Taranaki DHB celebrates workplace wellness week

21 October 2014

Taranaki DHB’s Workplace Wellness Committee is kicking off Workplace Wellness Week from Monday 20 – Friday 24 October and will promote healthy activity, healthy eating and a healthy body and mind.

Astrid Haesli, Taranaki DHB Wellness Committee Chair said “We aim to support the emotional, and physical wellbeing of our employees and getting them involved in health focused activities  is just one way we are doing this.”

Each day has a different theme with activities including a zumba class (health activity), sushi demonstration, virtual supermarket tour and understanding food labels (healthy eating), a mindfulness session (healthy attitude), and talks on the community response to the Christchurch earthquake (healthy community) and alcohol limits (healthy lifestyle).
One of our aims as an organisation is to promote healthy lifestyles and encouraging the health and wellbeing of our own people is one way we can lead by example ” said Ms Haesli.

Staff can also tak e part in the daily challenges, like making a healthy meal or performing a random act of kindness

and there will also be an information stand for both staff and the public in the Base hospital cafe throughout the week, which will be updated daily .

Taranaki DHB has had a Workplace Wellness Committee in place now for several years.  The committee aims to promote employee wellbeing by linking into ongoing health and wellbeing initiatives in the workplace as well as organising specific events such as the Workplace Wellness Week.

Other recent DHB promotions include encouraging staff to get involved in the Let’s Go Workplace Fresh Air Challenge and Car Free Day, as well as Stoptober, the 31-day stop smoking challenge running this month.  

The overall wellness package for employees includes a variety of initiatives including discounted rates on gym memberships and health insurance, a recreation centre and gym on-site, Zumba and bootcamp sessions, influenza vaccinations, flexible working options, quit smoking support including nicotine replacement, employee assistance programme, tailored workstation set-ups and funding to support employee professional development.

ENDS

For further information please contact:
Cressida Gates-Thompson, Media Advisor,

027 703 6177

Last updated: Tuesday, October 21, 2014