Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Counsellors, Coaches, Mediators, Trainers – come and join us to help close the gap:

AccessEAP is committed to providing culturally safe social and emotional wellbeing counselling support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees and organisations.

If this is of interest to you we would love to hear from you.

Please call us on our AccessEAP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dedicated Line 1800 861 085 or 1800 818 728 to discuss further.

Applicants are encouraged to hold registration with a counselling body such as; ACA, ACAP, PACFA, APS, AASW.

• Let your creativity shine
• Help make a difference every day
• Flexible working arrangements 

AccessEAP partners with organisations to promote positive organisational behaviour, enhance employee well-being and improve workplace productivity. As an Australian owned, Profit for Purpose  Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider our success is based on understanding the unique needs of clients and tailoring services to support and prevent mental health issues in the workplace. Due to our expansion of services and as part of our overall digital transformation we need a talented consultant to generate ideas and translate information into powerful customer experiences

Your role will be to drive the development of visual content to support our Digital and Marketing strategy and to enhance business, brand and digital/social presence. You will also support the broader business with any design requirements, improvements or changes and strive to engage effectively with team members and stakeholders to understand and respond to their digital needs and opportunities.

With a strong understanding of Digital technology, your track record of success will reflect your creative and insightful thinking capabilities and proven ability to generate remarkable user experiences. You will be adept at engaging with a broad range of people, comfortable working autonomously, and respond well under pressure to balance priorities and a rapidly changing environment.

Your key skills will include your creativity, analysis, judgement and outstanding relationship-building skills. Most importantly you will enjoy working in a team environment that is driven by respect, collaboration and accomplishment. AccessEAP takes the health of employees seriously and you will be working in an environment that genuinely cares about the wellbeing of all employees.

For more information call David Williams on 0414551795 or to apply send your resume to dwilliams@kurtispaige.com.au

• Coaching and Advising focus
• Help make a difference everyday
• Flexible working arrangements 

AccessEAP partners with organisations to promote positive organisational behaviour, enhance employee well-being and improve workplace productivity. As an Australian owned, not for profit Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider our success is based on understanding the unique needs of clients and tailoring services to support and prevent mental health issues in the workplace. Due to continued growth we are expanding the clinical services team and need a passionate and committed professional to help ensure the provision of best practice counselling and ancillary services that exceed customer and client expectations.

Your role will be to provide clinical support and guidance to our associates network that are located throughout Australia. You will engage in a range of diverse coaching and information sharing activities all aimed at enhancing and supporting the provision of best practice counselling and broader mental health and wellbeing services. Additionally you will  work with the broader team to build relationships and provide consulting, coaching, reflective supervision and leadership training.

With a degree in Psychology or Social Work your track record of success will reflect your impartial and insightful thinking capabilities and proven ability to coach and guide clinical professionals. You will be adept at engaging with a broad range of people, comfortable working autonomously, and respond well under pressure to balance priorities and a rapidly changing environment.

Your key skills will include your relationship building, analysis, judgement and outstanding interpersonal skills. Most importantly you will enjoy working in a team environment that is driven by respect, collaboration  and accomplishment. AccessEAP takes the health of employees seriously and you will be working in an environment that genuinely cares about the wellbeing of all employees.

For more information call David Williams on 0414551795 or to apply send your resume to dwilliams@kurtispaige.com.au

Around the nation we continue to experience different levels of COVID related restrictions. We acknowledge how difficult it is for many Australians facing emotional and economic hardship and particularly the uncertain situation in NSW. With so much happening all at once, it’s timely to discuss what makes our communication good, or even better, great. Making sure that our messages are clear and our communication effective has been paramount during the pandemic. 

How amazing is a brilliant conversation? You feel connected, you feel you’ve been heard, progress was made, possibly a resolution reached, or outcome achieved. You may have moved from a place of unfamiliarity to understanding. There’s a real sense that something amazing happened. You also know when a conversation hasn’t gone well. You may feel remorse, regret, lost opportunity, fear of having to return to unfinished business. So how do we ensure we have more great conversations and less of the not so great? Is there a formula? Can we learn? Thankfully the answer is a resounding yes!

We're turning our spotlight to effective communication and why it is particularly relevant as we continue to face pandemic related challenges. It is also the next topic of our Wellbeing in Focus Calendar’s Communication quarterly theme. We've created tools that look at best practice and the various communication styles that are commonly used, and how to be aware when stress and anxiety affect styles. Each tool explores the topic from an individual and leader perspective. Find our wide range of Leader Tools and Personal Tools, in the Employer and Employee Login Areas of our website.  

Reach out to us here at AccessEAP on 1800 818 728. As always, our people are here to help support you and your people be their best in life and work.

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LT

The everchanging COVID situation unfolding around the nation continues to fuel a media frenzy and the constant communication can be overwhelming. As leaders it’s important our communication, both spoken and written, doesn’t add to people’s anxiety or uncertainty. It’s about striking the right tone, being honest and clear, and being a stabilizing, reassuring influence on the organisation.

When I plan what I’m going to say, I start by listening. Take the time to ask questions, be curious and approach the conversation with an open mind. It can also help to practise standing in the other person’s shoes to see an issue from their perspective.

Misunderstandings can create a lot of extra work and frustration. I learnt from our wonderful clinical team the importance of regularly checking my understanding. “Just checking, you’re saying that…” not only helps us get on the same page, it tells the other person you're engaged and interested in exploring the topic with them. Another tool helpful in exploring a topic, and something we practice in our own meetings, is “Yes and…”. “Yes, that’s a really interesting point, and what about we build on that and also consider…” creates a positive cycle of ideas. “Yes, but…” pushes another’s idea away in favour of your own.

Being vulnerable and being ok with silence are both really important to me. We live in a very noisy world, where there’s an expectation we should have all the answers. Admitting to mistakes, seeking support, asking for help, apologizing, and acknowledging we don’t have all the answers are often seen as weaknesses. Not so. They are signs a leader is aware they are part of a team effort, where others’ contributions are valued – a leader can’t do it by themselves. As Brené Brown says “Vulnerability is not weakness; it's our greatest measure of courage.” Being ok with silence also takes courage. To leave space, rather than jumping in to fill it, allows room for reflection, which can lead to new, creative ideas, rather than simply recycling the old. Silence can feel uncomfortable, but respecting those natural pauses allows time to think and feel, and in groups can give opportunity for the quieter, more thoughtful introverted members to have their say. 

Communicating with each other is the most natural thing in the world. We are born wanting to do it. And we can keep learning to do it more effectively. They are skills we can all constantly improve, and they are skills that underpin the work we do at AccessEAP.

Published in Echo Chamber Escape 23rd June 2021

Marcela Slepica, AccessEAP Director, Clinical Services explains, identifying your own unconscious biases is the first step to creating better inclusivity.

While we may think we are making decisions based on logic, as humans, we all make assumptions about other people. In fact, it only takes a tenth of a second for us to begin to form an opinion about someone we’ve only just met. 

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• Help build organisational capability
• Strong team environment
• Sydney or Melbourne Based

AccessEAP partners with businesses to promote positive organisational behaviour, enhance employee well-being and improve workplace productivity. As an Australian owned, not for profit Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provider their outstanding success is based on understanding the unique needs of customers and tailoring services to support and prevent mental health issues in the workplace. Due to continued growth and an expanding service offering they need a passionate and consultative practitioner to support the Technology team during a period of significant technology change and transformation.

Your role will be to provide end-user support of the AccessEAP IT environment, ensuring technology resources are available, support requests are handled to and responded to within SLA’s. This is a key business technology support role, with responsibility for day-to-day IT support, internal Helpdesk functions, assigned technology projects & assisting others where needed.

Your track record of success will reflect your experience deploying, maintaining & supporting ICT infrastructure in small to mid-sized organisations. You will possess excellent technical knowledge of Microsoft Windows Server, Microsoft Office365, Microsoft Windows 10, Active Directory, SaaS application state (hybrid cloud environment) WAN technologies & the deployment of routers & firewalls.

Previous experience in managing/supporting telephony infrastructure both direct & by a 3rd party and  setting up an IT ticketing system from scratch will be highly regarded

Most importantly you will enjoy working in a team environment that is driven by respect, collaboration and accomplishment and where expressing your ideas and opinions is truly valued. AccessEAP take the health of employees seriously and you will be working in an environment that genuinely cares about the wellbeing of all employees

As you are probably aware, NSW Health has issued a stay-at-home order for 4 Local Government Areas, including the City of Sydney. As a result of this notice, we have already implemented our business continuity plan to ensure we continue to provide support for our customers and their people.

We would like to take a moment to acknowledge the impact that organisations and people may be experiencing after today’s update from the NSW Premier. We appreciate that for many people this may be a time of heightened emotions, particularly as school holidays commence and for some, plans will need to change. We, as always, are here to support you through this. Tools and resources can be accessed via our website to support your mental health and wellbeing through the Employee and Employer login areas. Additional resources, including our Wellbeing Check, are also available on our app, AccessMyEAP.

Face to face appointments in our Bondi or Sydney office will be rescheduled and alternative arrangements will be provided for other face to face services, such as learning and development sessions. Critical incidents and onsite support will be assessed based on an individual basis to determine the best mode of support. 

Reach out to us here at AccessEAP on 1800 818 728. As always, our people are here to help support you and your people be their best in life and work.

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LT

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Published in Human Resources Director 24th June 2021

Speaking to HRD, Marcela Slepica, Clinical Services Director at AccessEAP, said despite positive progress, it’s clear that societal barriers to accessing support still exist and they’re particularly strong for men. The classic Aussie idiom of men ‘doing it tough’ only perpetuates the idea that asking for help is a sign of weakness – when in fact, it is often the bravest step a person can take.

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We’ve all been going through so much change over the past 18 months – border closures, social distancing, businesses rapidly adapting to their employees working from home, and now trying to find a balance between work from home and office. It’s hard to find stability in the midst of so much uncertainty.

This is where it can be useful to remember that we all have what’s called a “negativity bias”. This is the way we often pay more attention to information we feel is negative. If we do this a lot, it can become harder and harder to solve complex problems as we get stuck in the fight-flight-freeze response. To rebalance the scales, it can pay to consciously give our attention to things that we feel are good and useful. This is where Positive Psychology comes in. Positive Psychology focuses on our strengths, building on what works. When applied to working with change and uncertainty, it gives us an approach and a set of questions that help us to flourish.

Finding the most useful question is half the battle when trying to solve a problem. “How do we avoid difficulties when introducing a particular change in the business” leads to a very different answer when compared with “How can we draw on our strengths when introducing a particular change.” In my experience, the first question leads us towards negativity, the second towards positivity.

I use a journal to regularly reflect on how I can bring greater positivity to the way I am a CEO, the way I am in my life, and how I initiate change. Taking time at the end of each day for conscious reflection helps me to refine my leadership style, to think through how I want to approach change from a more positive mindset. It also helps to get my thoughts down on the page rather than them circling around in my head just before I go to sleep!

At AccessEAP, we approach change through the lens of Positive Psychology.

Friday, June 25th is this year's Take Your Dog to Work Day. If you are lucky enough to have a well-behaved pup that can come in, make sure you get approval from your employer before you bring your pet in. With many people still working from home, we also encourage you to bring your dog and any other pets to your online meetings! 

What should I consider before taking my dog to the office?

It’s important to ensure this does not adversely impact on the health, welfare or working environment of employees, volunteers or visitors to office, or on the health and welfare of the animal or other animals in the office. For tips to make the experience run smoothly check out the RSPCA's Website.

AccessEAP Pets

Here are just some of the pets that have come into the office. Many more join us on Zoom calls!

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” This famous quote by author and educator Charles R. Swindoll, who was born in 1934, emphasises the importance of our attitudes in life, and how each morning when we wake up, we have a choice as to how we will approach the day. This is particularly relevant as we dig deep into our resilience reserves and face news of an extended lockdown in Victoria. It is natural for levels of anxiety to increase, but we can draw on the support we have in place and the great track record of our health departments. We have a choice as to how we will react to different and changing situations in our life.

There are ways to improve and adapt how we approach challenging situations if we find that we are not able to move forward. Positive psychology is the study of what makes life most worth living. It focuses on our strengths, building on what works and is good. When applied to change, it gives us an approach and a set of questions that help us to flourish. We've created tools that provide helpful tips when applying positive psychology to change and the essential leadership skills which will help navigate change in your organisation. Find our wide range of Leader Tools and Personal Tools, in the Employer and Employee Login Areas of our website.  

Reach out to us here at AccessEAP on 1800 818 728. As always, our people are here to help support you and your people be their best in life and work.

The current situation in Victoria calls for recognition and support. If you are in Victoria, I’m sure you have already got a whole heap of texts, phone calls and emails. Messages from colleagues, loved ones and family members saying how sorry they are that we are in lockdown again or to offer personal support. These are anxious times for everyone as we all work together to avoid loss of life and economic hardship. We acknowledge that Victorians are bearing a heavy load right now.

For those offering support, if you aren’t entirely confident in your empathy skills, you may want to refer to these tips shared by our Melbourne team:

• Avoid saying, “you’ve got this”.
• Although your own lockdown experience gives you something to say, it can deflect from the person you are trying to support and let’s face it Victorians are kind of experts in this area.
• Reminding people to count their blessings is unlikely to go down well. As Brene Brown puts it, “hurt is hurt”, and there are times when people need to have permission to complain about whatever they are missing out on.
• Lastly, telling someone how to feel or what you think is going to happen next probably won’t be welcomed right now – Victorian’s are entitled to feel whatever they feel about this.

Lockdown means that some companies, organisations and industries put things “on hold” until the lockdown ends.  We encourage everyone to increase efforts to reach out and connect when you are able.  From a mental health perspective, social distancing should mean physical distancing rather than a lack of connection. 

To recognise this current tough lockdown, we are turning the spotlight on maintaining connection through the lockdown. One of our Clinical Psychologist's in Melbourne has created a personal tool to help support you - Let’s Make Lockdown Living Easier.  Find our wide range of Leader Tools and Personal Tools, in the Employer and Employee Login Areas of our website.

Leaders in lockdown also need to remember to look after themselves so that they can help their people, these tips are for you too. Reach out to here at AccessEAP on 1800 818 728. As always, our people are here to help support you and your people be their best in life and work.

It's Men's Health Week from the 14-20 June. The focus is on Connecting for Men's Health, find out more on the official website.

At AccessEAP, we often hear from men that they feel pressure to be seen as invulnerable, stoic, and fearless. This can lead to unrealistic expectations that as a man you should be able to cope no matter what, and "get on with it". Emotions become synonymous with weakness and powerlessness. Men may also dismiss their feelings as unimportant and worry about burdening other people with their concerns.

Men experience emotions just as much as women do, however, the pressure not to show emotion or vulnerability means that emotions will build-up and result in what appear to be random and unexpected behaviour. Reluctance to talk about or acknowledge emotion can manifest in all sorts of unhelpful ways including:

• Excessive alcohol use
• Addiction to gambling or betting
• Ending relationships prematurely
• Resigning suddenly from their job
• Stopping activities of interest e.g. sports
• Neglecting friends and family
• Working longer hours
• Communication only via emails or text messages
• Aggression or violence
• Excessive time watching fantasy films, or gaming

What can AccessEAP do to help?

We can provide a comfortable and private space to talk where there isn’t pressure to bottle things up. A person who is experienced in understanding human emotion and behaviour can listen without judgment and without consequence. We can even offer tips or strategies if that’s what is wanted or needed.

Published in Newcastle Herald 26th May 2021

Sally Kirkright, AccessEAP CEO

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Talking about mental health issues creates understanding and acceptance.

"Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shame us all." - Bill Clinton

Misunderstandings about mental health can lead to prejudice, discrimination and stigma. While there have been changes recently in the media reporting on mental health concerns, stereotypes are often perpetuated in sport, films, media and social networking especially by images portraying unrealistic images of men as strong, self-sufficient and “practical providers”. In reality these are unhelpful and often untrue and, there is even more scope for the role of media and social media in debunking myths and raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. The most effective way to break down prejudice and stereotyping of mental health issues is through; education, awareness and listening to people’s personal stories.

Men who suffer with Mental Health issues feel societal stigma is often more disabling than the illness itself. Coping with a mental health issue often includes increased use of drugs and alcohol, risk taking behaviour and social isolation. Over time these activities negatively influence self-esteem and confidence and in extreme circumstances can lead to suicide. Men are afraid of the impact on their relationships and career if they open up and talk about or show their feelings. Often feelings like anger or aggression can mask underlying depression.

Research by the Mental Health Council of Australia (2013) found that discussing a mental health issue is still taboo in the workplace. Research conducted states that 69% of people are uncomfortable to disclose a mental illness to their employer, while 35% would never disclose. The study reported that 48% of respondents had taken time off work for a mental health issue and not disclosed the reason to their employer. These are alarming statistics and reflect the need for action to eliminate the stigma and fear of disclosing a mental health issue in the workplace.

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We would like to start by recognising the COVID situation in India and how that impacts family and friends in Australia. We would like to remind you that AccessEAP can be accessed in challenging times to help you with wellbeing and coping strategies.

Wellbeing has many facets. At AccessEAP we’ve created a Wellbeing Model based on our years of experience supporting mental health and wellbeing. A key element of our Wellbeing Model is what we call Professional and Personal Growth. This is all about your learning and development. We know that learning can take many different forms, such as training, coaching, mentoring, reading, watching educational videos, on the job learning, and much more. Skills, personal confidence, motivation and self-awareness all impact on our capacity to perform well in work. Positive mental health is a critical component of how we develop ourselves and our relationships with others. Personal and Professional Growth is about evolving and is the continuous process of growing yourself to realistically achieve your greatest ability. It is vital to your mental health, success, and happiness.

We're turning our spotlight to the important theme of professional and personal growth. We've created tools outlining our new Learning in Focus approach highlighting the mental health and wellbeing topics available to you. As well as a personal tool focusing on the value of lifelong learning and prioritising your personal and professional development. Find our wide range of Leader Tools and Personal Tools, in the Employer and Employee Login Areas of our website.  

If you would like to explore this area further, our Organisational Development Team can help. Reach out to us here at AccessEAP on 1800 818 728. As always, our people are here to help support you and your people be their best in life and work.