Health and wellbeing
Our District promotes a safe and healthy workplace through championing wellbeing and providing a supportive environment.
Sydney Local Health District has a strategic commitment to creating an empowered and resilient workforce, in an environment that supports our staff to provide the highest quality of care for our patients and their loved ones.
The District appointed Australia’s first Chief Medical Wellness Officer in 2019 to drive cultural and systemic change in health. The District continues to grow a range of programs to support staff to reach their full potential. This includes having a dedicated Staff Health and Wellbeing team and an online Staff Wellbeing Hub hosting resources and services, to improve personal health and wellbeing.
To help our people thrive, we offer services and tools to enhance psychological, physical, social and financial wellbeing, which includes:
- Access to courses, qualifications and coaching via Sydney Education to support continuing professional development
- Free and confidential counselling and support for staff and their families, through the Employee Assistance Program
- Peer support program to support staff following an adverse work event
- Free and confidential bereavement counselling
- Free and confidential nutrition and fitness support, delivered by qualified health professionals
- Free and confidential telephone health coaching through the Get Healthy Service, to promote healthy lifestyle changes
- Dedicated Staff Health service, including free influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations
- Staff can join the Sydney Local Health District Staff Choir, based at RPA Hospital
Healthy options
- Onsite gym and fitness facilities
- Dedicated online Staff Wellbeing Hub that contains details about services and resources to improve personal health and wellbeing. This includes access to our video library, which hosts a diverse range of topics to help optimise your health and wellbeing
- Discounted and affordable gym and leisure centre memberships through Fitness Passport - with access to over 880 gyms, pools and other fitness facilities across NSW
- Daily online and face-to-face positive psychology, meditation and compassion sessions
- Support and promotion of healthy and active travel initiatives including Steptember and Ride2Work days
- Free and confidential support for emotional, mental and psychological wellbeing through the Employee Assistance Program
- Dedicated Staff Wellbeing Day, as part of our annual Innovation Week Symposium
- Access to free annual influenza vaccination
- Free and confidential telephone health coaching through the Get Healthy Service, to promote healthy lifestyle changes
All staff members also benefit from working within an environment that supports a healthy lifestyle, through our commitment to the Smoke Free Workplace Policy and Healthy Food and Drinks Framework.
MDOK Program
The MDOK program was pioneered in Sydney Local Health District. It has successfully empowered medical staff with the skills to care for their own health, manage traumatic events and mentor younger staff. Building upon the innovative work undertaken by the MDOK program, the District is currently expanding the program to all staff, in collaboration with new and existing wellbeing services.