Active Geelong gets moving again

THE quest to make Geelong Australia’s most agile region is back on later this month with the return of the Walk and Talk Active Workplace event.

Designed to get people moving in a bid to reduce preventable disease, the monthly stroll has been on hold since COVID, but with the return of workers to Geelong’s CBD, organisers are staging the first event in over two and half years next Thursday morning.

“If we make Geelong Australia’s most active region, we should make it the healthiest,” Chair of Active Geelong Dr Hugh Seward said.

The local sports physician and GP said physical activity improves mental health and reduces the risk of diabetes, heart disease, dementia and numerous cancers.

“So we aim to do that by increasing awareness in businesses and workplaces to encourage physical activity, it not only produces healthier workforces, but improves productivity and reduces sick leave.”

In collaboration with GMHBA, Active Geelong has a multi-pronged approach in working to achieve better health outcomes for the region.

Along with its Walk & Talk Active Workplace event that targets city workers the organisation also collaborates with the health industry by encouraging GP’s to prescribe activity as a preventable treatment and its website provides information about the benefits of physical tasks and where community events are taking place.

GMHBA’s head of communications Amanda Bevin said the next Walk and Talk event was an important opportunity to get people moving after years of being impacted by COVID.

“I promise that you’ll leave feeling healthier and more connected with your local community,” she said.

The first 25 people who turn up for next weeks event will be rewarded with a free coffee.

The event starts at 8.00am on November 10 outside Deakin’s waterfront campus in Geelong and will take participants along the foreshore over half an hour.

For more information, head to geelong.org.au or to sign up for the walk and talk go to bitly.ws/w5VU