants were excited by the Challenge and engaged well right across the community. The Challenge was a motivating force to make changes.”