10,000 Steps Australia: A community-wide eHealth physical activity promotion programme

Background to the programme The programme originated from a landmark whole-of-community multistrategy intervention designed to increase adult physical activity in the regional city of Rockhampton, Australian in 2001–2003.1 The project used a social ecological framework, focusing on strategies that promoted physical activity at the individual, population, environmental and policy level. The two fundamental aspects of the programme are 1 : goal setting (10000 steps per day) and 2 self-monitoring (the use of a pedometer to track daily step counts). A project website (www.10000steps.org.au) allowed members to record their physical activity, and provided a platform for dissemination of project resources to workplaces and community groups.2 3