ACT Healthy Workers Program

Commonwealth Safety Management Forum

22 February 2012

Merryn HareDirector, Health Promotion BranchPopulation Health DivisionACT Government Health Directorate

Presentation will cover

Origins of workplace health promotion Best practice workplace health promotion Benefits of workplace health Policy context for ACT program ACT formative work Available programs and future directions Call for feedback from Forum participants

Why healthy workplaces?

• Workplaces are recognised nationally and internationally (WHO) as an important setting to address the rising levels of chronic disease

• Approximately one third of adult life is spent at work

• Employers can influence behaviour by providing a supportive environment to improve healthy lifestyle behaviours

Key elements of best practice workplace health promotion

Leadership• Promote active leadership of senior

management in health and wellbeing initiativesCulture• Align health and wellbeing goals with business

strategy and OH&S• Create a supportive environment and culture

focused on health and wellbeing

Key elements of best practice cont.

People• Target interventions based on unique characteristics

of employee population• Offer incentives to encourage participation and better

outcomes• Use targeted and ongoing mass communication Process• Establish an evaluation and monitoring program to

measure change, outcomes and financial impact• Collaborate with external parties through public-private

partnerships

Benefits to employers of investing in workplace health

Increased productivity Increased staff morale, job satisfaction, motivation Decreased workplace stress Reduced sick leave and absenteeism Increased ability to attract/retain employees Improved corporate citizenship and image Fewer workers compensation claims Decreased insurance premiums

Walking at lunchtime

Policy context

Govt push to reduce chronic disease risk factors through workplaces

ACT Healthy Future – Preventative Health Program (workplace health $: 2009-12)

COAG NPA on Preventive Health (NPAPH)

(HW initiative $: 2011-2015)

Overarching program directions and objectives

Aim: to reduce the risk of chronic disease for individuals of working age currently in paid employment in the ACT, by supporting positive healthy lifestyle behaviour change through the workplace setting, including:

•increasing physical activity levels;

•healthier eating behaviours; •smoking reduction/cessation; •reduction of harmful alcohol consumption; •maintenance of healthy weight; and•improved stress management.

Healthy taste tests

ACT HW program development Stakeholder workshop – Nov 2009 Established Advisory Group – Feb 2010 Workplace Health Promotion Needs Analysis

(PwC) – completed Feb 2011 E-newsletter to keep stakeholders informed ACT Healthy@Work Pilot in five sites – Sept

2010 to Oct 2011 +18 month evaluation Capacity building grants for providers – 9

successful organisations

Needs analysis – ACT workforce

Approx 220,500 workers in the ACT employed by over 11,000 employers

58% of ACT workers employed by large organisations (>200 workers), compared to 21% nationally.

41% of ACT workers employed in the public sector, compared to 14% nationally

http://health.act.gov.au/health-services/population-health/health-promotion-branch/healthy-workers/

ACT workforce cont.

31% of ACT employers classified in the Property & Business Services industry, compared to 20% nationally

47% of ACT workers in white collar occupations, compared to 34% nationally

18% of ACT workers in blue collar occupations, compared to 32% nationally

ACT worker lifestyle risk factors

56% overweight/obese (compared to 60% nationally)

93% inadequate veg consumption (92% nat) 48% inadequate fruit consumption (51% nat) 65% inadequate physical activity (70% nat)

ACT worker lifestyle risk factors

20% smokers (22% nat) 48% consume alcohol on a single occasion at

harmful levels (compared to 47% nationally) 32% report moderate to high levels of

psychological distress (31% nat)

Blue collar lifestyle risk factors

Of blue collar ACT workers: 43% smoke (20% ACT) 58% have inadequate fruit intake (48% ACT) 34% have a lifetime risk for alcohol (23% ACT) 84% report at least 2 unhealthy behaviours

(70% ACT)

Targeting specific health and wellbeing needs in the ACT

large public sector workforce small and medium enterprise employers –

equitable approach workforce segments – blue collar workers

poor risk profile + almost half are white collar modifiable lifestyle risk factors – high

prevalence

ACT Healthy@Work Pilot

13 month pilot in five diverse ACT workplaces.

Strategies to address: individual lifestyle and behavioural

factors of employeesworkplace capacity and

readiness to be health promoting environments.

Tools for use in workplaces have also been tested e.g. employee survey and audit tool.

Implementation phase completed in October 2011

Pilot evaluation

Process evaluation report (Dec 2011) – findings: Employees feel employers care more about

their health and wellbeing – 76%, up from 52% Increases in health knowledge, with some

reported behaviour change Management identified benefits to work

cultures, with expected reduced staff turnover

Early outcomes evaluation report due late March

HW Implementation Plan - general

Workplace Health Support and Facilitation Service – WorkSafe ACT

Supporting resources: website, guides, tools, policy templates – for all workplaces

Training for workplace health coordinators (Comcare)

Mentoring/leadership program Financial incentives/

support for high risk workplaces

Active travel

HW Implementation Plan cont. Social Marketing Engagement strategy for ACT public sector ACT public sector policy work Service Evaluation Health of the ACT Survey – additional

questions on workplace health

Achieve a work/life balance

National soft infrastructure

Joint Statement of Commitment - Promoting Good Health at Work

Healthy Workers Quality Framework

- Principles for Promoting Good Health at Work

- Healthy Lifestyle Provider Registration

- Healthy Lifestyle Program Registration

Healthy Workers web portal National Awards Program

Useful links and apps

• Swap It: http://swapit.gov.au/resources/downloads• iPhone app that rates nearly 20,000 supermarket items with

red, orange or green ratings for their fat, sugar and salt content: http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/smartphone-apps/phone-app-gives-consumers-green-light-on-food-buys-20120117-1q4sy.html#ixzz1jmeZYb9n

• NHS website for couch to 5k: 

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/couch-to-5k.aspx • ACT Workplace Health and Wellbeing e-newsletter:

http://health.act.gov.au/health-services/population-health/health-promotion-branch/healthy-workers/

Your feedback

Who is doing what? How are programs informed? Any innovative approaches? Challenges/barriers? Data collection? Interest in sharing learnings? Interest in joining WorkSafe ACT network?

Mentoring? Case studies?

Thank you

Questions?

merryn.hare@act.gov.au

02 6205 1107