In October 2020, South Australia held its first ever Billion Steps Challenge.
South Australians jumped at the challenge and worked together to reach the goal of 1,000,000,000 steps in just 65 days!
The Challenge may be over for this year, but Wellbeing SA and the 10,000 Steps team have plenty of ways to keep you motivated and moving.
We know that every step counts and the more we move, the more health and wellbeing benefits we reap.
What did people love about the Billion Steps Challenge?
Here’s what some of the Billion Steps Challenge participants have said:
“It's been so great having this goal. It gave me the excuse to go outside and enjoy some fresh air and sunshine on my breaks. I always feel so much better for it and never regret doing more steps.
“It makes me happier, and I find that I have more energy.
“This has been an awesome thing for myself and the people I work with, we are all more active and people have been supporting each other to push their personal limits.
“It's made me more accountable to increase and track my daily steps. It's a great initiative, particularly during this current climate, and I feel a sense of connection to community.
What can I do now the Billion Steps Challenge is over?
There are plenty of simple, easy and free ways to stay active:
Keep using the 10,000 Steps app
- Logging your steps every day keeps you aware of how active you are, and keeps you accountable.
- You can log all types of physical activity on the 10,000 Steps app, as well as setting exercise and health goals and tracking your progress.
- If a bit of friendly competition keeps you motivated, you can set up more tournaments with your friends, family and workmates.
- You can sign up for challenges that let you explore a different city every month. You can choose the journey that suits your activity levels and you can go in the draw to win a Garmin or pair of Asics shoes.
Explore the free resources on Open Your World
- The staying active section of this site has information, resources, workout videos and tips to help you be active every day
- Why not check out our YouTube channel for videos, including:
- Movement skills for pre-schoolers, children and teenagers
- Fun and easy to follow dance routines for pre-schoolers and children
- Yoga for children, teenagers and adults
- High Intensity Interval Training for beginners
- Strength, Mobility and Balance for beginners
- How to use outdoor exercise equipment for teenagers, adults and older adults
- Strength for Life activities for people over 50 years and over 40 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
Get out in nature
- Explore Walking SA's ‘Find a Place to Walk’ to discover new places to explore and stay active
- Visit Cycling Trails SA to plan your next ride
- Go on an adventure in one our amazing national parks
- Find the best dog walks in your area
The Billion Steps Challenge will be back in 2021!
A message from the Premier
There are so many amazing places to walk here in SA, from our newly opened Myponga Reservoir, to our famous Mt Lofty and picturesque Morialta Falls - now is the time to get out and about with family and friends to reap the health and wellbeing benefits of South Australia’s first Billion Steps Challenge.
Good luck to everyone participating!
Meet our Ambassadors
Lyn Dean
Challenge Steps
For South Australians who are wanting to increase their physical activity, the Billion Steps Challenge is a great way to achieve this.
As Chief Executive of the newly established Wellbeing SA, Lyn is committed to contributing to create a balanced health and wellbeing system that supports improved physical, mental and social wellbeing for all South Australians.
Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello
Challenge Steps
Walking is such an awesome way to get fit and stay healthy and I can’t wait to reach 1,000,000,000 steps with you all this October! Bring it on!
You can see Cosi every Sunday night on Channel 9 at 5.30pm or listen to him on SAFM weekday mornings from 6-9am.
Cosi loves everything about SA and his passion is supporting this great state and spreading positivity!
Pippa Wanganeen
Challenge Steps
One of the most simple and uplifting things you can do for your health and wellbeing, is to take a walk in nature! I love to go with our children, it is something fun that the whole family can do together.
After completing Bachelor degrees in Arts and Law, Pippa relocated to South Africa where she volunteered with a number of aid organisations in the South African townships, worked as a model and assisted with the successful role out of a major Australian retail brand.
Returning to Australia to work in media and leadership coaching with a great commitment to driving social change, Pippa is currently an Ambassador for Foodbank SA, an advisor to the United Nations Association of Australia (SA), collaborates with a number of local and international charities, fashion and lifestyle brands via her instagram account @pippawanganeen and is mother to four little girls, who she shares with her husband Gavin Wanganeen.
Gavin Wanganeen
Challenge Steps
When you make time to look after your body, you look and feel so much better. Let's all walk ourselves into good health in 2020 and beyond.
Gavin Wanganeen is an Australian Football League (AFL) legend, acclaimed contemporary Indigenous artist and Aboriginal activist.
Gavin’s AFL career spanned 300 senior games at the Essendon and Port Adelaide Football Clubs, earning him countless accolades, including the dedication of a grandstand at Adelaide Oval in 2015, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the game.
He was the first Indigenous player to win a Brownlow Medal at the age of 20, and the first Indigenous player to reach 300 AFL games.
Having retired from the AFL over a decade ago, he continues to inspire and break new ground through his work as a contemporary Indigenous artist, is the first Aboriginal past player to be elected on to the board of an AFL club, and is committed to improving the lives of Aboriginal people.
Rebecca Morse
Challenge Steps
Keeping fit is so important for your physical and mental wellbeing, nothing makes me feel better than a long beach walk.
Rebecca is an award-winning South Australian journalist and co-host of the Bec, Cosi & Lehmo breakfast show on SAFM.
Rebecca writes a popular parenting column in Kiddo magazine with ample material supplied by her three daughters and can often be seen chasing her dalmatian along the beach.
Chris McGowan
Challenge Steps
"No-one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Never give it." — Eleanor Roosevelt
Chief Executive of the Department for Health and Wellbeing.
Further information
For more information please email: openyourworld@sa.gov.au