The purpose of the survey is to identify how the health and safety of people at work may be improved.

At AccessEAP, we are excited to be a part of and contribute to this Australian first. So, what does this mean for your organisation? Your employees who book in for counselling will be offered the opportunity to be a part of this study. Participation is entirely voluntary and optional and will be conducted by the University of South Australia, a respected and impartial research institution. The link to the study will remain open for the month of September. Participants can opt out at any time. 

The survey is designed to take five minutes and will include a follow up survey 4 weeks later. Data will be handled by UniSA in accordance with their strict data protection policies. All answers will remain anonymous and confidential to the researcher and no identifying information of any individual will be released.

If you have any further questions, please contact us on 1800 818 728.

AccessEAP continue to be White Ribbon approved trainers and are in the process of the White Ribbon Workplace Accreditation Program. The Workplace Accreditation Program recognises workplaces that refine workplace practices to prevent and respond to violence against women, accrediting them as a White Ribbon Workplace. The initiative is globally recognised and award winning. The Workplace Accreditation Program supports workplaces to meet 15 criteria under three standards, adapting organisational culture, policies and procedures to create a safer, supportive and more respectful workplace.

AccessEAP provides White Ribbon approved training programs and trainers to assist organisations in their commitment to support the victims of domestic violence in the workplace. This training may form part of your DV Plan or may be part of your White Ribbon accreditation process. AccessEAP supports companies in educating employees as part of creating a domestic violence action plan based around three elements; Recognise, Respond, Refer. The training includes raising awareness and understanding and challenging stereotypes.

In addition to White Ribbon Approved training AccessEAP also run trainings for Domestic and Family Violence Awareness and our recently developed, Sexual Harassment training.

Domestic and Family Violence Awareness - This training provides the latest information around Violence against Women (VAW). Participants will gain a much greater insight into what women and children go through when exposed to domestic violence and learn how to look for the signs that a fellow colleague is struggling with this issue as well as a best practice approach to recognise, respond and refer them for help and support.

Sexual Harassment - This training explains what sexual harassment is and what it is not, an overview of the laws designed to prevent sexual harassment at work and practical case studies illustrating what sexual harassment is and the consequences of this behaviour for employers and individual employees.

You don’t have to be an expert to support someone going through a tough time. You just need to be able to listen to their concerns without judgment and take the time to follow up with them.

10 Tips on How to Have a Conversation on R U OK? Day

1. Know your colleagues

Relationship building is very important when it comes to mental health in the workplace. You will need to feel comfortable to approach a colleague that you may be concerned about. Also in order to pick up that someone is behaving out of character you will need to know how they usually behave.

2. Approach the person

It may be difficult to do, feeling a little anxious about approaching a colleague to ask them if they are OK is normal, it is necessary that we do it none the less. Think about whether you are the right person to approach your colleague, and if for any reason you think you may not be the best person, employ the appropriate person to approach your colleague you are concerned about. Make sure this is done with discretion and confidentially.

Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week is a week dedicated to all women across Australia to make good health a priority. The two biggest barriers for women not maintaining a healthy lifestyle is ‘lack of time’ and ‘health not being a priority’. Women’s Health Week is the time to do something for your health and start making positive changes that can last a lifetime! Click the below calendar for the more information about the daily activities.

With so many competing demands and expectations, the struggle to keep up with both work and home commitments can be extremely stressful. When stress persists to a point that a person feels they aren’t coping, it can affect the functioning of their day-to-day life as well as their overall wellbeing. The stressors of too much ‘juggling’ together with trying to do things well and be ‘good’ at everything is impacting on women and their ability to sleep, think clearly and make decisions.

For more information about Women's Health and Wellbeing contact your Relationship Manager who can go through our Women's Wellbeing Training and Webinar options.

Published in Human Resources Director 22nd August, 2019.

Over the course of an adult’s life, they will spend up to 4,821 days at work.

This creates an opportunity for managers and HR leaders to start a dialogue with their staff, according to Marcela Slepica, Clinical Director at AccessEAP.

Employees may be struggling to cope and employers can play a role in creating an environment of acceptance and to normalise asking for help. “Managers can ensure they are providing helpful information and the support structures which employees may need.”

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Published in The Music Network 6th August, 2019.

Support Act Ltd’s Wellbeing Helpline celebrates its first year of operation – and with some encouraging statistics. The free, confidential phone counselling service has been used by 150 artists, road crew and music workers from all genres to talk about any aspect of their mental health or wellbeing.

“We are very happy with the take up rate, and the feedback from service users has been extremely positive,” said Clive Miller, Sydney-based CEO of Support Act. “Having a dedicated helpline that is staffed by friendly, qualified clinicians who understand the challenges of working in the music industry can be an enormous help to someone who is struggling with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, addiction, suicidal feelings; or issues which can be mental health related such as loneliness, relationship breakdown, financial worries, illness and workplace conflict.”

The Helpline is implemented by AccessEAP.

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Published in the Education Review 1st August, 2019.

Educators play a vital role in the community and we collectively need to support them so they can do their job. Learning the skills to respond to emotionally charged situations is crucial for today’s teachers. To tackle this, AccessEAP has designed training programs for frontline employees who may face situations where they could potentially be at risk of physical or psychological harm, to learn skills to know how to respond. 

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H.O.P.E. continues to be the main recipient of our charitable funding for vulnerable families and children. At AccessEAP we are very proud of the donation of more than $500,000 for HOPE and programs to support vulnerable families, which was announced last month. Our contribution has been able to grow substantially each year and AccessEAP would like to recognise the support of our customers in making this donation. Through partnering with AccessEAP, you not only support your employees’ wellbeing but you also directly contribute to our chosen welfare programs in Australia.

We are pleased and proud to report that over the past 12 months the H.O.P.E. Program continued to exceed targets and these are very special targets because they are about helping more mums and bubs. 

Idle scribbling is just one way that creativity can help boost workplace performance. Encouraging creativity has a number of beneficial effects that can drive positive change in workplaces. For example, a simple exercise like thinking of different uses for an object, can encourage a mindset that will help you to think of new ways to approach and improve processes and outdated practices. Moving from ‘this is how it’s always been’, to ‘this is how it could be better’.”

Scribbling, doodling and colouring focuses the mind without being cognitively taxing, which allows the brain to be present and in the now. This gives our brains a break, as when our thoughts are racing, or we’re given to much stimulus to process, we may struggle to think clearly and absorb information. As such, mindful doodling can help with concentration, decision making and overall mental health.

Another way to boost creativity is with writing. Check out the Forbes' article How To Write Your Way To Wellbeing. Which explains the below three ways you can use writing to increase your wellbeing.

1. Write morning pages
2. Tap into your artist's brain
3. Always carry around a notebook and pen

This August, Guide Dogs Australia is challenging you and your dog to walk 30 minutes a day for 30 days (that’s roughly 2km every day!), which is no small feat in winter weather! For more information visit the Guide Dogs Australia website.

If dog walking is not for you, there are so many ways to get active and boost your health this August with get healthy!!

• Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Ride a bike instead of taking the bus.
• Sit less - walk & talk while you’re on the phone.
• Think of ways you can slip incidental exercises into your day!

For even more tips on boosting your health, see our latest post, 7 tips- A Healthy Body Boosts a Healthy Mind.

Watch your thinking

Beware of “What ifs” and a tendency to assume the worst in your mind. This is called catastrophic thinking.

For example, a simple negative comment about one aspect of your work could trigger.. “What if my manager is not happy with me… I am performance managed…. I lose my job… I can’t pay the mortgage….” This leads to a lot of unnecessary fear and anxiety.

Watch your body

Anxiety tends to impact everyone’s body differently. Do you get an upset stomach, a tense neck? Other signs of stress and anxiety?

The R U OK? Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation set up to prevent suicide by encouraging all people to regularly and meaningfully ask 'are you ok?'. R U OK? Day is a national day of action on the second Thursday of September each year (12th September 2019), dedicated to reminding people to regularly check in with family, friends and colleagues. Their vision is a world where we're all connected and are protected from suicide.

This R U OK? Day, AccessEAP would like to partner with you to put your People in Focus and ensure we connect with as many people as possible. We have developed a variety of options to spread the important message of R U OK?

 To book in any of these options contact your Relationship Manager today.

Why Wait? Our R U OK? Day Recorded Webinar is Available September 1st!

Every day should be R U OK? Day. With this Recorded Webinar, you can decide when you would like to share this important message throughout September.

To help Make Mindfulness Easier, our Clinical Team at AccessEAP has created a Mental Health App Review. For the full App Review, click here.

Calm Mind – Recommended (any audience)

This app focuses on four major categories of wellbeing:

1. Wake/Sleep  2. Relax  3. Meditate  4. Breathing

The app and some of its basic features are free, however, the user has to pay for additional content.

Headspace – Highly Recommended (younger audience)

Published in the Australian Design Review 27th June, 2019.

“Emotions and vulnerability are part of who we are and that doesn’t just go away when we enter the workplace,” explains Marcela Slepica, clinical director, Access EAP. “Opening up to colleagues and letting them know when I was feeling vulnerable, allowed me to make real connections, gain support and feel better sooner. Leaders should show compassion and support workers to do the same, simply put, leaders need to lead by example.”

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We are making some changes to our website and we'd love to improve your experience with us.

Is there something we can add to the website to help you find the information you are after? Something we can make clearer? Something you wanted to learn about that you did not easily find on our website?

Let us know by sending us a quick email here. We value and appreciate your feedback!

There is a growing body of evidence to demonstrate that the food we eat affects our mental health and plays a significant role in our overall wellbeing. For example, dietary changes have been successfully trialed in the treatment of clinical depression. The Food and Mood webinar aims to provide a taster session on how food choices impact on brain function and mood, and provides practical tips to develop healthy eating habits at home and at work, for optimal health.

Join us for the Food and Mood Webinar on Thursday, 25 July 2019 at 11AM AEST. Enquire with your Relationship Manager today!

September may seem like it is so far away but R U OK? Day will be here before you know it. To ensure that you have the most impactful R U OK? Day, speak to your Relationship Manager this July to discuss how we can assist you on the day.

R U OK? Day is a very popular day for onsite training so make sure you book in early!

See our CEO Article from last September, R U OK? Day, the real impact.

Stress Down Day is Lifeline’s annual fundraising campaign held on Wednesday 24th July. People are encouraged to participate in (a) stress reducing, fun activities such as wearing slippers to work or school, or dressing up or down, and then making a donation to Lifeline. It’s easy to get involved and all funds raised support Lifeline’s 13 11 14 crisis support service. For more information, check out the Lifeline Website.

Stress is almost inevitable in today’s world but here are some helpful hints and tips to manage your response to stress and achieve more balance in your life.

1. Get moving!

It may be the last thing you feel like doing, but exercise is one of the best things to do to improve your mood and reduce stress. The trick is to find what suits your lifestyle and daily routine. Gentle repetitive exercise such as walking, swimming and yoga are great when it comes to relieving stress.

Hobbies that focus attention onto other things are also good stress relievers. Take up a new activity unrelated to current work or personal commitments - activities that give a sense of achievement and satisfaction are best. Set aside time each day to fit in a stress relieving activity, this should become a priority in your life not just an optional extra.

2. Identify your stressors

Identify the causes of stress. More than one in five Australians reported mental health issues as a source of stress. These stressors related to both external and internal factors including workplace pressures, family issues and problems related to personal finance. Once you have identified the triggers, you will find they are much easier to manage.

Marcela Slepica, Director of Clinical Services at AccessEAP, said that over the past five years there has been a 36% increase in the number of teachers seeking support from their counsellors.

“There are many more pressures on today’s teachers, including increasingly demanding or aggressive parents and escalating levels of classroom violence,” Slepica said. “This behaviour is unacceptable and there are severe impacts for teachers’ wellbeing when they are unsupported."

Click here for the excerpt from Issue 2, Vol 49 of the Independent Education, the professional journal of the Independent Education Union of Australia.