At NSLHD we are committed to promoting a work culture and environment that supports healthy lifestyles through our health and wellbeing program. The
NSLHD Health and Wellbeing Plan aligns with our CORE values and the district's strategic commitment to an engaged and empowered workforce. The plan has been designed with staff in mind and provides for holistic and simple approach while recognising our staff members are unique with individual needs and priorities.
Wellness at Work Committees
Our wellness at work committees develop, support and implement health and wellbeing strategies to address NSLHD and NSW Health priorities at each of the hospital sites.
Healthy Bodies
We participate in the Fitness Passport initiative which offers an affordable membership for staff and their families to access a wide range of health, fitness and aquatic facilities to improve their health. We have over 25 per cent of eligible employees participating in the program with access to a large range of facilities. Our staff highly value this initiative and the opportunity to make a commitment to improving their health and wellbeing with their families and colleagues.
Studies show that long periods of sitting can increase the risk of physical and mental health issues in both the short and long term. With desk-based workers spending on average 75 per cent of their workday sitting, SafeWork Australia has now recognised too much sitting as a workplace health and safety issue. NSLHD has joined the BeUpStanding Program which encourages sedentary workers to stand up sit less and move more often and to create and sustain a work environment where sitting less and moving more is the norm.
Our Health Promotion teams support the Go Active 2 Work initiative with encourages and supports the community to be active, healthy and use environmentally sustainable forms of transport for our staff. The initiative aimed at getting more adults active by increasing the number walking, cycling or taking public transport to work, celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2020.
We offer a range of healthy lifestyle classes to the community which our staff can access to encourage physical activity.
Healthy Minds
Each staff member at NSLHD has access to a free and confidential telephone-based coaching service, which helps people to make lifestyle changes regarding healthy eating, alcohol reduction, being physically active and achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. The Get Healthy Coaching Service is led by NSW Health and available to our staff members at no cost.
To raise awareness about mental health and wellbeing and provide the opportunity to understand the importance of mental health in our everyday lives and promote relevant mental health resources to support workers, NSLHD celebrates Mental Health Month in October each year. We also participate in RU OK? Day which is about starting lifesaving conversations for suicide prevention and creating a culture where staff feel confident in asking and answering the question, RU OK?
Healthy Culture
At NSLHD we support teams to come together. NSLHD participates in the Steptember challenge each year to raise awareness and funds for Cerebral Palsy and to encourage workers to move more throughout the day by participating in this fun team-building challenge.
Our Speaking Up for Safety strategy encourages teams to build confidence and skills in Speaking Up for patient and staff safety, thereby creating a psychologically safe working environment for our staff.
Healthy Environment
All NSLHD sites are smoke free. We fully support and adhere to the Smoke Free Workplace Policy in NSLHD.
Further resources for supporting wellbeing in the workplace
