HEALTH MATTERS
Regional member wellbeing advisers can help you Regional member wellbeing advisers (MWAs) are part of the Organisational Wellbeing team. Although they report centrally to Burwood headquarters they are very much focused on the regions. MWAs are embedded in each region and work across all the districts in their region. Being a regional resource helps to build relationships and to gain a better understanding of local needs – no district, region or brigade is the same as another. An MWA can help by: • offering a range of educational and awareness programs • promoting strategies to improve and maintain positive mental health and wellbeing
• providing coaching and support to all members including leaders • raising awareness of CFA’s wellbeing support services and how to access them • promoting and providing support for regional wellbeing initiatives such as R U OK? Day, Movember and Mental Health Week.
They also deliver Mental Health First Aid, The Working Mind First Responders and Psychological First Aid.
MWAs can also deliver a range of training packages including: • Let’s Talk About Wellbeing overview session • Mental Health and Resilience • Strengthening Team Relationships • Conflict – Resolution and Management • Having Courageous Conversations • Change and Transition.
Melisa Sincock, NE Region (0429 078 404)
Regional MWA contact details are: Acting Team Leader Trudy Deller (0447 513 186) Anne Duff, SE Region (0447 331 457) Chris Bull, NW Region (0429 072 413)
Michelle Taylor, West Region (0400 082 088) Miriam Day, SW Region (0436 429 095). We encourage you to pick up the phone and have a chat with your MWA about how we can help you and your brigade.
for Life Program from July to December 2020. Until the middle of 2019 district mechanical officers (DMOs) were asked to attend Healthy for Life Program sessions at integrated stations along with career firefighters. But in July 2019 CFA designed a new health program specifically for DMOs called Roadworthy for Life. By the end of 2019 CFA’s Health Services team had visited all DMO workshops across the state to deliver this tailored program. What makes this new session different from Healthy for Life is that participants are taken through specific functional movements that are common in the day-to-day tasks carried out by DMOs. The participants are given recommendations and strategies to improve job-specific movements, reduce the risk of workplace injury and improve performance. The program has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from DMOs. “A great workshop with practical demonstrations,” said one. “The advice we received was very useful and included exercises relevant to my job,” said another. “The practical nature of the session and learning about switching on muscle groups was beneficial,” said a third. During the first half of 2020 the Roadworthy for Life Program will include cardiovascular health checks and recommendations for healthy lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of chronic health conditions. Based on the feedback received, the functional movement screening session will continue to run as part of the Roadworthy
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