CHAMPIONS OF WELLBEING Since 2011, Allianz has been a proud partner of Paralympics Australia and, since 2019, the Australian Olympic Committee. As the Official Insurance Partner of the Australian Olympic and Paralympic Teams, Allianz embraces the opportunity to promote Olympic and Paralympic values, and appreciates the social, physical and mental benefits it can spread to communities everywhere. Daniel Kowalski, the Olympian Services Manager for the Australian Olympic Committee, believes there hasn't been a time in recent memory where wellbeing was as important as it is now. “Whilst there are a lot of things that are out of our control, we’re providing our Olympic family with a number of initiatives that they can control and engage with, most notably Wellbeing Week.” This year, Allianz was thrilled to partner with the Australian Olympic Committee to present Wellbeing Week 2020, which was held in September and comprised of a series of Lunch & Learn sessions with industry experts and Olympians, streamed live on Facebook. “The initiative gave the athletes a strong foundation across a number of wellbeing areas so they can grow and prosper and ensure they maintain a positive state through these trying times,” Kowalski adds. MENTAL RESILIENCE Australian professional surfer, Owen Wright, says he has an entirely new perspective on mental strength since he suffered a serious head injury while surfing overseas in 2015.. The current world number nine and Olympic hopeful says sheer determination and mental strength enabled him to get back out into the ocean and continue surfing big waves. Owen’s experience is arguably one of the most incredible comeback stories ever told. He believes, ”Mental strength means riding the waves of emotion and life like he rides the waves out in the ocean.” “Recovering from my accident gave me a new perspective on mental strength. Fear is always present, but for me, it’s about embracing and acknowledging it, rather than wishing it away,” he says. “If you listen to fear, it can be a good thing; it can teach you to be more patient and to see things in a new light. It’s been a journey; I didn’t gain this perspective overnight,” Owen says. Paralympian Madison de Rozario says she’s also been more proactive about her mental health in recent months.
She may be an elite athlete, but negative thoughts still creep in sometimes. “When I compete I often think, what if I let people down, what if it’s not enough, what if I don’t perform my best? The bigger the stage I’m competing on, the louder these thoughts get.” But she’s determined to stop negativity in its tracks and come back stronger than ever. “I’ve been working on stopping negative thoughts and giving more airtime to the positive ones. By speaking up, I hope to show that even athletes are vulnerable; it’s OK to have fears, but we can’t let our fears stop us from progressing,” she says. If you or someone you know needs support, you can contact Beyond Blue Support Services 24/7 on 1300 224 636, or Lifeline 24/7 Crisis Support on 13 11 14. To find out more about Allianz’s ambassadors, as well as its role as the Official Insurance Partner of the Australian Olympic and Paralympic Teams at allianz.com.au/aboutus/olympics-and-paralympics.
HOW TO STRENGTHEN RESILIENCE Stress and setbacks are a part of life, and you can’t avoid them. Mental resilience is the ability to cope with unexpected changes and challenges in your life. You may already have skills and support networks that help you to be resilient. However, you may be able to strengthen your resilience even further, making it easier for you to face difficult situations and maintain good mental health. Here are a few steps you can take to strengthen your resilience: • Knowing your strengths and keeping them in mind • Building your self-esteem – have confidence in your abilities and the positive things in life • Building healthy relationships • Knowing when to ask for help • Managing stress and anxiety levels • Working on problem solving skills and coping strategies
1 https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/mental-health 2 https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/collection/australian-workers-compensation-statistics
Source: healthdirect.gov.au
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