Workplace Health Promotion - Numurkah District Health Service

Numurkah District Health Service is a Public Hospital that provides residential and aged care services for the surrounding community. We have recently been flood affected and our Acute ward, theatre, emergency department and many offices have been totally water damaged.
I am a Reg Nurse who works at the Community Health Centre attached to the Hospital. I take Cardiac Rehabilitation 1 day per week. I am a qualified group fitness trainer with Kinect Australia.

What motivated you to set up a health and wellbeing program?

I wanted to start a Fitness Program at NDHS to increase staff health and wellbeing levels. Modern lifestyles and shift work make it very easy for individuals to be inactive. I wanted to help our staff increase their physical activity levels. I found colleagues would approach me at work and ask me how they could get fit...I wanted to help them...
I am extremely proud of our CEO and Board of Management who have supported this program.

What does your program involve?

Staff members can join Fit Club for a cost of 3 dollars per week. This entitles them to one group fitness class per week. The class is formulated in line with Fitness Australia safety guidelines for strength training and cardiovascular exercise prescription for adults.
Exercise sessions take one hour and are delivered by a qualified fitness professional...Myself. There are 4 timetabled sessions a week staff can chooses from.
Example exercise list...boxing for fitness
fit ball exercises
weight training
cardio training
The goal of the program is to give staff the opportunity to increase their physical health by providing them support, exercise education, and personal exercise instruction.

What did you do to promote the program?

Ongoing discussions with NDHS to employ me as a Personal Trainer to take the fitness classes each week. Developed Position Description.
Conducted information sessions for staff.
Had Fit Club education included in Yearly staff education sessions.
Constantly email staff about Fit Club.
Offer short introduction sessions to give staff members an idea of class content.

Who participated in the program?

CEO approval.
Fit Club program developed and run solely by myself.
Permanent Staff members all have access to Fit Club

What was the impact of the program and how was this measured?

The program is ongoing...
I have a total of 30 Fit Club members.
The Club has been running for six months. The average no. I have attend the classes each fortnight is 33. This figure would have been higher if we were not affected by extreme flooding in the region.
Benefits of the program...Provide staff with information and support
Source of motivation
Improve quality of life
Stress reduction
Weight maintenance
Improve exercise tolerance
Increase muscular strength
Instill a positive attitude to fitness
Members of Fit Club often tell me how important these classes are to them because it is something they are doing for themselves.

*Disclaimer:
The publishing of entries on the WorkSafe Awards website and or/the granting of an award does not constitute any endorsement by WorkSafe Victoria of a product, method or service, or the occupational health and safety performance of the workplace. Monthly Champions must undergo expert review to progress through to the stringent validation and judging process and can only progress to the next stage of entry once WorkSafe are satisfied that the entry/entrant has met the relevant award category criteria and terms and condition of entry.

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