Talk N Walk Health and Wellbeing Outcomes

This photo shows two girls skipping towards camera, with their arms linked. The girl on the left has dark brown hair tied back in a low ponytail and is wearing a brown cropped t-shirt, light grey tracksuit pants and white sneakers. The girl on the left has shoulder length black hair that is blowing in the breeze behind her. She wears a white t-shirt, and an oversized button-up shirt, with panels of blue and white striped, and pink fabric, worn open over the t-shirt. She wears cream coloured wide-leg pants, and white sneakers. They are smiling and laughing. Behind the girls is a limestone wall, and gum trees, and in the background a public toilet and shopping centre carpark ca be seen.

Target participation groups

While the Talk N Walk program and app can be used by anyone, the target participation group is tween and teen girls, including those who identify as girls and non-gender conforming individuals, and their families. The secondary target participation group includes all families, children and young people.   

Health and wellbeing outcomes for Talk N Walk program participants, as supported by findings from the Talk N Walk app user-testing Pilot Program, include:

1 - Improved wellbeing and social connection

  • App user behaviour analytics showed a significant increase in users feeling ‘Happy’ and ‘Relaxed’ after a Talk N Walk.
  • 33% of pilot program participants said the app improved their mood.
  • Nearly 46% of pilot program participants reported being able to talk more about things they wouldn’t normally talk about.
  • 25% of pilot program participants reported having more things to talk about.

This photograph is a close up on the screen of a mobile phone, taken looking over the shoulders of two girls. The girl on the left wears a black t-shirt, and the girl on the right has blonde hair tied up in a high ponytail and wears an olive green, strappy playsuit. On the screen of the phone we see the Talk N Walk app open to the "How are you feeling" page. There are four rows of emoji faces, the top row are yellow, second row purple, third row blue and fourth row red, indicating "happy" to "sad" emotions.

2 - Increased physical activity levels 

  • 33% of pilot program participants reported walking more during the four-week trial.

This photo shows four girls walking from left to right across the image. We see them from the waist down. Their legs appear blurred, as they move through the photograph. They are all wearing shorts, with two girls wearing white sneakers, and two girls wearing Converse high top sneakers, one wearing red and one wearing black.

3 - Greater awareness of the benefits of talking and walking and increased motivation to talk and walk for wellbeing.

  • 74% of pilot program participants said the app made them want to walk more.
  • 80% of pilot program participants said they would recommend the Talk N Walk app to friends of family.

A long shot showing a woman and a girl walking towards camera. They walk along a cement path, next to a dark grey building, and a large gum tree. The woman (on the left) has red hair tied up in a high ponytail, and wears a yellow and white striped t-shirt, blue denim jeans and white sneakers. The girl (on the right) has blonde hair worn in a high bun, and wears an olive strappy playsuit, with a pink and maroon checked shirt tied around her waist and pink high top Converse sneakers. They are talking to each other as they walk.

4 - Improved connection to community and nature

“We were attracted to ways to increase our daughter’s physical activity as well as improving communication and connection with family and friends….Getting used to the app first with adults gave her the confidence to use the app and arrange to meet up with friends in the neighbourhood green spaces. Even walking the dog gave her the confidence to get out and about by herself" (Quote from a parent involved in Talk N Walk Pilot Program)

 

"Feeling connected to nature was important for her well-being. Allowing time to observe surroundings. Daughter asked for “bush” like places to walk even when you are in the city. Together we have investigated local bush land, nature reserves, coastline to plan for future walks.” (Quote from a parent involved in Talk N Walk Pilot Program)

Photograph taken from behind two girls, looking over their shoulders. They crouch near the ground, taking a photo of a red grevillea flower with the camera of their mobile phone. The girl on the left has dark blonde hair worn in a low ponytail and wears a black t-shirt. The girl on the right has blonde hair worn in a low ponytail, and wears a light brown t-shirt. In the background we see a grevillea plant with red flowers, and woodchips of a garden bed.

Read more about the Talk N Walk User Testing Pilot Program methodology and findings.

Discover the research that demonstrates time in nature improves mental and physical health and wellbeing.

Click to access the login or register cheese