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Strategy and Action Plan 2016-2018 Introduction
ACT Health is committed to providing a physically and mentally healthy workplace for all staff. In 2011 ACT Health developed an initial strategy to promote and support the health and wellbeing of staff. This was followed by the Myhealth Staff Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2012-2013. ACT Health’s commitment to providing a culture of wellbeing resulted in the Myhealth Manager role being established in January 2015, a full-time position, with recurrent annual funding, within Organisational Development in the People Strategy and Services Branch.
Our values - Care, Excellence, Collaboration and Integrity - are encompassed in this strategy and underpin the way we work and how we treat others. ACT Health vision ‘Your Health – Our Priority’ is not only about the patient, it’s about ensuring the health of our staff is also a priority.
Effective staff health and wellbeing programs, such as Myhealth can impact positively on:
Productivity
Absenteeism rates
Organisational culture (including staff retention and engagement)
Improved physical and mental health and wellbeing of staff
Increased health awareness and knowledge of staff
The World Health Organization, the Australian Government, State Governments across Australia and the ACT Government recognise that the workplace is a priority setting for promoting health and wellbeing.
iThe Strategy is guided by the ACT Whole of Government Workplace Health and Wellbeing Policy and has been informed by a range of staff
consultations and relevant data from within the Directorate.
The Strategy provides a framework to enable ACT Health to develop, implement and monitor Myhealth initiatives to December 2018.
Aims
The aims of the Strategy are to:
Embed a physically and mentally healthy workplace into the culture of the organisation
Increase staff awareness of health and wellbeing risk and protective factors
Increase participation in health and wellbeing activities
Enhance the physical and psychosocial wellbeing of staff, addressing and minimising known risk factors and maximising potential protective factors.
Facilitate a range of initiatives and facilities that support staff health and wellbeing.
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Priority Objectives
The Strategy priority objectives for 2016-2018 are:
People:
To decrease the incidence of illness by promoting healthy lifestyle choices through increased awareness and education
Places:
To decrease work related injury, illness and disability by addressing environmental issues in the workplace
Culture:
To improve the psychosocial work environment, mitigating or removing stressors and increasing job satisfaction, engagement and productivity
Strategy Implementation
The Myhealth Staff Health and Wellbeing Strategy will be coordinated by the Myhealth Manager and implemented through the relevant work areas across ACT Health.
Review
The Strategy will be measured and monitored on an annual basis. A detailed evaluation will be conducted in 2018, at the end of the three year strategy, and will be used to inform the next three year plan.
Strategy Context
The Strategy priority objectives for 2016-2018 will be progressed through a range of staff health and wellbeing initiatives across ACT Health. We will partner with internal and external health and wellbeing experts in the industry and seek to promote and implement initiatives that are evidence-based. We will contribute to closing the gap in health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Communication
A Communication Strategy will increase staff awareness of the Myhealth Staff Health and
Wellbeing Strategy and Action Plan and contribute to the aims and objectives of the
Strategy.
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Myhealth Action Plan
ACT Health is committed to providing a physically and mentally healthy workplace for all staff People, Places and Culture Key Focus Areas
Emotional wellbeing Smoke Free Healthy eating and
drinking Physical health People Provide education,
resources and
programs to increase awareness of mental health conditions, risk and protective factors and self-care
Provide resources and programs to build the confidence and skills of staff to approach someone who may be experiencing
psychosocial difficulties
Promote smoking cessation support, resources and programs for staff who wish to remain smoke free at work
Provide healthy eating and drinking information to staff
Promote physical improvement and rejuvenation activities aimed at prevention and management of chronic disease
Places Conduct an audit of dedicated space available for staff to have quiet time
Promote a workplace that provides
opportunities for regular physical activities that promote positive mental health
Promote smoke free environments at all ACT Health facilities
Promote healthy food and drink choices at all events
Promote a workplace that provides
opportunities for regular physical activities
Culture Create a positive and supportive workplace culture by providing and promoting a range of peer support, employee assistance programs, wellbeing champions, Respect Equity Diversity Contact Officers Spiritual Support Services
Include health and wellbeing on work health and safety committee agendas
Provide regular updates to staff on the
implementation of the Smoke Free Environment Policy
Promote Healthy Food and Drink Choices Policy
Promote working
environments that are
Work Health and Safety
compliant
4 PEOPLE
Objective: To decrease the incidence of illness by promoting healthy lifestyle choices through increased awareness and education
Key focus Areas Actions Responsibility Timeline Success Measures
1 Emotional Wellbeing
Provide a range of workshops and resources on mental health conditions, risk and protective factors, self care and staff skills to approach someone experiencing psychosocial difficulties
Executive Directors and Myhealth Manager
Ongoing number of staff who attend workshops
increased awareness of mental health conditions, protective factors and self care
value of information sessions to participants
number of hits on the Myhealth intranet page
six-monthly progress report to Executive Council Disseminate resources that increase awareness of
mental health conditions, risk and protective factors and self care
Executive Directors and Myhealth Manager
Ongoing
Provide a report to Executive Council on the achievements of the Trauma Prevention and Management Steering Committee
Myhealth Manager January and July 2016- 2018 Update Myhealth page of the intranet Myhealth Manager Ongoing 2 Smoke Free Provide a range of resources and programs for staff who
wish to remain smoke free at work
Myhealth Manager Ongoing Number of Myhealth:
packs distributed with information on smoking cessation support, resources and programs.
hits on smoke free intranet page
smoking cessation sessions provided to staff.
Update Smoke Free page of the intranet Myhealth Manager Ongoing 3 Healthy
Eating and Drinking
Update the Myhealth intranet page with healthy eating and drinking information.
Myhealth Manager Ongoing Number of Myhealth:
packs distributed with information on healthy eating and drinking.
hits on intranet page.
Provide a range of resources to promote healthy eating and drinking information to staff
Myhealth Manager Ongoing
4 Physical health
Provide a range of resources and programs to promote physical improvement and rejuvenation activities aimed at prevention and management of chronic disease
Myhealth Manager Ongoing Number of Myhealth:
packs distributed with information on physical improvement.
hits on intranet page.
programs conducted
ACT Health Online Staff Health and Wellbeing Survey shows: Increased participation (since 2012) and
improved results in Lifestyle Risk Factors and Emotional Wellbeing (from 2012)
Conduct ACT Health Online Staff Health and Wellbeing Survey
Myhealth Manager October 2016
Data Sources: Attendance records; Workshop before and after surveys; Post activity surveys; Intranet;
ACT Health Workplace Culture Survey results report improved Engagement Culture; Team Norms; Attraction and Retention Factors.
5 PLACES
Objective: To decrease work related injury, illness and disability by addressing environmental issues in the workplace
Key Focus Areas Actions Responsibility Timeline Success Measures
1 Emotional Wellbeing
Conduct an audit of dedicated space for staff to have quiet time
Executive Director, Business and Infrastructure
December 2017
an audit of dedicated space designated for staff to have quiet time is completed and promoted to all staff
relevant resources are provided to staff Provide resources that promote spaces available for staff
to have quiet time Myhealth Manager
January 2016-2018 2 Smoke Free Update Smoke Free page of the intranet with information
promoting smoke free environments at all ACT Health facilities
Myhealth Manager Ongoing Number of Myhealth:
hits on the Smoke Free page of the intranet.
packs provided to new staff at Staff Orientation.
smoke free signs are updated and installed Provide resources promoting smoke free environments at
all ACT Health facilities
Myhealth Manager Ongoing Update smoke free signage at all ACT Health facilities Executive Director,
Business &
Infrastructure
December 2016 3 Healthy
Eating and Drinking
Compliance by Managers and supervisors with the Healthy Food and Drink Choices Policy when arranging functions and events
All staff Ongoing managers report compliance with Healthy Food and Drink Choices in Myhealth Divisional Reporting Templates.
4 Physical Health
Develop and disseminate resources that promote places that provide opportunities for regular physical activities
Myhealth Manager Ongoing new resources are developed and available
to staff.
6 CULTURE
Objective: To improve the psychosocial work environment, mitigating or removing stressors and increasing job satisfaction, engagement and productivity Key focus
areas
Actions Responsibility Timeline Success measures
1 Emotional Wellbeing
Update the Myhealth intranet page with current resources that promote a positive and supportive workplace culture
Myhealth Manager Ongoing Number of Myhealth:
hits on intranet page
packs provided for Staff Orientation.
work safety committees that include health and wellbeing on the agenda
bi-annual report provided to Executive Directors Council on actions taken by all Divisions to implement the health and wellbeing strategy.
(Myhealth Divisional Reporting template).
Provide all new staff with information that promotes a positive and supportive workplace culture
Myhealth Manager
& Executive Directors
Ongoing
Managers and supervisors:
- implement the Myhealth Strategy and Action Plan - include the Myhealth Strategy and Action Plan when
completing Staff Performance Framework
- prominently display and promote the Myhealth Strategy and Action Plan to all staff
Managers and Supervisors
Ongoing
Create a positive and supportive workplace culture by providing and promoting a range of peer support, employee assistance program, wellbeing champions and Respect Equity and Diversity Contact Officers, Spiritual Support Services
Myhealth Manager Executive
Directors, Managers, Supervisors
Ongoing
Ensure health and wellbeing is included on all health and safety committee agendas
Health and Safety Representatives
April 2017
Myhealth Divisional Reporting Template is completed by all Divisions and includes strategies taken to support health and wellbeing in their Annual Report
Executive Directors February and August
2016-2018 2 Smoke
Free
Update the Myhealth page of the intranet on ACT Health’s Smoke Free Environment Policy
Myhealth Manager March and September
2016-2018
Number of Myhealth:
hits on intranet page
packs provided for Staff Orientation.
six monthly progress report to Executive Directors Council on the implementation of the Smoke Free Environment Policy.
all-staff messages sent Provide regular communication to staff on the implementation
of the Smoke Free Environment
Ongoing Provided all new staff with information on the Smoke Free
Environment Policy
Ongoing 3 Healthy
Eating and Drinking
Update the Myhealth page of the intranet on ACT Health’s Healthy Food and Drink Choices Policy
Myhealth Manager December 2016
Number of Myhealth:
hits on intranet page
packs provided for Staff Orientation.
Provided all new staff with information on healthy eating and drinking
Myhealth Manager Ongoing Promote ACT Health Healthy Food and Drink Choices Policy Myhealth Manager Ongoing 4 Physical
Health
Promote working environments that are Work Health and safety compliant
Myhealth Manager Ongoing Number of Myhealth:
hits on intranet page
all-staff messages sent Identify and promote existing infrastructure to staff via intranet
and all-staff emails
Myhealth Manager Ongoing
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Six monthly DIVISIONAL REPORTING TEMPLATE for the Myhealth Staff Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Action Plan
Business Area: Date:
Contact Name: Phone Number:
Guidelines Actions taken and resources provided Issues Identified Actions taken to address issues Actions taken and resources
provided to support implementation of the Action Plan Objectives for People, Places and Culture.
Actions taken and resources provided to communicate the Myhealth Staff Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Action Plan.
Actions taken to ensure management and supervisory staff are informed of their responsibilities under the Myhealth Staff Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Action Plan.
Number and type of
initiatives implemented
within the Division.
8 Roles and responsibilities
The success of this Strategy is dependent on executive support, commitment and strong leadership as well as gaining a mutually beneficial partnership with staff to take ownership of health in the workplace and create a culture that values, supports and improves the health and wellbeing of all staff.
The Myhealth Manager located in the Organisational Development Unit will provide strategic support and guidance in the implementation of the Strategy including:
development and maintenance of ACT Health wide communications and resources
mentoring and support for volunteer Myhealth champions
planning, budgeting, evaluation and reporting and
secretariat support for Myhealth committees.
The Executive Sponsor and responsibility for oversight of the Strategy is the Deputy Director-General, Strategy and Corporate who will promote the intention and importance of the Strategy at all appropriate forums, including management meetings, ACT Health activities and public events. This advocacy aims to embed staff health and wellbeing into ACT Health’s corporate vision, planning and business and develop a culture that
understands, values and actively supports the Strategy.
Director-General and Executives are key in the implementation of this Strategy by:
continuing to have health and wellbeing as a strategic focus
championing the Strategy and
providing funding and resources for health and wellbeing.
Directors, Supervisors, Managers and Team Leaders have a key role to play in ensuring the success of this Strategy including:
actively contributing to the Objectives of the Strategy
ensuring the Strategy is communicated to staff
developing and implementing initiatives in their own areas, which support health and wellbeing
ensuring staff health and wellbeing resources are available for staff
encouraging staff participation, fostering a positive culture of care, engagement and support for staff
referring staff to support services if they are experiencing difficulties
providing staff with opportunities to attend health and wellbeing education and training.
Myhealth Champions are a network of staff located across a range of work areas and job classifications who assist with communication of Myhealth by:
initiating and organising local health and wellbeing activities
provide feedback of ideas to the Myhealth Manager
distributing Myhealth information and resources.
All staff are encouraged to become familiar with the Strategy and
participate in health and wellbeing initiatives.
Provide input and feedback, on staff wants and needs, to the Myhealth Manager
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The key principles of the myhealth Strategy align with:
Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (ACT)
Public Sector Management Act 1994
ACT Public Sector Whole of Government Workplace Health and Wellbeing Policy
ACT Government Respect, Equity and Diversity Framework
ACT Government Work Health and Safety Management System
ACT Government Alcohol and Other Drug Policy
ACT Public Sector Enterprise Agreements
ACT Public Service Healthy Weight Initiative
ACT Health 2012-2017 Corporate Plan
ACT Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Action Plan 2013-2018
ACT Health Reconciliation Action Plan 2015-2018
ACT Health Smoke Free Environment Policy
ACT Health Healthy Food and Drink Choices Policy
ACT Health Physical Activity Strategic Framework
ACT Health Employment Inclusion Action Plan
Health Directorate Building a Strong Foundation: a Framework for Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing 2009-2014
References
ACT Health, People Strategy and Services Branch, Workforce data
Australian Government Department of Health – Healthy Workers Initiative - http://www.healthyworkers.gov.au/internet/hwi/publishing.nsf/Content/why
Bill Bellew: Primary Prevention of Chronic Disease in Australia through interventions in the workplace setting: A rapid review
Comcare - Benefits to business: The evidence for investing in worker health and wellbeing
Comcare - Effective Health and Wellbeing Programs
Health & Productivity Institute of Australia - Best Practice Guidelines Workplace health in Australia
Medibank: The health of Australia’s workforce -
https://www.medibank.com.au/Client/Documents/Pdfs/The_health_of_Australi a's_workforce.pdf
Price Waterhouse Coopers - Workplace Wellness in Australia
WorkSafety ACT - A Guide to Promoting Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace
The Health and Productivity Institute of Australia – Best Practice Guidelines Workplace Health in Australia
World Health Organisation: Healthy Workplace Framework: Background and Supporting Literature and Framework – Joan Burton
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