Walk to Work Day
Friday 1 September 2023
How to Participate
Now in its 25th year, Walk to Work Day is being held on Friday 1 September 2023. The annual event, in support of Diabetes Australia, encourages employees and employers to build regular walking into their daily routines.
Walk to Work Day supports Diabetes Australia and promotes regular walking as a healthy activity. With millions of Australians living with all types of diabetes or at risk of type 2 diabetes there has never been a better time to get walking and start on the path to a healthier workplace and a healthier you.
It's easy to get involved!
Just follow these 2 simple steps to support the campaign:
- Get walking! Walk as much as you can on Walk to Work Day – Friday 1 September 2023.
If you can't walk all the way, use public transport and get off the bus, train, tram or ferry a few stops earlier and walk the rest of the way to work or take a half-hour walk at lunchtime.
Walk in a group or individually – all walking helps support this important message. - Spread the word! Ask your family, friends and work colleagues to do the same.
The more people that walk, the more we can support Diabetes Australia and the 1.9 million Australians living with all types of diabetes.
Fact Sheet
Top ten walking tips for busy people:
Walking regularly is the simplest and most practical way of increasing your daily exercise. Now is a great time to put your feet first and step into spring and build walking into your daily routine.
- Walk some or if you can, walk all the way to work.
- Get off the bus, train, or tram a few stops earlier.
- Leave the car at least 1km away from work and walk the rest of the way.
- Set your alarm 30 minutes earlier to fit in a walk to work.
- Organise a walk at lunchtime with colleagues.
- Walk all or part of the way to meetings rather than driving or catching taxis
- Schedule a "walking meeting” (a Walking Workshop) instead of sitting down. Walk and talk and you’ll get double the benefit.
- Ensure you get up from your desk at least once an hour and walk around the office.
- Wherever possible, use the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator.
- Host a healthy breakfast to reward those who participate.
Did you know:
- Diabetes is one of the major challenges confronting Australia’s health system.
- It is a major cause of heart and kidney disease, limb amputation, vision loss and severe COVID-19.
- There are 1.5 million Australians diagnosed with diabetes and another 500,000 living with silent, undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. More than 120,000 people have been diagnosed with all types of diabetes in the past 12 months alone.
- Diabetes costs the economy more than $17.6 billion per annum.
