Active at Work and Push Play

Heartbeat Challenge

Sport Waitakere in partnership with Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) is working with workplaces in Waitakere to improve the work environment to promote healthy behaviour. HeartBeat challenge is a proven programme that develops the commitment of the workplaces to health and well-being by creating an environment that reduces barriers and increases opportunities to improve and maintain health.

The programme has three elements:
1. Healthy eating
2. Physical activity
3. Environmental
A Heartbeat challenge award is achieved on making positive changes in each of the 3 focus areas.

International research shows that workplaces that improve the health of their workers:

• Reduce absenteeism
• Reduce staff turnover
• Increase performance and productivity
• Help to increase morale

What action can you take?
Any workplace regardless of size can plan to promote healthy active lifestyles. The Heartbeat challenge programme is a FREE tailored programme suitable for your workplace, anyone can coordinate it and there is no time limit for completion. All that’s required is a commitment to make a difference in the workplace to achieve better health and well-being.

Other Workplace Assist options

Sport Waitakere is also in a position to assist your workplace on implementing sport or physical activity opportunities for your staff and business. Options will require you to bring together a small workplace wellness team within your organisation, and they will work closely with our staff to implement programmes or changes as required.

Here are 7 ways to help get your staff moving….

1. Introduce a ‘Take the Stairs Campaign’
2. Have a ‘Stand Up for your Health’ hour
3. Promote good lunchtime walks close to your worksite
4. Don’t take phone calls sitting down
5. Have a fun team walking activity at your next staff meeting
6. Use a Stand Up meeting table
7. Consider Stand Up desks for staff

For information on these options or to discuss further:
Contact: Emma Haigh, Active Communities Advisor
DDI: 09 966 3120; email: emma.haigh@sportwaitakere.co.nz  
 

Push Play is a nationwide SPARC campaign to get more New Zealanders more active, more often.
All it takes is 30 minutes a day.

Push Play is based on the fact that even small amounts of activity are good for your health. But don't just take our word for it - here's what the experts say:

A 10 percent increase in the number of physically active adults would save around 300 lives each year - and five times this number could be saved if every adult was sufficiently active. 
Dr Dave Gerrard, Associate Professor, University of Otago Medical School

Just 30 minutes of physical activity, taken regularly, will benefit the health of everyone. 
US Surgeon General, 1996

It's easy to Push Play and be more active.
•You can do it where you live or where you work.
•You can go for a walk, go for a bike ride or join a gym.
•You do whatever you want to, whenever you want to.
It doesn't have to be expensive - and guess what? It can actually be fun!


Quick ideas for getting active
It's easy to build physical activity into your daily routine.
Here are some quick ideas for what you can do today, tomorrow or on the weekend:
•Take the stairs instead of the lift.
•Walk to the shops rather than drive.
•Get off the bus early and walk.
•Park the car further away from the office and walk.
•When you walk, step out briskly.
•Wash your car by hand.
•Use chores around the garden to work up a sweat.

Ideas for getting more active
•Check out other areas of this site for a Sports Club or activity near you.
•Click here for SPARC's printable activities and ideas.
•the online Activator - it helps you choose activities that suit your lifestyle
•the Action Packs for Kids - they've got loads of ideas for fun ways to get kids active - and you can join in too!
•the Push Play printouts - they give you the information you need to get confident about getting up and getting active