What you told us in the 2025 Walker Survey

Every year, we ask you - our incredible walking community - what’s working, what could be better and how we can continue to support you. This year, over 1000 Heart Foundation Walking group walkers responded to our annual survey and we’re so grateful for your time, honesty and passion. 
Here’s a snapshot of what you told us, and how we’re thinking about it: 

You’d love more variety in walks 

Many of you asked for different routes, more scenic options and walks that cater to different fitness levels or paces. These are great ideas! But here’s something important to know: every walking group is led by a volunteer, and they choose the route, time and pace that works best for them and their local community. 

If you’ve got ideas for a new kind of walk, we’d love to support you to become a volunteer walk organiser and start a group. It’s one of the best ways to shape the walking experience you want to see. 

You’d like more flexible days and times 

Early mornings don’t suit everyone, and weekends or evenings might work better for some. Again, this depends on when our volunteers are available. If you or someone you know would like to lead a walk at a different time, we’re here to help make it happen. 

You want clearer communication and more promotion 

Some walkers mentioned they weren’t sure how many walks they’d done, or how to find new groups. Others suggested more local promotion to help grow the community. We’re working on ways to improve how we share information, and we’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, new groups are starting all the time, and you can always check out the website to search for a group near you: walking.heartfoundation.org.au  

The new Heart Foundation Walking website (coming soon), is designed to make it easier to: 

find and join walking groups 

track your number of group walks and group walk milestones 

share your group details with family and friends to encourage them to join too 

access resources  

manage your profile and preferences 

You can read more about what’s coming here. 

You value the social side just as much as the steps 

We loved hearing how many of you have made new friends, found support and even discovered new hobbies through your walking group. Some of you suggested more social events, group meetups or guest speakers. These are fantastic ideas, and we’re exploring ways to support more of these opportunities. 

You appreciate rewards and recognition 

Whether it’s a milestone certificate, a commemorative pin, or just a shout-out in the newsletter - recognition matters. We’re reviewing how we can make our rewards more meaningful for everyone.  

As part of the new website, we’ll be introducing two new early group walk milestones - 8 and 15 group walks - to help celebrate your progress sooner and keep motivation high. You’ll also be able to view your total walks, milestones achieved and how many walks until your next reward directly from your dashboard. 

We know some walkers would love more flexibility with vouchers or group-based incentives. As a charity, we do our best to balance recognition with affordability, but we’re always open to creative, low-cost ways to celebrate your achievements. 

If you’re not sure whether you’re part of the Walker Rewards program, feel free to contact the Walking Team at walking@heartfoundation.org.au. You can also learn more about the rewards program here. 

You want to feel safe and supported 

Safety came through as a big theme, especially for older walkers or those with health conditions. We’re exploring ways to support walk organisers with resources, and we’ll continue to prioritise safe, accessible walking environments. 

You’d like to see more men involved 

Many of you noticed that walking groups tend to be female-dominated and suggested ways to encourage more men to join. We’re taking this on board and thinking about how we can make our messaging and group options more inclusive. 

You’d love more accessible and inclusive merchandise 

Many of you shared feedback about Heart Foundation Walking merchandise especially around affordability, sizing and variety. We heard requests for more inclusive sizing, Australian-made options and branded gear that helps build group identity. 

You can order personalised t-shirts to help your walking group feel connected and visible. Check them out here. We also regularly release special merchandise collections that respond to seasonal needs and community requests, like our recent Winter Warmers apparel. These special offers help us respond to what you’ve asked for, without needing to stock a full retail range. 

We’re mindful of keeping merchandise affordable and practical, and we’ll continue to explore ways to make it more inclusive and accessible. 

What’s next? 

Your feedback is helping shape the future of Heart Foundation Walking. Some changes may take time, but your voices are guiding us and we’re so grateful. 

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer walk organiser and starting a new group, or just sharing more ideas, we’d love to hear from you. 

Thanks again for walking with us and for helping make this community so special.