· OHS and rehabilitation national policy and strategy while ... She was head of flight crew at...
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Revolution in the battle against workplace stress Well Living – a new approach to employee health & productivity Marathon legend ‘Deek‘ first across the line for brain health Travel news – Sporting fever is better than sporting a fever Well done Jets & Wildcats Keeping your business immune www.hsagroup.com.au Your HSA Group guide to health in the workplace pulse AUTUMN • 2007
Transcript of · OHS and rehabilitation national policy and strategy while ... She was head of flight crew at...
Revolution in the battle against workplace stress
Well Living – a new approach to employee health & productivity
Marathon legend ‘Deek‘ first across the line for brain health
Travel news – Sporting fever is better than sporting a fever
Well done Jets & Wildcats
Keeping your business immune
Publisher HSA Group
Editor Day & Hodge Associates
Design Z00 Design
Print Paragon Printers Australasia
For more information please contact HSA Group www.hsagroup.com.au or phone 1300 361 046
Z00
2796
9
ProfileS
Word bankTyphoid fever: a bacterial infection usually transmitted by food handlers and characterized by fever, prostration, abdominal pain and a rose-coloured rash
Hepatitis A: a viral infection which can be easily acquired by travellers through contaminated food or water. Symptoms include loss of appetite, nausea, fever, joint pain, jaundice and local tenderness in the region of the liver
Hepatitis B: a viral infection transmitted by exchange of infected blood and body fluids. Symptoms are the same as for hepatitis A
Gastroenteritis: inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestine with symptoms including loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort
WebNeuro: a simple, online screening tool to help people get a ‘scientific baseline’ of their current brain health. It can be done from any computer and takes about 40 minutes (see Brain Booster Toolkit, www.hsagroup.com.au)
Dene joined the HSA Group in March 2006 and works with Health for Industry’s national customers—government and corporate—to provide a single point of contact and help customers access the vast range of services across the HSA Group according to their business needs.
Dene has extensive experience as a senior manager in the Australian Government. He has been responsible for OHS and rehabilitation national policy and strategy while working for Comcare, the Office of the Australian Safety and
Compensation Council and the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission.
Dene has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Psychology, graduate qualifications in organisational psychology and a Master of Arts in Communications. In his spare time, he practices Iyengar Yoga and rows with the Melbourne Argonauts Rowing Club.
www.hsagroup.com.au
Your HSA Group guide to health
in the workplace pulseChristine has extensive experience in the travel and health industries. As National Client Manager she leads business development, marketing and promotion, and works closely with customers to ensure our service meets their business requirements.
Her career includes a diverse range of senior management roles with Qantas Airways, delivering her extensive experience in strategic planning, organisational change and emergency preparedness. She was head of flight crew at the Sydney Qantas base (1000 cabin managers and crew), had
executive responsibility for operational safety and OH&S and was part of the Qantas executive team managing the response to SARS.
Christine has a Master of Business Administration (Distinction), a Master of Science, and is also a registered nurse. She has travelled widely in Asia, the Pacific, Europe and North America, and, as a busy mother of two, involves herself in community activities—she is umpire co-ordinator and member of the Willoughby Wildcats AFL Committee and a volunteer event organiser for Marist College North Shore.
DENE CICCI National Client Manager, Health for Industry
CHRISTINE MARTIN National Client Manager, The Travel Doctor–TMVC
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Sporting fever is better than sporting a feverMost Aussies are sports mad and increasingly we choose to combine an overseas holiday with the chance to cheer our heroes on.
Over the next few months Australian fans have some great opportunities to support their teams and enjoy new cultural experiences: the Cricket World Cup in the Carribean; Rugby Sevens in Hong Kong; and Asian Cup Football with A-league soccer teams potentially playing in Bangkok, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.
Beware the risks
In the excitement of planning your overseas trip, it’s easy to overlook basic precautions—one of which is looking out for your health.
Recent outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis on ocean liners, including among 300 passengers and crew on the Queen Elizabeth II and 160 on the Ryndam, is a timely reminder that travel health risks are not restricted to under-developed destinations. This is particularly salient for the thousands of Australians booked on Carribean cruises during the Cricket World Cup.
Healthy travelers have the most fun!
To minimise any risks, it’s a great idea to consult with a travel health professional well in advance of your departure. You may have all of your childhood boosters up to date, but there are other considerations. Hepatitis A & B vaccinations are the minimum precautions recommended for travel in many regions.
If you’re an adventurous eater and intend venturing ‘off the beaten track’, a typhoid shot is definitely something to consider. Social travellers should be aware that there are many risks in indulging in casual sexual encounters overseas and should either avoid them or use sensible precautions.
Get the facts
To help sports tourists prepare for their trip, the Travel Doctor-TMVC has developed a series of fact sheets highlighting travel health issues in these destinations. These can be accessed at: www.traveldoctor.com.au
Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or venturing overseas for the first time, make sure you make the best of it and don’t expose yourself to unnecessary health risks.
Overseas travel is an extraordinary adventure, and the memories will last a lifetime. Stay safe, happy and healthy—and enjoy cheering on your sporting heroes!
SMArT STUff• Consult your nearest Travel Doctor-TMVC
clinic well in advance of your departure—6–8 weeks is ideal.
• Make sure you have the necessary vaccinations.
• While packing, consider health precautions. This means taking a first aid kit which should include at a minimum: antiseptic solution, bandages and pain killers (but check if they’re legal in the regions where you are travelling).
• Practice good hygiene by washing your hands frequently—preferably take some antiseptic wipes or gel with you.
• When eating and drinking remember to boil it, cook it, peel it—or forget it!
• Avoid mosquitoes, other insects and animals.
• Be careful with local transportation—cars and motorbikes might be poorly maintained.
• Avoid casual sexual encounters, or practice safe sex.
AUTUMN WellNeSS TiPS
• Enhance workplace wellness by running a flu vaccination program and holding a health fair
• Enjoy the fresh produce of Autumn, like pumpkin, carrots, beans, figs, rhubarb and apples
• The cooler weather is a great time to organise lunchtime team sports, but don’t forget your sunscreen!
The HSA Group has joined forces with the Brain Resource Company (BRC), a world leader in brain function tests, and Australian marathon legend, Rob (Deek) de Castella, to launch an online Brain Booster Toolkit to help Australians maintain and improve brain health as they age.
Maintaining our productivity and lifestyle in the near future in the face of a rapidly ageing population and workforce will be a challenge—the good news is that brain research is providing us with new insights into how we can not only maintain but even improve brain health as we age.
The Brain Booster Toolkit draws on the latest research to provide education as well as a unique, simple, online screening tool—WebNeuro—to help people get a ‘scientific baseline’ of their current brain health.
100 000 Australians are being given the opportunity to do the WebNeuro screening for free* over the next six months. The screening can be done on any computer and takes about 40 minutes.
Work Solutions has developed and launched an innovative stress management training program, Reframe & Refocus: Building Resilience, developed specifically to give organisations a new tool in the battle against workplace stress.
Despite a pleasing decline in the percentage of total claims and costs of workplace stress claims relative to other claims— down from 8% in 2004/05 to 5.5% in 2005/061—stress still represents more than 20%2 of total claim costs and continues to be a leading cause of absenteeism and decreased productivity.
‘Employers are continually asking our consultants what else can be done to battle stress’, Dr Peter Cotton, Director of Psychology Services, HSA Group, said.
‘Reframe & Refocus offers a new way to deal with stress based on Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT). It delivers an evidence-based, fresh approach to stress management focused on building worker resilience’, Dr Cotton said.
The training program consists of three 2-hour training sessions and a booster session three months later—all sessions are run by Work Solutions psychologists (see breakout box).
‘There are gaps in the current traditional approaches to stress management—ACT helps fill these gaps’, senior Work Solutions psychologist Dr Melissa Lehmann explained.
‘Stress continues to be a major concern for our customers—impacting all levels of workers from senior managers to the factory floor. It’s great to be able to offer a new tool to help continue the downward trend in stress claims.’
An internal pilot was successfully delivered by Dr Lehmann and two other Work Solutions psychologists, Brock Bastian and Vanessa McKay.
‘The Work Solutions staff found it very useful and have since reported that it continues to challenge some of the ways they normally deal with stress’, Dr Lehmann said.
‘Reframe & Refocus is a totally different stress management program in the sense that it doesn’t target specific stressors (such as conflict resolution, communication, assertiveness), but offers a broader approach to stress management by aiming to change the relationship an individual has with stress’, Ms McKay said.
‘Put simply, it helps workers at all levels better manage stress by training them to become more resilient.’
One of the many innovative wellness services available from Health For Industry is Well Living, a unique, scientifically-based, on-line wellness program shown to lower absenteeism and turnover and increase work performance by improving employee health.
Based on an internationally proven program developed in the early 2000s (Vielife), this approach is used extensively throughout the UK and USA and endorsed by the World Health Organisation.
Well Living works at both individual employee and organisational levels.
revolUTioN iN The bATTle AgAiNST WorkPlAce STreSS
Well liviNg
A new approach to employee health & productivity
Marathon legend ‘Deek’ first across the line for brain health
Individual employees are assessed with regard to five critical areas of health and wellbeing—stress, sleep, nutrition, fitness, musculoskeletal function—and given customised advice and information to support behaviour change and improved health.
Well Living gives organisations a detailed profile of the overall health of their workforce—the impact of poor health in terms of lost productivity, absenteeism and job satisfaction is objectively quantified, and targeted recommendations provided to improve workplace health and productivity.
For more information about Well Living please email Dene Cicci, National Client Manager, at [email protected]
Those who complete WebNeuro will not only be helping themselves but also aiding future research, with the data collected going to an international database that brain researchers in Australia and around the world can access for free.
Australian business is already concerned about a rapidly ageing workforce. As the population ages, normal ageing will become an even bigger workplace issue. By collaborating on this project the HSA Group can support educational, research and service efforts into brain health both in the community and at the workplace.
Access the Brain Booster Toolkit at www.hsagroup.com.au
TIPS fOr rEDUCING WOrKPLACE STrESS
EMPLOYEES
Can make sure they:
• eat a healthy diet
• get adequate sleep
• exercise regularly
• lead a well balanced life
• communicate workplace concerns and problems to managers early
• seek appropriate medical advice and support when necessary.
EMPLOYERS
Can make sure they:
• encourage a positive, supportive and engaging work culture
• foster people leadership capability among managers
• run good induction programs
• provide role clarity
• support flexibility in the workplace
• involve workers in decision making.
1. http://www.comcare.gov.au/compensation/workers_compensation_statistics/summary_claims_ statistics (Date of statistics: 10/10/2006)
2. Ibid
Walter Kmet (r), HSA Group Managing Director, with rob de Castella (L) who celebrated his 50th birthday by launching the toolkit. rob commented that it was ‘a great (birthday) present to know that, instead of facing a decline beyond 50, I can look forward to using the Brain Booster Toolkit to maintain and, hopefully, even improve my brain function’.
* Once the 100 000 figure or six month time period have been reached a fee of $35 will apply. The data, with participant approval, will continue to be fed into the international brain resource database.
We’ve had an exciting ride with our two sponsored teams, the Newcastle Jets A-league soccer team and the Perth Wildcats National Basketball League team. Both teams made it all the way to the finals series only to bow out in hard fought matches.
Despite this, both teams still managed to finish the season 3rd on their respective ladders. On behalf of the HSA Group we’d like to congratulate the teams on a great season. Well DoNe JeTS &
WilDcATS!
Jets Team
THE REFRAME & REFOCUS TRAINING PROGRAM
• Session 1: Introduces key concepts by increasing participant self-awareness and challenging traditional stress responses
• Session 2: Explores the dynamic interaction between experiencing and evaluating stress, using techniques such as mindfulness and language to reduce the physical and psychological costs of this stress (reframe)
• Session 3: Engages participants in active goal setting to refocus energy previously spent on non-productive evaluation and reactions to stressful experiences or events
• Booster session: Refreshes participants in key concepts, strategies and learning activities
To find out more please email Dr Melissa Lehmann at: [email protected]
The HSA Group has joined forces with the Brain Resource Company (BRC), a world leader in brain function tests, and Australian marathon legend, Rob (Deek) de Castella, to launch an online Brain Booster Toolkit to help Australians maintain and improve brain health as they age.
Maintaining our productivity and lifestyle in the near future in the face of a rapidly ageing population and workforce will be a challenge—the good news is that brain research is providing us with new insights into how we can not only maintain but even improve brain health as we age.
The Brain Booster Toolkit draws on the latest research to provide education as well as a unique, simple, online screening tool—WebNeuro—to help people get a ‘scientific baseline’ of their current brain health.
100 000 Australians are being given the opportunity to do the WebNeuro screening for free* over the next six months. The screening can be done on any computer and takes about 40 minutes.
Work Solutions has developed and launched an innovative stress management training program, Reframe & Refocus: Building Resilience, developed specifically to give organisations a new tool in the battle against workplace stress.
Despite a pleasing decline in the percentage of total claims and costs of workplace stress claims relative to other claims— down from 8% in 2004/05 to 5.5% in 2005/061—stress still represents more than 20%2 of total claim costs and continues to be a leading cause of absenteeism and decreased productivity.
‘Employers are continually asking our consultants what else can be done to battle stress’, Dr Peter Cotton, Director of Psychology Services, HSA Group, said.
‘Reframe & Refocus offers a new way to deal with stress based on Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT). It delivers an evidence-based, fresh approach to stress management focused on building worker resilience’, Dr Cotton said.
The training program consists of three 2-hour training sessions and a booster session three months later—all sessions are run by Work Solutions psychologists (see breakout box).
‘There are gaps in the current traditional approaches to stress management—ACT helps fill these gaps’, senior Work Solutions psychologist Dr Melissa Lehmann explained.
‘Stress continues to be a major concern for our customers—impacting all levels of workers from senior managers to the factory floor. It’s great to be able to offer a new tool to help continue the downward trend in stress claims.’
An internal pilot was successfully delivered by Dr Lehmann and two other Work Solutions psychologists, Brock Bastian and Vanessa McKay.
‘The Work Solutions staff found it very useful and have since reported that it continues to challenge some of the ways they normally deal with stress’, Dr Lehmann said.
‘Reframe & Refocus is a totally different stress management program in the sense that it doesn’t target specific stressors (such as conflict resolution, communication, assertiveness), but offers a broader approach to stress management by aiming to change the relationship an individual has with stress’, Ms McKay said.
‘Put simply, it helps workers at all levels better manage stress by training them to become more resilient.’
One of the many innovative wellness services available from Health For Industry is Well Living, a unique, scientifically-based, on-line wellness program shown to lower absenteeism and turnover and increase work performance by improving employee health.
Based on an internationally proven program developed in the early 2000s (Vielife), this approach is used extensively throughout the UK and USA and endorsed by the World Health Organisation.
Well Living works at both individual employee and organisational levels.
revolUTioN iN The bATTle AgAiNST WorkPlAce STreSS
Well liviNg
A new approach to employee health & productivity
Marathon legend ‘Deek’ first across the line for brain health
Individual employees are assessed with regard to five critical areas of health and wellbeing—stress, sleep, nutrition, fitness, musculoskeletal function—and given customised advice and information to support behaviour change and improved health.
Well Living gives organisations a detailed profile of the overall health of their workforce—the impact of poor health in terms of lost productivity, absenteeism and job satisfaction is objectively quantified, and targeted recommendations provided to improve workplace health and productivity.
For more information about Well Living please email Dene Cicci, National Client Manager, at [email protected]
Those who complete WebNeuro will not only be helping themselves but also aiding future research, with the data collected going to an international database that brain researchers in Australia and around the world can access for free.
Australian business is already concerned about a rapidly ageing workforce. As the population ages, normal ageing will become an even bigger workplace issue. By collaborating on this project the HSA Group can support educational, research and service efforts into brain health both in the community and at the workplace.
Access the Brain Booster Toolkit at www.hsagroup.com.au
TIPS fOr rEDUCING WOrKPLACE STrESS
EMPLOYEES
Can make sure they:
• eat a healthy diet
• get adequate sleep
• exercise regularly
• lead a well balanced life
• communicate workplace concerns and problems to managers early
• seek appropriate medical advice and support when necessary.
EMPLOYERS
Can make sure they:
• encourage a positive, supportive and engaging work culture
• foster people leadership capability among managers
• run good induction programs
• provide role clarity
• support flexibility in the workplace
• involve workers in decision making.
1. http://www.comcare.gov.au/compensation/workers_compensation_statistics/summary_claims_ statistics (Date of statistics: 10/10/2006)
2. Ibid
Walter Kmet (r), HSA Group Managing Director, with rob de Castella (L) who celebrated his 50th birthday by launching the toolkit. rob commented that it was ‘a great (birthday) present to know that, instead of facing a decline beyond 50, I can look forward to using the Brain Booster Toolkit to maintain and, hopefully, even improve my brain function’.
* Once the 100 000 figure or six month time period have been reached a fee of $35 will apply. The data, with participant approval, will continue to be fed into the international brain resource database.
We’ve had an exciting ride with our two sponsored teams, the Newcastle Jets A-league soccer team and the Perth Wildcats National Basketball League team. Both teams made it all the way to the finals series only to bow out in hard fought matches.
Despite this, both teams still managed to finish the season 3rd on their respective ladders. On behalf of the HSA Group we’d like to congratulate the teams on a great season. Well DoNe JeTS &
WilDcATS!
Jets Team
THE REFRAME & REFOCUS TRAINING PROGRAM
• Session 1: Introduces key concepts by increasing participant self-awareness and challenging traditional stress responses
• Session 2: Explores the dynamic interaction between experiencing and evaluating stress, using techniques such as mindfulness and language to reduce the physical and psychological costs of this stress (reframe)
• Session 3: Engages participants in active goal setting to refocus energy previously spent on non-productive evaluation and reactions to stressful experiences or events
• Booster session: Refreshes participants in key concepts, strategies and learning activities
To find out more please email Dr Melissa Lehmann at: [email protected]
The HSA Group has joined forces with the Brain Resource Company (BRC), a world leader in brain function tests, and Australian marathon legend, Rob (Deek) de Castella, to launch an online Brain Booster Toolkit to help Australians maintain and improve brain health as they age.
Maintaining our productivity and lifestyle in the near future in the face of a rapidly ageing population and workforce will be a challenge—the good news is that brain research is providing us with new insights into how we can not only maintain but even improve brain health as we age.
The Brain Booster Toolkit draws on the latest research to provide education as well as a unique, simple, online screening tool—WebNeuro—to help people get a ‘scientific baseline’ of their current brain health.
100 000 Australians are being given the opportunity to do the WebNeuro screening for free* over the next six months. The screening can be done on any computer and takes about 40 minutes.
Work Solutions has developed and launched an innovative stress management training program, Reframe & Refocus: Building Resilience, developed specifically to give organisations a new tool in the battle against workplace stress.
Despite a pleasing decline in the percentage of total claims and costs of workplace stress claims relative to other claims— down from 8% in 2004/05 to 5.5% in 2005/061—stress still represents more than 20%2 of total claim costs and continues to be a leading cause of absenteeism and decreased productivity.
‘Employers are continually asking our consultants what else can be done to battle stress’, Dr Peter Cotton, Director of Psychology Services, HSA Group, said.
‘Reframe & Refocus offers a new way to deal with stress based on Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT). It delivers an evidence-based, fresh approach to stress management focused on building worker resilience’, Dr Cotton said.
The training program consists of three 2-hour training sessions and a booster session three months later—all sessions are run by Work Solutions psychologists (see breakout box).
‘There are gaps in the current traditional approaches to stress management—ACT helps fill these gaps’, senior Work Solutions psychologist Dr Melissa Lehmann explained.
‘Stress continues to be a major concern for our customers—impacting all levels of workers from senior managers to the factory floor. It’s great to be able to offer a new tool to help continue the downward trend in stress claims.’
An internal pilot was successfully delivered by Dr Lehmann and two other Work Solutions psychologists, Brock Bastian and Vanessa McKay.
‘The Work Solutions staff found it very useful and have since reported that it continues to challenge some of the ways they normally deal with stress’, Dr Lehmann said.
‘Reframe & Refocus is a totally different stress management program in the sense that it doesn’t target specific stressors (such as conflict resolution, communication, assertiveness), but offers a broader approach to stress management by aiming to change the relationship an individual has with stress’, Ms McKay said.
‘Put simply, it helps workers at all levels better manage stress by training them to become more resilient.’
One of the many innovative wellness services available from Health For Industry is Well Living, a unique, scientifically-based, on-line wellness program shown to lower absenteeism and turnover and increase work performance by improving employee health.
Based on an internationally proven program developed in the early 2000s (Vielife), this approach is used extensively throughout the UK and USA and endorsed by the World Health Organisation.
Well Living works at both individual employee and organisational levels.
revolUTioN iN The bATTle AgAiNST WorkPlAce STreSS
Well liviNg
A new approach to employee health & productivity
Marathon legend ‘Deek’ first across the line for brain health
Individual employees are assessed with regard to five critical areas of health and wellbeing—stress, sleep, nutrition, fitness, musculoskeletal function—and given customised advice and information to support behaviour change and improved health.
Well Living gives organisations a detailed profile of the overall health of their workforce—the impact of poor health in terms of lost productivity, absenteeism and job satisfaction is objectively quantified, and targeted recommendations provided to improve workplace health and productivity.
For more information about Well Living please email Dene Cicci, National Client Manager, at [email protected]
Those who complete WebNeuro will not only be helping themselves but also aiding future research, with the data collected going to an international database that brain researchers in Australia and around the world can access for free.
Australian business is already concerned about a rapidly ageing workforce. As the population ages, normal ageing will become an even bigger workplace issue. By collaborating on this project the HSA Group can support educational, research and service efforts into brain health both in the community and at the workplace.
Access the Brain Booster Toolkit at www.hsagroup.com.au
TIPS fOr rEDUCING WOrKPLACE STrESS
EMPLOYEES
Can make sure they:
• eat a healthy diet
• get adequate sleep
• exercise regularly
• lead a well balanced life
• communicate workplace concerns and problems to managers early
• seek appropriate medical advice and support when necessary.
EMPLOYERS
Can make sure they:
• encourage a positive, supportive and engaging work culture
• foster people leadership capability among managers
• run good induction programs
• provide role clarity
• support flexibility in the workplace
• involve workers in decision making.
1. http://www.comcare.gov.au/compensation/workers_compensation_statistics/summary_claims_ statistics (Date of statistics: 10/10/2006)
2. Ibid
Walter Kmet (r), HSA Group Managing Director, with rob de Castella (L) who celebrated his 50th birthday by launching the toolkit. rob commented that it was ‘a great (birthday) present to know that, instead of facing a decline beyond 50, I can look forward to using the Brain Booster Toolkit to maintain and, hopefully, even improve my brain function’.
* Once the 100 000 figure or six month time period have been reached a fee of $35 will apply. The data, with participant approval, will continue to be fed into the international brain resource database.
We’ve had an exciting ride with our two sponsored teams, the Newcastle Jets A-league soccer team and the Perth Wildcats National Basketball League team. Both teams made it all the way to the finals series only to bow out in hard fought matches.
Despite this, both teams still managed to finish the season 3rd on their respective ladders. On behalf of the HSA Group we’d like to congratulate the teams on a great season. Well DoNe JeTS &
WilDcATS!
Jets Team
THE REFRAME & REFOCUS TRAINING PROGRAM
• Session 1: Introduces key concepts by increasing participant self-awareness and challenging traditional stress responses
• Session 2: Explores the dynamic interaction between experiencing and evaluating stress, using techniques such as mindfulness and language to reduce the physical and psychological costs of this stress (reframe)
• Session 3: Engages participants in active goal setting to refocus energy previously spent on non-productive evaluation and reactions to stressful experiences or events
• Booster session: Refreshes participants in key concepts, strategies and learning activities
To find out more please email Dr Melissa Lehmann at: [email protected]
