From Africa to Europe, hospital staff are pounding the cyber pavement to boost their physical health as part of the 10,000 Steps Challenge.

St John of God’s quality, risk and OH&S manager Kim White said staff have joined the Team Step Challenge as part of the hospital’s  Live Well Work Well program.

Staff are wearing pedometers and have joined teams of four in competition with each other and 14 other St John of God sites and pathology divisions.

“Everyone creates their own online avatar and you record your daily steps,” Mrs White said.

“Then you select your adventure, so we’ve got caregivers stepping all through the world, you wear your pedometer, measure all of your steps and then enter your steps and the avatar moves around from country to country and town to town online.”

More than 50 Warrnambool staff are taking part, making up 14 teams.

“We’re currently coming second, which is pretty good,” Mrs White said.

From desk-bound reception staff to nursing attendants clocking up more than 17,000 steps a day, Mrs White said a wide variety of staff were stepping out.

“What it really aims to do is it’s a range of initiatives designed to enhance physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being and ensure our caregivers have the skills, knowledge and awareness to care for themselves and others,” Mrs White said of the Live Well, Work Well program.

“What we want to do is challenge our staff to take on a physical challenge in an attempt to encourage an active workplace.”

The Live Well, Work Well program follows monthly themes, such as Active April and Febfast.

“It makes sure our caregivers are really aware of their own health and well-being and then they can care for others,” Mrs White said.

St John of God Warrnambool chief executive officer Trevor Matheson said it was an important initiative. 

“We’re in the health environment so we need to promote that,” he said.