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Friday 12 April 2019
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Written by Rod
A health promoting workplace is one where employers value the health and wellbeing of their workers. By creating a partnership with your workplace, our Workplace Health and Wellbeing Program team can tailor services and plans to suit the needs of your staff and help your organisation become a health promoting workplace.
What are the benefits of a healthy workplace?
A healthy workplace can make your business more productive and your employees more engaged.
Promoting and supporting health in the workplace makes good common and business sense.
Here are some facts and figures about the positive benefits a Workplace Health Program can deliver:
- The healthiest Australian employees are three times more productive at work than their colleagues.
- The increase in preventable disease and workplace injury resulting from unhealthy living is a major cause of workplace absence or disruption.
- Lifestyle risk factors such as smoking, excessive drinking, poor diet, inactivity and excess body weight can contribute to time away from work.
- Loss in productivity due to obesity through absenteeism, attending work when sick and premature death is estimated to cost Australian business $6.4 billion a year (Department of Health, 2013).
Why should I use a local service?
- Bendigo Community Health Services are the largest provider of primary care services in the Greater Bendigo region.
- Local people trust local knowledge.
- Costs are kept to an affordable rate for businesses of all sizes.
- All Bendigo Community Health Services staff are qualified in their area of expertise and have current knowledge of relevant research.
- Supports an ongoing relation that strengthens commitment to both short and long term strategies.
- Bendigo Community Health Services has been committed to looking after the health and wellbeing of the Bendigo community for 45 years.
What does the BCHS Workplace Health and Wellbeing Program actually offer?
(Services, sessions, health promotion presentations):
General Health
Comprehensive Health Assessment (40 minutes)
- Individual screening tests and results.
- Advice on any lifestyle changes required.
- Workplace report (de-identified).
Basic Health Assessment (20 minutes)
- Individual screening tests and results.
- Advice on any lifestyle changes required.
Workplace Flu Immunisation Program
- Provides protection from current strains of influenza for your entire staff.
- Our Community Health Nurses can visit your site to deliver immunisations to save staff having to travel (subject to numbers).
To read more about our Workplace Flu Immunisation Program click here
Flu vaccination – Workplace Health and Wellbeing Program
Why should I be immunised?
Influenza affects people differently but it should be always be handled with care.
The symptoms are like a severe cold with added muscle aches, fever and weakness.
People at high risk are prone to complications from influenza and then it can lead on to pneumonia, prolonged hospitalisation and may threaten life.
Influenza affects your capacity to work and care for your family.
Staff who are clinically or sub-clinically infected can transmit the influenza virus to others, especially people at high risk.
Those at high risk include:
- Those with diabetes, heart or lung conditions, kidney or liver disease.
- Those with a suppressed immune system.
- Everyone with a weakened immune system.
- All people working in nursing homes or with immune-suppressed patients (this is to protect their patients).
- All residents of nursing homes.
Timing is important. The early months of autumn, between March and April, are an ideal time to be immunised. The vaccine takes effect in about two weeks and provides protection from influenza right through the year. Annual immunisations are advised as flu vaccine is adjusted each year to protect from current strains of influenza.
Time allocation and cost
On site vaccinations ensure no lost time in staff travelling offsite to receive their influenza vaccinations.
You can attend a Bendigo Community Health Services medical practice too if that's preferred.
The cost of vaccine varies each year and is dependent on the number ordered.
A qualified immunisation nurse administers the vaccine.
To learn more about our workplace flu shot program or to book your business for a visit from our community health nurses email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 5434 4377.
Healthy Eating Program
Healthy Breakfast
- Breakfast supplied.
- Food preparation and demonstration.
- Nutritional information.
Nutrition
- Nutritional information to improve eating habits and lifestyle.
- How to make good food choices.
- Food label reading.
Physical Activity Program
Work Fit – Functional Fitness Education
- Learn practical ways of incorporating exercise into every day.
- Sedentary behaviour.
- Posture in the workplace.
- Strength training.
Stand Up for Your Health
- Technology development has led to the majority of waking hours sitting.
- What are the effect on our health?
- How can we find the balance?
Fit and Fuelled for Life
- Why does weight matter?
- Diets don’t work!
- Healthy eating made simple.
- Benefits of physical activity.
- Getting started.
Feet at Work
- Footwear and foot care
- What is the appropriate footwear for comfort and safety.
- Choosing the correct shoes.
- Good posture from the feet up.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Program
Stress Management
- Factors contributing to stress and wellbeing at work and in life.
- Symptoms and consequences.
- Coping strategies.
Understanding mental health and wellbeing in the workplace
- Practical interactive workshop.
- Identifies how mental health presents.
- Provides managers and colleagues with tools to assist those experiencing signs and symptoms.
How Are You?
- Recognising depression — signs, symptoms and risk factors.
- Treatment available.
- Helping others.
Finding The Balance
- Benefits of a work/life balance.
- Recognising work/life imbalance.
- How to create and maintain work/life balance.
Better Sleep
- What Happens When We Sleep
- How Much Sleep Do We Need
- Overcoming Common Sleep Problems
Fatigue Management
- Fatigue Symptoms
- Cause of Fatigue
- Tips to Help Boost Energy Levels
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Quit Smoking (group and individual)
- Planning to Quit.
- Health effects of smoking.
- Understanding addiction.
- Strategies and methods to Quit.
- Staying stopped — Short term and long term.
Alcohol and Other Drugs
- Impact on Health, Social and Personal Life
- Psychological Problems
- National Guidelines
Specialist areas
Women’s Health Education
- Breast health.
- Cervical screening.
- Safer sex practices.
- Menopause.
Men’s Health Education
- What about men? The Facts!
- Health risk factors, mental, physical and social.
- Topics — prostate, cardiac disease, sexual health.
Diabetes prevention in the workplace
- What is diabetes? Symptoms and complication.
- Risk factors linked to Type 2 Diabetes.
- How to prevent Type 2 Diabetes.
- What is the Life! Program.
Respiratory Education
- What is lung disease?
- Awareness and management.
- Tips to improve your lung condition.
Diabetes management in the workplace
- What is diabetes?
- Awareness and management
The Life! Program (6 sessions)
Supports individuals to take control of their life, adopting healthy behaviours and a more active lifestyle to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Does this really work? Don't just take our word that Workplace Health and Wellbeing is important!
McKern Steel have been engaged with the Bendigo Community Health Services Workplace Health and Wellbeing Program over many years.
Our organisation provides health assessments for individual staff members on an annual basis along with influenza vaccinations.
Our staff health and wellbeing team find the de-identified organisational staff health and wellbeing snap shot report a great tool to plan our staff health and wellbeing activities for the coming year.
The workplace health and wellbeing team deliver a range of health promotion services to support our health and wellbeing program including health information sessions and practical activities, including healthy cooking.
Amanda Burrows, HR/OH&S Officer, McKern Steel
Who do I contact for more information about the Workplace Health and Wellbeing Program or visiting my business?
Please contact our Community Health Nurses Kate Bradshaw or Heather Hinton by calling (03) 5434 4300 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. today.
