Australia's employers urged to get staff moving - and reap the dividends
20 March 2026: Mental illness costs Australian workplaces more than $39 billion every year. Yet there is a way to reduce stress, lift mood, and improve focus and connection at work that costs nothing, requires no equipment or training, and is available to almost every working Australian - just walk.
Walk to Work Day - held this year on Friday 27 March 2026 and proudly supporting Black Dog Institute - is calling on Australian employers and their staff to step up, step out and walk for their mental health.
Leading the charge is Jake Weatherald, who has represented Australia in international cricket and is one of the most recognised names in the domestic game. Weatherald has spoken openly about his own mental health challenges and has joined Walk to Work Day as a national ambassador, using his platform to show that even elite athletes are not immune - and that walking has been central to his own recovery.
"I've seen firsthand how much of an impact something as simple as getting outside and going for a walk can have," he said. "For me, it gave me clarity around my performance - but more importantly, it helped me step away from the pressure and do something for myself. You don't always feel like doing it when you're struggling, but that first step is the start of moving towards feeling better."
The science backs him up. Research by the Black Dog Institute shows that walking for an hour a day can reduce the risk of major depression by up to 26 per cent. Black Dog Institute Fundraising Director, Laura Edwards, put it plainly:
"Exercise promotes positive changes in the brain - including neural growth, reduced inflammation and new activity patterns that support calm, focus and overall wellbeing. Providing a mentally healthy workplace is shown to provide organisations with a happier workplace and significant savings to their bottom line."
Walk to Work Day is not just good for employees - it is good business. Employers who encourage regular walking among their workforce can expect:
- Healthier, more productive staff - people who walk regularly before and during work are more focused, more energetic and better equipped to handle workplace stress.
- Fewer sick days - regular walkers are less likely to be absent or on extended sick leave, reducing the cost of absenteeism directly.
- Improved morale and team cohesion - group walks and walking meetings build relationships and lift workplace culture.
- Demonstrable commitment to mental health - in an era where staff wellbeing is a key factor in recruitment and retention, visible participation in Walk to Work Day sends a powerful message.
- A reduction in car dependency — for CBD and suburban employers, encouraging active transport eases parking pressure and reduces environmental footprint.
- Improved air quality for everyone.
Pedestrian Council of Australia CEO Harold Scruby said Walk to Work Day is about lasting change, starting with one simple action.
"Given the benefits a simple walk can have on mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression and stress, we hope this reminder will go a long way in encouraging Australia's working population to walk more - not just on Walk to Work Day, but every day.
We are asking employers to step up alongside their staff. Walk to Work Day is a simple, cost-free way to invest in your people - and to raise vital funds for Black Dog Institute's life-changing mental health research."
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Participation could not be simpler. On Friday 27 March, working Australians are encouraged to:
- Walk to work, or part of the way - get off the bus or train a few stops early, or park the car at least a kilometre away.
- Organise a lunchtime group walk or a walking meeting - walk and talk rather than sitting in a conference room.
- Host a Healthy Breakfast on the day to celebrate your walkers and fundraisers.
- Set up a personal or team fundraising page at walk.com.au and invite colleagues, friends and family to sponsor your walk.
Every dollar raised supports Black Dog Institute's world-leading work in mental health research and suicide prevention.
"If not for yourself, do it for someone else. There are so many people going through things you don't see, and this is a simple way to support mental health and be part of something bigger," Mr Weatherald said.
