Helping the helpers

“How are you?” …..“I’m fine thanks, and you?”

While pleasantries like this have their place, Uniting AgeWell is using R U OK? Day to remind its nearly 4000-strong workforce to ‘check-in’ on each other and themselves and ask the important question – R U OK?

On R U OK? Day, new resources to help staff and customers get a conversation started will be available at all Uniting AgeWell sites and services.

Uniting AgeWell has an absolute commitment to staff emotional wellness. It’s part of the organisation’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework, which was publically launched on R U OK? Day, and is already being implemented.

The framework embraces a holistic approach to mental health and wellbeing. It outlines person-centred care that includes bio-medical and emotional and social support to assist older people on their ageing journey both at home and in residential care. And care for its employees to enable them to be the best versions of themselves as they care for older people.

General Manager People and Culture Gen Toop says “Our people are at the heart of everything we do and Uniting AgeWell is committed to the health and safety and wellbeing of our staff.”

“It is important to enable us to live our best lives and give our best, that we provide a holistic framework that supports the whole person.”

Staff wellbeing initiatives include:

• The 15 Minute Challenge – organisation-wide initiative to encourage staff to carve out at least 15 minutes of mindful movement every day and tap into all the benefits of moving more.
  • 307 active participants and 55 teams
  • 8,625 exercise days logged for 479,915 minutes of exercise
  • The big winner? The overall health and wellbeing of the participants with 84 per cent saying they have seen an improvement in their overall health
• Staff Wellness portal with a raft of wellness tips and tools – from meditation to forest bathing; increasing exercise to giving up smoking.
• Employee Assistance Program – free and confidential counselling available to all staff which does not have to be work related.
• The purple spikey ball given to all staff across the organisation to help ease physical pressure and reduce stress.
• TheraTube Program – Elastic resistance bands provided to staff that, with regular use, can help improve muscle strength.