As nurses and midwives, we understand the importance of health and wellbeing to those we care for. But sometimes, we put our own health and wellbeing last. No matter what stressors we face in life, we need to make health, wellbeing and self-care a priority. The information on this page is designed to support this.
We offer a number of initiatives to promote health and wellbeing, including:
- onsite staff gyms at Footscray and Sunshine hospitals
- discounted health and fitness memberships through Fitness Passport
- the Western Health BUG (Bicycle Users Group) and secure bike storage facilities
We recognise both the excellence and challenges in our workplace through:
- our Inspire awards to acknowledge staff who foster a positive workplace and our values of compassion, accountability, respect, excellence and safety
- our annual Nursing & Midwifery Excellence Awards, that are bestowed on recipients
- our academic and educational nursing and midwifery awards that are bestowed annually to recognise excellence in our staff that are pursuing further learning
- our EMPOWIR process to raise concerns about workplace behaviour
Details of Wellbeing and Support initiatives and detailed information and resources are outlined on the COVID microsite. This includes information on:
- caring for yourself
- caring for others
- accessing personal and professional support
- family violence during COVID
- Helpful apps and resources
- Wellbeing videos
- Wellbeing Wednesdays
- Wellbeing hubs and breakout spaces
Because we’re all human and sometimes we all need an extra hand, some free and confidential services available to our nurses are midwives are also outlined below:
COVID Crisis wellbeing initiatives
-
COVID Workforce Recovery Plan
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, like other public health services, Western Health implemented surge models of care in response to unprecedented demand coupled with high numbers of furloughed staff and personal leave especially through the Delta and Omicron waves.
Western Health developed a Workforce Surge Plan in 2020, and had worked over an extended period of time through that year to prepare our staff for the potential impact of a surge. We proactively worked with our teams to educate them, up-skill and ready our teams in case this occurred. When the Department of Health released the COVID-19 acute care surge workforce delivery models there were strong synergies with the Western Health plan, and we adapted our plan to ensure alignment.
Melbourne’s West has been particularly hard hit by COVID in 2020 and 2021, and Western Health has been at the forefront with large COVID demand being managed by our teams. We have also supported large numbers of outbreaks in external locations including Residential Aged Care Facilities. Western Health has also had the added responsibilities of being a Local Public Health Unit and the COVID Vaccination Hub lead for the western metropolitan region.
Western Health has recognised that our clinical and non-clinical staff across all settings have been under extreme pressure, and proactive strategies have been put in place throughout the entire period to ensure that we care for our staff, so that they are retained as much as possible as we emerge from this difficult period. The wellbeing and safety of our staff is a core priority for Western Health, and this priority has been at the forefront of all our decisions since COVID emerged in 2019 and we commenced our own planning in late January 2020.
Whilst COVID related pressure on health services may reduce, there is always pressures in healthcare on the workforce and the return to ‘business as normal’ will bring with it new challenges.
Western Health is a rapidly growing heath service and proactive workforce management, maintaining a positive workplace culture and ensuring we are an employer of choice is central to us delivering high quality health services in an environment where our services are expected to almost double in size over the coming 6 years.
Western Health has been deliberate in our strategies and forward planning which have held us in good stead for our staff and services to emerge from COVID peak in a healthy position.
Western Health has developed a Workforce Recovery Plan which outlines a concise synopsis of the strategies that the health service has in place to support the recovery of our people. Western Health will continue to adapt and evolve our strategies, and where helpful will take on board ideas from the Department of Health and other services.
-
COVID Crisis Fatigue Management
Managing staff fatigue:
Our nurses and midwives are so busy, but preventing and managing staff fatigue is one of the key risks that we all need to have at the forefront of our minds at the moment. Keep an eye out for the webinar sessions where Tony McGilllion (ADONM Inspiring Innovation) presents on practical measures that can be put in place to ensure that you are managing your own fatigue, and helping your colleagues too.
Enhancing Rostering project:
This year Doug Mill (DONM) will be leading a project to better understand what constitutes a great roster for our nurses and midwives, and use this information – together with the latest evidence in rostering practices that enhance wellness and sleep, to educate our managers and other staff that write the rosters on how to create winning rosters for their teams.
-
COVID Crisis well-being support
Psychologist on-site and tailored support packages
A suite of interventions are being offered to help support our staff, including:
- On-site psychologists who have supported staff in our Intensive Care Units (ICU), Emergency Departments (ED) and Women’s and Children’s in regular group or individual sessions.
- Stress stocktakes and tailored sessions for managers to understand symptoms of burnout, recognise stress in others and advocate for their teams.
- Customised support is available upon request. If you’d like more information on workshops, strength profiling, cultural improvements or broker coaching, please email tony.mcgillion@wh.org.au.
Debrief support:
We know these are challenging times and also know that it’s important our nurses and midwives have the opportunity to discuss and process their experiences in a safe forum. We know this can be a beneficial practice that ultimately supports healthy coping skills, promotes psychological safety and emotional wellbeing.
We have arranged for a number of sessions to enable this to occur.
We know this is an extremely busy time, however we encourage you to avail yourself of these opportunities if you feel they would be beneficial to you.
These will be confidential sessions, hosted by our Employee Assistance Program psychologists.
Nurse & Midwifery Health Program:
Sessions are available with expert facilitators from the Victorian Nurse and Midwifery Health Program, and many of our wards, departments and teams across Western Health have taken advantage of this opportunity to debrief. These are programs specifically tailored to nurses and midwives by people who understand the pressures faced by our professions. If you’d like more information on how to access these services please email tony.mcgillion@wh.org.au.
Café vouchers:
The DONMs regularly distribute cafe vouchers to Unit Managers and Associate Unit Managers to be issued to staff that are working overtime or doing double shifts for us during this time. These vouchers can be used at either Café Adamo or Zouki during their operating hours.
Overnight meals:
We are arranging free food for our night shift to enable them to access healthy meals outside café hours.
Snack boxes:
Snack boxes are being delivered to our wards and departments with the aim of keeping staff nourished.
Manager Support sessions:
The Manager Support series aim at exploring the current managerial challenges and give our busy managers the theory and tools to be able to feel confident in leading their teams during these really challenging times.
Helpful Contacts
-
Employee Assistance Program
Western Health’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to all Western Health staff, volunteers and their families to provide free professional support and assistance.
It can be accessed by phoning 1800 099 444 – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
EAP can be used for getting assistance in managing a wide range or work related or family and personal issues that are affecting work performance or general well being.
-
Nursing and Midwifery Health Program Victoria
The Nursing and Midwifery Health Program Victoria (NMHPV) is available to Victorian nurses, midwives and students to access free support and assistance.
The NMHPV is an independent and confidential support service for individual nurses, midwives and students experiencing health issues related to their mental health, substance use, family violence concerns and any other issue they need support for.
In addition, NMHPV supports health service leadership, managers and people & culture personnel requiring information, advice and support for matters related to nurses and midwives experiencing any health or wellbeing concern.
WATCH NOW If you have ever wondered what NMHPV offers, this webinar will answer your questions
If you need support, please call 9415 7551 between 8.30am – 5.00pm, Monday to Friday or email admin@nmhp.org.au or visit www.nmhp.org.au
-
Nurse & Midwife Support
Nurse & Midwife Support is available 24/7 Australia wide on 1800 667 877 or visit www.nmsupport.org.au
It’s anonymous, confidential and free for nurses, midwives and students and anyone concerned about the welfare of a nurse or a midwife.
-
Crisis Services
Please note, none of the above programs are a crisis service. Colleagues with serious and imminent concerns should contact their local service or call 000. In addition, anyone can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.