Ballarat, it's time to get moving!
For the first time, Ballarat is part of the AUSActive Million Moves campaign, a health initiative designed to get more Australians moving and feeling great this September.
With increasing active living a key priority as part of the City of Ballarat's Health and Wellbeing Plan 2021-2031, the call is going out for people to commit to 21 days of extra movement, starting from September 1.
According to AUSactive, 75 per cent of Australians do not move enough to meet the bare minimum exercise requirements.
Now, the challenge has been issued for people to commit to completing 75 'moves' each day for 21 days, in an effort to build a healthy habit.
Ballarat people are encouraged to take the pledge by signing up as an individual or joining a team, with the aim of clocking up one million moves as a city.
A 'move' can be any movement that your heart desires. They can be anything from 75 sit-to-stands, bodyweight squats, push-ups or X-jumps to 750 m walk or even a 7.5 km run. There really are no limits to what counts as a move.
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves encouraged as many Ballarat people as possible to be a part of the campaign.
"We know that regular physical activity is associated with good mental health, healthy ageing and increased levels of happiness," she said.
"We want to see Ballarat people moving and helping us reach that Million Moves milestone.
"September 1 will be the start of spring, which is the perfect time to shake off the winter blues and get moving."
What is the Million Moves campaign?
Million Moves is AUSactive's flagship public movement campaign and comes with a simple yet powerful goal: encouraging more Australians to move more often, in ways that work for them.
The campaign will run from September 1 to September 21, primarily in Western Australia and Queensland.
Grant funding from the Australian Government means the campaign has this year extended to Victoria, with Ballarat identified as the lone Victorian location to lead the charge in 2025.
Wollongong in New South Wales has also jumped on board, with the two regional cities pitted against each other to see who can record the most 'moves' over the three weeks.
The campaign is open for anybody to participate in, it's just a matter of signing up and documenting when you move.
AUSactive CEO Barrie Elvish said Million Moves was about getting the community moving together for a great initiative.
"We're on a mission to move the needle on one of Australia's most alarming health statistics - that 75% of adults are not active enough to benefit their health," said Mr Elvish.
"Million Moves is about showing people that movement doesn't need to be complicated, expensive or intimidating. Whether it's a walk, stretch, dance, or resistance band session - every move matters."
AUSactive is Australia's peak body for the exercise and active health sector.
Why should Ballarat people join the campaign?
In addition to the health benefits that come from being active, there are a range of incentives on offer in Ballarat.
The Ballarat Lifestyle and Aquatic Centre (BALC) will be spearheading a team in Ballarat to encourage maximum participation.
To make it even easier to move, BALC is offering non-members who sign up to the Million Moves challenge and join 'Team BALC' a free 21-day pass to use the facility's pools, gym and group fitness classes.
Current BALC members who join the team will also go into the draw to win three separate three-month Gold Memberships.
A calendar of free events to help get the community moving is also live on the BALC website.
There will also be a range of prizes available for people who sign up, worth tens of thousands of dollars.
Visit the Million Moves website to register.
