These Awards, provided by The Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA) have acknowledged leadership in the area of preventive health, and have recognised sectors of the Australian community that are working hard to promote the importance of good health and well-being.
In
the Healthy Workplace Awards categories Australian businesses and organisations
were awarded for their best practice prevention and health promotion workplace
programs and initiatives.
Fitness
Australia’s healthy workplace initiative addresses 3 key areas - increasing
physical activity levels, providing education on healthier eating options and
supporting stress management. Evaluations of the program to date see the goals
and objectives set in the development of the program are making a difference to
the workplace.Absolute Beauty’s healthy workplace program focuses on quit smoking efforts, nutrition and physical activity and the program has seen significant changes in the staff’s physical activity and motivation levels, with healthy habits forming as a direct result of the introduction of the program.
Fitness
Australia’s mission is to provide the whole team with the opportunity to lead
healthy lifestyles through a supportive and encouraging work environment and we’ve
achieved this on a small-scale budget.
Some
of the activities within our program include healthy eating breakfasts, cooking
demonstrations, dietitian advice, group exercise sessions, walking challenges
and support for awareness campaigns such as ‘RU OK Day!’
We
also encourage people to use the team intranet to discuss their sporting or activity
interests, set challenges, ‘brag’ about their achievements and exchange ideas
on how to improve their health and wellbeing and that of their family and
friends. Taking time out to do some form of exercise on a regular basis is also
encouraged and supported.
To
get started on our healthy workplace strategy, we found that the Heart
Foundation’s 10 Step guide to implementing a workplace health program was
extremely useful. One of the key elements to success, in my opinion, is to
ensure that the strategy has the full support of management but that the team
is empowered to design and implement the program.
It’s
really all about embedding these values into the organisational culture and then
sharing these with everyone across the organisation.
I
am extremely honoured to lead a team of such enthusiastic, motivated and happy
people at Fitness Australia and it’s great to know that the workplace is
contributing to their physical and mental wellbeing. My message to all other
workplaces is: “make it happen”. The
benefits are amazing for all involved!
And
of course, if you want really great results for your team, think about engaging
the fitness industry to help you achieve your goals. The fitness industry has a
large range of services and the expertise to help your workforce stay active,
fit, strong and healthy.
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