Health and wellness in the workplace:

Thinking laterally about the health & wellbeing of your staff

Dr Sarah Leach – General Manager Health ServicesYvette Denning – Health & Wellness Coordinator

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Local Government Workforce Profile

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Local Government - Workforce Profile

Ageing Workforce

Major Regional Employer

Average Age 47 y.o. Varied Roles 60:40

female:male

Recruitment & retention

Varied work sites

Australian Centre for Excellence in Local Government Workforce Survey 2012-13

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Local Government – Workcover Injury Claims Data

June 2008 Worksafe.vic.gov.au

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Council Injury Hotspots: Community Support Services

• 2010-11: > $9 million worth of workplace injury claims made in this industry alone.

• The average cost per claim: estimated to be $50,000.

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Health – An Australia Wide Issue

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Why is health my problem?

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The Health of Australians

• Males 1 in 2 (prostate, bowel, lung, melanoma)• Females 1 in 3 (breast, bowel, lung, melanoma)Cancer

• 1 in 4Musculoskeletal

• 1 in 5Mental Health

• >1 in 5Cardiovascular Disease

• 1 in 10Chronic Kidney Disease

• 1 in 10Diabetes

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

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Preventable Behavioural Risk Factors

Alcohol• 1 in 5

Smoking

• 12.8%Nutrition

• >50% not meeting guidelinesPhysical activity

• >60% inactiveSun exposure

• 15-24 y.o at risk groupAustralian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

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Preventable Biomedical Risk Factors

Hypertensi

on

• 1 in 3

Obesity

• 2 in 3 adults• 1 in 4 children

High Cholesterol

• 50% males and females

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

Casa.gov,au

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Health – why it’s your issue

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Impact of Health in the Workplace

• Nearly all (96%) working-age people reported one or more risk factors and three-quarters (75%) reported multiple risk factors

• Absenteeism for those with at least 1 risk factors was more common than absenteeism for chronic disease when compared to those with no risk factors; and the net annual loss was proportionally greater too

• The average Australian absentee rates in 2013 was 8.93 days per employee per annum, at an average cost of $2741 per employee for sick leave costs and lost productivity

AIHW 2010

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Chronic Disease and Impact on workplaces

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The Workplace – ROI

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Australian Case Studies (Comcare & HAPIA)• Heart Foundation

- 33 per cent decline in absenteeism- 5% decline in voluntary turnover- 42% of workers report being more physically active - 79% report improvement in their health

• Tomago Aluminium - Lost 4.5 kilos (up to 20kg)- Lost on average six centimetres waist girth - Improved resting heart rate - Reduced blood pressure.

• Boral Australia- Bwell program- ROI approximately 4 to 1- significant drop in all major health risk factors - The number of employees exhibiting 3 or more risk factors has dropped by 37%

• QLD Govt Public Works- After 5 years= ROI of $9 for every dollar spent through three interventions (blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose screening). - 27% reduction in Work Cover premiums, and reduction in sickness-related absenteeism.

The longer a workplace wellness program is in place the greater the outcomes. Improved morale and improved corporate image can see an improvement within the

first year of implementation. Whereas improved health of employees may take several years to establish change(Buck Consultants, 2012).

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Workplace health and wellness ROI

SmokingQuitting at any age adds years to your employees life. - Quit at 30 and add another 10 years. - Quit at 50 and halve the risk of smoking related death• Increased productivity: reduce sick days related to respiratory illness and reduced time in smoking

breaks (5-30min in unofficial smoking breaks per day= $$$$ ) • Decrease early retirement of skilled workers due to ill-health• Lower cleaning and maintenance costs• Enhanced corporate image

Healthy eating• There is a correlation between a balanced diet and being more productive at work. With reports

of 1-2% increase in productivity exhibited following targeted health programs.

Mental health• Every $1 invested in mental health returns $2.30

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Solutions – lateral thinking

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Low cost/No cost/Innovative

Apps Websites Local services

Peak Health

Agencies

Health Insurers

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Private Health Insurance as a resource for good health

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The changing role of Private Health Insurance

Historically• Private Health Insurance (PHI)• We pay your health providers when

you are ill. • Your staff may or may not have PHI

Now & future• Transition from health insurer to

Health and Wellbeing provider• We still pay your health providers • But we now we provide

information about health & health services

• We can help you manage the health of your staff

• We run health care services

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Our MissionSupporting the health of our communities for generations

Our VisionAustralia’s leading regionally based health fund most recommended by our communities for the contribution that we make to their health and wellbeing.

GMHBA Health Insurance - at the heart of healthy communities

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Demand for healthcare is clear and growing:- Ageing population- Increased focus on health- Increased preventable - non communicable diseases

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Health Care Property Credible organisations are interested in regional health property investment and with GMHBA.

Health Care OwnershipBecome our region’s largest provider of coordinated primary care services in the near future and then look to become the trusted provider of these services in regional Victoria and then regional Australia.

Services for the AgedProvide services to the aged that will assist them and their families navigate the later years as they enter a period of time that they feel less certain and more vulnerable about their future.

Preventative Health and InnovationUsing proven models and emerging research, innovate and create service models to prevent the illness and improve health at an individual level and a community level.

GMHBA – The future

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GMHBA – disease prevention and management programs

Prevention

•Risk factor management programs

•Bowel Cancer Risk Identification Program

•Weight loss

•Smoking cessation support

•Melanoma Surveillance Photography

•Allied Health

•Alternative therapies

•Travel Vaccinations

Disease

Manage

me

nt

•Hospital in the home (HITH)

•Rehabilitation in the home (RITH) •Chronic disease management programs (CDMP)•Best Doctors•Allied Health•Alternative therapies

Parenting and

birth

•New families program•Nourish (antenatal classes)

Healthy Living

•Health seminars•Fitness and yoga classes•Health focussed social media•Health competitions and entry into events•Sponsorship and grant programs

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MAV Local Government Employee Health Plan

For Local Government and Water Industry Employees in Victoria and Tasmania.

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I want more ideas…….

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Resources – Mental Health• Heads Up - access to free tools and resources for a mentally healthy workplace -

headsup.org.au• Mindspot - free telephone and online service for persons with symptoms of anxiety or

depression - mindspot.org.au• Beyond Blue - beyondblue.org.au• Sane Australia - online and free call service, providing information, support and

referral to people concerned by Mental Illness sane.org• Black Dog Institute blackdoginstitute.org.au• Mind Health Connect - mindhealthconnect.org.au• MyCompass - is an interactive self-help service that aims to promote resilience and

wellbeing for all Australians. mycompass.org.au

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Resources – Smoking• Quit - quit.org.au/• Lung Foundation - Lung Foundation Australia supports all aspects of lung health from

asthma to cancer to COPD. - lungfoundation.com.au

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Resources – Alcohol• Dry July - is a fundraiser that challenges you to go booze-free for a month to support

adults living with cancer. It helps you get healthy and clear your head while also raising funds for an important cause. - https://au.dryjuly.com/

• Australian Drug Foundation - the Australian Drug Foundation is one of Australia's leading bodies committed to preventing alcohol and other drug problems in communities around the nation. - http://www.adf.org.au/

• Turning Point- to provide leadership to the drug and alcohol field in Victoria, Australia. - http://www.turningpoint.org.au/

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Resources - Healthy Eating

• Shape Up Australia, Australian initiative to reduce waist measurements and improve health and wellbeing - www.shapeup.gov.au

• Live Lighter, LiveLighter (WA) aims to encourage Australian adults to lead healthier lifestyles - https://livelighter.com.au

• Rethink Sugary Drink, highlighting the amount of sugar in sweetened beverages - http://www.rethinksugarydrink.org.au/

• Food Cents, is an education program that helps families to achieve a healthy diet and to save money on their grocery shop.- http://www.foodcentsprogram.com.au/

• The Parents Jury, online network of parents who are interested in improving the food and physical activity environments of Australian children. – http://www.parentsjury.org.au/

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Resources - Physical Activity

• My Fitness Pal, https://www.myfitnesspal.com/• Bicycle Network, We believe physical activity is vital for a happy, healthy life. So we

make bike riding part of every day. Our strategy is to make bike riding easy for everyone. - https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/

• Just Stand, Stand up for your health! http://www.juststand.org/• Big Stretch -

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Resources - Other

• Vic health – app review, free or low cost training• GP2U – app• SISU Wellness – in house health screen (BP, BMI, %fat) • Healthy Together Victoria• Better Health Channel, Better Health Channel has provided health and medical

information that is quality assured, reliable, up to date, easy to understand, regularly reviewed and locally relevant. - https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/

• My Dr, myDr is an Australian healthcare website dedicated to providing Australian consumers with the most comprehensive and relevant health information resource in Australia. - http://www.mydr.com.au/

• Victoria Walks, creating walkable communities and increasing the health of Victorians. - http://www.victoriawalks.org.au/

• Man Therapy, online men’s health website talking about all men’s health in men’s speak. - https://www.mantherapy.org.au/

• Healthdirect - http://www.healthdirect.gov.au

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GMHBA – practicing what we preach

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GMHBA Staff Health Initiatives

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Thank you!

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For More Information:

• Yvette Denning Health & Wellness CoordinatorGMHBA Health Insurance52028860yvettedenning@gmhba.com.au

• John TooneChannel Growth ManagerGMHBA Health Insurance04082777johntoone@gmhba.com.au

• Ian McKenzieChoosewell Corporate (previously Health Link Corporate)Head of Corporate Partnershipsian.mckenzie@choosewell.com.au