the newsletter for rt health fund members
summer 2008/09
the happiness issue
be well.
from the CEO Christmas is almost upon us again and while it is a happy time of year, for many it can also be challenging, stressful or lonely. In this issue of be well we take a look at happiness – how to get it, how it can be good for your health and how to maintain a happy perspective throughout the year. We hope this helps you enjoy the festive season with a smile that lasts the whole year long. As the year draws to a close, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the year that was and to contemplate the year ahead. I’d also like to take this opportunity to offer my best wishes – and those of the rt team – to each and every one of our members and to thank you for your ongoing membership of the fund. Once again, we have had a year of significant change – in your fund, the industry and indeed the world. I have spoken about some of these changes and the impact they have on your health fund on pages 4 and 5. This year has also seen the introduction of a number of
new initiatives designed to make things easier for members. These include: a new online facility that enables hospitals to confirm the details of any rt member’s cover, streamlining the admissions process for members; new online services that give members access to the details of their health cover in a secure environment; and a new POST billpay facility, enabling members to pay their health cover contributions at any post office in Australia. Overall, rt is proud to have risen to the challenges that have faced us and to have continued to focus on improving the services and facilities available. We are looking forward to hearing from you about how well you feel we’ve been doing when we conduct our annual online member satisfaction survey early in 2009. For more information about how you can take part in the survey, see page 3. We recently enjoyed another superb annual general meeting on 29 October – with many members braving the stormy conditions to attend. We were thrilled to report on a big year of growth for the fund in which we have achieved many of the initiatives and goals outlined in the strategic plan set down two years ago. We look forward to continuing to build on these strong foundations for sustainable growth, not only in the number of members, but also in the services and facilities available to members in the coming year. Read more about an exciting new health management initiative we’ll be introducing in 2009 on page 9.
I’m proud to announce in this issue of be well that rt has purchased a new Sydney premises as part of our continued growth in the services available to members. The new head office is an easy two-minute walk from Sydney’s Central Station and gives us the space we need to cater for additional service staff and to fulfil our goal of becoming your health partner, not just your health fund, as we are incorporating dental and optical facilities for members on site. It’s certainly a step in the right direction for a fund that is one of the fastest growing in this industry and looking to provide innovative services to help members be well, get well and stay well. There’s more about our new building on page 7. Next year is a historic year for rt health fund as we celebrate 120 years of operation. There are not many organisations around today that can boast 120 years of service to members! There are some special events in the pipeline and we look forward to celebrating this significant occasion with all of our members and friends. Once again, I wish you a wonderful, safe, happy and healthy Christmas. The rt team and I look forward to continuing to be of service to you in 2009. Take care and be well. Glenn Campbell Chief Executive Officer
the newsletter for rt health fund members | summer 2008/09
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contents
Editor Simone Tregeagle
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Design team scope design teamscope.com.au The health information provided in be well is intended to be informative only and should be carefully evaluated for its source, accuracy, completeness and relevance for your purposes. It is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. You should always obtain appropriate professional advice relevant to your particular circumstances. railway + transport health fund ltd (abn 93 087 648 744) is a registered health benefits organisation.
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2 – membertalk
8 – she’ll be right, mate!
We’ve been working on improving our services – in membertalk this issue we take a look at some of the things we’ve been up to.
The great Aussie outdoors makes this country a wonderful place to live – but is our laid-back attitude making us too unwell to enjoy it?
4 – health care in Australia
10 – choose happiness
The health care industry in Australia has undergone significant change in the last two years – find out how we’re travelling and what the future looks like for your fund.
Can you really choose to be happy? Happiness is life skill that is can be learnt and used to make your life brighter every day.
6 – our 119th annual general meeting
An apple a day might keep the doctor away … but what can a good laugh do for you?
The weather outside may have been stormy, but the atmosphere inside this year’s AGM was warm and friendly as we reported on a fantastic year.
7 – rt is on the move A spacious new Sydney HQ will mean new dental and optical facilities for members.
12 – happiness and health
14 – is happiness the key to a longer life? Being happy makes you feel great, but did you know that it could also increase your lifespan?
16 – what makes us happy? Ever wanted to know what really makes us happy? It might not be what you think…
19 – happiness is important in everyone’s life Need a boost? You’re sure to find something here to put a smile on your dial!
19 – need a date or want to keep cool in an emergency? Our handy, wallet-sized cards are just the thing.
20 – rt in the community We’ve been having a ball since last issue getting out and about in our community.
rt news. 2
membertalk For the past two years rt has participated, with a group of other member-focused health funds, in an annual online member satisfaction survey. The survey is conducted around February each year and we will soon be inviting all members who have provided us with an email address to take part.
“ …we’ve spent the last several months working on making changes that will help us to serve you better.”
In this issue, we’d like to share some of the results from our last survey, let you know how we’re going about improving the things you’ve told us you’re not completely satisfied with, and invite you to send us your email details if you’re interested in participating in the 2009 survey. Some fantastic improvements have been introduced as a result of your feedback in previous years. Two years ago when we first started the survey, you told us how much you wanted access to HICAPS claiming, and that you wanted a better website and the ability to make changes to your health cover online. We took that feedback on board, and have since introduced all those services, with many more online improvements still underway. This year, we were pleased to see that so many of our members continue to be satisfied with the health cover, services and facilities available. As the graph over the page shows, 96 per cent of respondents told us that they are satisfied – or very satisfied. Nonetheless, there are areas that you’ve told us
we can improve in, and we’ve spent the last several months working on making changes that will help us to serve you better. Some of the feedback we received this year related to the need to invest in our people and their training. Over the past couple of years our team has undergone an enormous amount of change as we’ve introduced a new brand, new IT systems, new structure and new ways of working. We’re proud to say that the team has handled these challenges fantastically well, but it was also time for us to invest in our people to make sure that their industry, product, technical and customer service knowledge was top-notch. We’ve also made some behind-the-scenes changes to our telephone and IT systems to make sure that we have the ability to keep responding to your needs and enquiries as our membership grows. Some members may have noticed that we were experiencing problems with our telephone services earlier in the year, and we’re happy to let you know
the newsletter for rt health fund members | summer 2008/09
that these have all been resolved. We’ve introduced new facilities that enable us (with your permission) to record parts of our conversations with you, which means in the not-too-distant future we’ll be able to make things even easier by replacing the need for signatures on some items with a voice-recording giving us authority to take the action requested. This will be a wonderful convenience that will mean you may soon no longer need to complete and send in forms for many transactions. We’ve also recently introduced POST billpay which means that members who pay on account can take their account notice into any post office in Australia to pay their contributions, making it even easier and more convenient for those members to make sure their health cover is always up to date.
RESULTS FROM OUR 2008 ANNUAL ONLINE MEMBER SATISFACTION SURVEY
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100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
So, to those members who have shared their feedback with us in previous years, our sincere thanks. We’d love to hear from you if you’re interested in participating in next year’s survey and if we don’t already have your current email address, just email us with ‘2009 Member Satisfaction Survey’ in the subject line. If you’d like us to email the survey to you at a different address to the one you’re emailing from, please include that address in the body of your message. We look forward to your feedback in 2009.
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0 SATISFIED (96%) DISSATISFIED (4%)
help@rthealthfund.com.au
rt news. 4
health care in Australia Private health insurance is an unusual industry where greater size doesn’t necessarily mean efficiency, greater strength or solidity. In these times of legislative and industry change, and in a tumultuous economic environment, being part of a mutual fund that does not live and die with every turn of the market is a good position to be in. And when your fund has the strength, confidence and benefit of close to 120 years’ experience, you can rest assured that we’ll be here when you need us.
“ Our prudent investments have resulted in members’ funds being safely deposited in vehicles other than the stock exchange.”
Solid foundations There have been many people sitting on the edge of their seats in recent months, watching nervously as the international and Australian markets tumble, delivering more bad news at every turn. For many, it has been a time of growing concern as they watch their hard-earned and carefully invested superannuation disappear. This has also been a daunting time for many organisations with investments in the stock market. As part of our financial obligations, rt is responsible for the careful investment and management of members’ funds. Although we are a not-for-profit fund, it is essential that we retain and invest an amount of money with which to pay claims and to ensure that the fund has the capital reserves necessary to cover any unusual increase in the level or cost of claims made. As a mutual fund, our investment strategy is governed by the reality that we are simply the caretakers of our members’ funds so our investment choices err on the
side of the cautious and conservative. Our prudent investments have resulted in members’ funds being safely deposited in vehicles other than the stock exchange, and therefore the reserves we hold on behalf of our members have not been exposed to recent market volatilities. Medicare Levy Surcharge Changes You may be aware of recent changes to the Medicare Levy Surcharge thresholds. These increase the income level at which people are required to either take out private hospital cover or pay an additional one per cent tax, known as the Medicare Levy Surcharge. At the time this scheme was introduced in 1997 its intention was to encourage high income earners to use the private health system, easing the pressure on the public system’s resources and waiting lists. The income thresholds that determined whether or not someone was liable to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge have been $50,000 for an individual
the newsletter for rt health fund members | summer 2008/09
5 “ …we tend to attract members who are genuinely looking for an excellent value health cover…”
and $100,000 for a couple or family. Over the years, incomes and the cost of living have gradually increased but the thresholds haven’t, which means that people earning what are today considered ‘average incomes’ have been treated as though they are high income earners. From 1 July 2008, these thresholds increased to $70,000 for an individual and $140,000 for a couple or family, bringing them more into line with current realities. The effect of this change on the private health insurance industry has been the subject of much debate, with headlines speculating that hundreds of thousands of people will drop their health cover, sending the cost of health cover, for those who remain, skyrocketing. Our analysis suggests that while rt will not be immune from some impact, our approach to marketing means that we tend to attract members who clearly understand the benefits of health cover and who are genuinely looking for excellent value cover and a health fund that they know they can count on to keep benefits up and contributions down throughout their lifetime. We are not as exposed as many other funds might be to members who treat health insurance as a ‘grudge purchase’, something they take out because they are forced to, rather than because it is something that they genuinely value.
If you are among the people who might reconsider the value that your health cover in light of the Medicare Levy Surcharge changes, we would urge you to consider the advantages of your private health cover gives you, and the impact that not having it might have on your ability to make choices for yourself and your family in times of need. The ability to avoid public hospital waiting lists alone is a great incentive for having private cover, as are the many other advantages such as being able to choose the best doctors and hospitals. Please also be mindful of the impact that not having hospital cover will have on your Lifetime Health Cover loading. If you are over the age of 30 a two per cent loading is applied for every year that you don’t have hospital cover irrespective of your income. When you add in some of the additional benefits available through an Extras Cover, such as dental, optical, natural and alternative therapies, for which there is no public system equivalent, the value of private cover is undeniable. If you are still thinking of letting your health cover go, please speak with our team as there may be other options available. Whatever the state of the industry or the economy, your health fund continues to operate as an independent mutual fund, with the strength, resources and growth necessary to remain a competitive player in the industry and we look forward to continuing to serve you for many, many years to come.
rt news. 6 “ With a fantastic result of more than 11 per cent growth in membership over the 07/08 financial year, rt has proved that it is capable of increasing its market position despite turbulent times…”
our 119th annual general meeting The weather outside may have been stormy but the atmosphere inside our 119th annual general meeting on 29 October was warm and welcoming. A wonderful turnout of members, invited guests, and rt staff and board members mingled in the foyer of the Mercure Hotel, Broadway, Sydney, providing a wonderful opportunity for many members to ‘put a face to a name’ of the people they speak with from rt. The positive mood continued as chairperson Victoria Reynolds and CEO Glenn Campbell addressed the gathering, speaking about the year of growth that rt has experienced and the optimistic outlook for the future. With a fantastic result of more than 11 per cent growth in membership over the 07/08 financial year, rt has proved that it is capable of increasing its market position despite turbulent times in the health insurance industry and economy. Glenn also spoke about how the fund is growing in other ways – in the services and facilities available for members; in the programs available to help members to better manage their health; and in the expertise of the staff and management team that are leading the fund carefully and prudently into the future.
All resolutions put to the membership were overwhelmingly supported and we were pleased to announce the re-election of Dennis Ellis and Judith Blake to their positions on the board for another term. The rt Families Foundation once again demonstrated its enormous value to members of our community who need a helping hand. There was barely a dry eye in the house following a video presentation featuring first-hand accounts from the families who received Foundation grants during the year. It was truly inspiring and humbling to hear what an enormous difference the Foundation has made to these families’ lives. In response to a request made by a member at the meeting for minutes to be available prior to the next AGM, they can now be read or downloaded from the ‘library’ in the members’ area of our website. Visit www.rthealthfund.com.au and click on ‘member login’ at the top of the screen. Thank you to the many members who braved the wet weather to join us – we look forward to seeing you all again next year to mark the occasion of our 120th annual general meeting.
the newsletter for rt health fund members | summer 2008/09
7 “ The new building is substantially larger than our current home and will make it possible for us to take a significant step toward becoming a true health partner…”
rt is on the move As we’ve grown over the last few years, it has become increasingly difficult to squeeze everything into our Burwood, Sydney, head office – we’re simply bursting at the seams! After many months of searching, we’ve finally found what will become our new HQ – in Buckingham Street, Surry Hills. The new building is substantially larger than our current home and will make it possible for us to take a significant step toward becoming a true health partner, not just a health insurer, with the launch of fantastic new dental and optical services on site for members. There is plenty of free parking and being less than 100 metres from Central Station, it couldn’t be more convenient for members to get to. The new location is also right in the heart of an area that is jam-packed with transport and electricity industry organisations, making a quick trip to the dentist, optometrist or rt branch something many members will be able to easily fit in during their working day. The relocation will be complete within two years (the current tenant’s lease does not expire until the middle of 2009, then there will be a program of refurbishments to equip the building for the new clinics and for our staff to move in). We’ll keep you posted about the progress of renovations and make sure those members who are used to coming in to see us at Burwood have plenty of notice about the move when the time comes.
rt’s new HQ located in Surry Hills, Sydney.
rt news. 8
she’ll be right, mate! As Australians, we’re generally pretty proud of our laid-back nature – we’re a relaxed bunch with a carefree and easygoing approach to life. But while this has its benefits, could it also be slowly destroying our reputation for being strong, fit and healthy outdoors people – and our health? In 2009, we’re introducing a new program that will help members reverse this trend for life.
“ Seventy per cent of men and 60 per cent of women are currently overweight or clinically obese in our ‘lucky’ country…”
The fact is that Australians are now more likely to be overweight or obese than people from any other country. Seventy per cent of men and 60 per cent of women are currently overweight or clinically obese in our ‘lucky’ country, which means that we are a nation of existing and potential chronic disease sufferers who are going to require a whole lot of expensive medical care in the not-too-distant future. So, how have we let ourselves get into this state and why aren’t we all worried enough to do something about it? Well, it could be a by-product of our ‘she’ll be right’ mentality. Chronic disease Down Under – the scary facts It’s estimated that up to 70 per cent of Australians have at least one chronic disease and 90 per cent of us have risk factors that increase our likelihood of developing a chronic disease. Chronic diseases include conditions such as asthma, arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, musculoskeletal and psychiatric conditions,
and they affect males and females in every age group. They are long-term conditions but most usually come with early warning systems, taking a long time to develop and providing plenty of signs and symptoms for us to take notice of, and take action about, before things get really serious. But there are some conditions where you won’t be lucky enough to get a ‘heads up’ – such as some types of heart disease – so a healthy lifestyle is a proactive way to give yourself some protection. She’ll be right How often have you heard yourself say this about your health, ignoring warning signs in the hope that whatever’s causing them will simply go away? We’ve all said it, or heard someone we care about say it, and a lot of the time it is okay. But chronic diseases have a well-deserved reputation for becoming more and more serious the longer they are left untreated – they don’t just go away and they can lead to other more dangerous health problems.
the newsletter for rt health fund members | summer 2008/09
9 “ …fresh food is far less expensive than pre-packaged, takeaway or processed alternatives.”
A proactive approach to health is one of the best ways to make sure your body keeps working the way it should, and the best part about this approach is that it fits in perfectly with the things we Aussies tend to love, take a look: 1. It’s easy – there are plenty of parks, sports fields and beaches, the weather is usually agreeable enough to get outside and there are plenty of organised activities that you can get into. As far as food is concerned, we have easy access to some of the best fresh produce in the world. 2. It’s cheap – making the decision to ‘breathe easy’ and not buying cigarettes will save you a fortune (a ‘pack a day’ smoker could save somewhere in the vicinity of $4,000 a year); reducing alcohol consumption will save you dollars; and fresh food is far less expensive than pre-packaged, takeaway or processed alternatives. 3. It’s about keeping it in perspective – stress is a big risk factor for many chronic diseases, take a look at ways to reduce your stress levels and better manage stressful situations through healthy activities such as yoga, meditation or even just a ‘fresh air’ break away from whatever is winding you up. 4. It’s fun – think about the last time you had a really good laugh. Chances are it was doing something fun with kids, or your friends or family. Hanging
out, playing street cricket, rolling down a hill, body-boarding … anything that gets you out in the fresh air, moving and laughing is going to be good for your health – just don’t forget to slip, slop, slap and wrap! How can rt help you manage chronic disease? From April 2009, we will be offering two programs of six and 12 months (depending on the severity of a person’s risk factors) to eligible members which will help them to manage chronic disease through positive health behaviours. These programs are designed to be delivered over a course of scheduled telephone appointments between the member and their personal case manager (a registered nurse or other health professional) and will provide the member with personalised information about their condition, better management techniques and alternatives, and advice on how to make use of community services and support networks. The case manager will also develop a personalised written plan for each member, outlining goals and activities designed specifically for their condition. And because it can all be done over the phone, it’s even easier for our members to manage their health and their time! Keep an eye out for more details in our next issue.
be well. 10
choose happiness Have you noticed how some people are happy nearly all the time? They’re the glass-half-full, always-look-on-the-bright-side, cheery, positive souls that we all wish we could be (and yes, some days we’d like to pelt something at them). Well guess what? You can be just like them – and it’s not as hard as you might think!
“ The Happiness Institute is an Australian organisation that teaches people how to incorporate happiness into their daily lives…”
A lot of people believe that happiness is an inherent characteristic – you’re either born to be a happy person, or you’re not. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Achieving happiness can be much like achieving physical fitness, it takes discipline and a willingness to complete a set of exercises every day. So, the good news is that just like fitness, with a bit of effort, happiness is within everyone’s reach. Research has found that genetic makeup accounts for around 30 to 50 per cent of a person’s tendency toward happiness. That means we can take responsibility for around 50 to 70 per cent of our own happiness! Of course, it could be argued that people who have inherited a genetic predisposition for happiness were more likely to have grown up in a ‘happier’ home, and therefore probably learnt to believe that happiness is a ‘normal’ state. The same argument holds for people who are genetically predisposed toward melancholy – happiness may have been less of a priority in the home they grew up in. So nature and nurture both play a role, but you can still choose to be happy.
The Happiness Institute (www.thehappinessinstitute.com) is an Australian organisation that teaches people how to incorporate happiness into their daily lives through the practice of positive psychology. Institute founder, ‘Dr Happy’ (Dr Timothy Sharp), believes that happiness doesn’t really come naturally, it’s something you have to concentrate on achieving every day. After spending the best part of a decade studying happiness, the institute has identified the key qualities and behaviours of happy people. They’ve found that happy people choose to be happy, and have created this acronym to describe how they do it: C
clarity of goals, direction and life purpose
H
healthy living, including diet, exercise and rest
O
optimistic and positive, but realistic thinking
O
other people, enjoying key relationships in life
S
strengths: identifying, improving and utilising strengths every day
E
enjoying the moment, living for now and appreciating life
the newsletter for rt health fund members | summer 2008/09
11 “ Optimistic people will tend to look for realistic solutions to situations, rather than focusing on problems…”
Happy people also make a conscious effort to engage in fun activities, setting aside time every day to simply enjoy themselves and usually sharing that time with like-minded people. Sharing fun with others substantially increases the effect it has on you because happiness and laughter are contagious – it’s one of the reasons why ‘canned’ laughter on sitcoms is still so popular. People are more likely to enjoy themselves, laugh and have fun if someone else already is. So while there are some people who are naturally more buoyant, that doesn’t mean that they never feel ‘down’ or have bad things happen to them. Everyone does, but it is the way we deal with what happens in life that determines our long-term happiness. Naturally happy people just tend to be more optimistic and react more positively when bad things do happen. Despite what you might think, optimism isn’t the blind belief that everything will be okay – it’s positive realism. Optimistic people will tend to look for realistic solutions to situations, rather than focusing on problems, but they don’t just blindly believe that ‘everything will be okay’ without making any effort. Optimism is also a learnt skill that takes focus and effort, but anyone can learn. Patricia Cameron-Hill and Dr Shayne Yates, authors of You won’t die laughing and Dr, I feel funny also believe that happiness takes a conscious effort. They believe that a sense of humour is too precious to be left to chance and that it needs to be consciously developed. Their ‘humerobics’ program comprises
ten steps, including learning how to laugh at yourself, laughing at others, finding what’s funny about you, turning a lunch break into a humour break by listening to or watching comedies, becoming a ‘humour consumer’ by collecting comic strips, funny photos and movies, and keeping a record of funny stories and jokes. You can find out more about humerobics and why a well-developed sense of humour is so important (especially in families) under the ‘humour’ tab at www.healthhappiness.com.au. So it seems that happy people work pretty hard to be happy, but considering all of the things that we work hard to be good at in life, this is one case where the effort is definitely worth it! Why not make today the day you do your first happiness workout?
be well. 12
happiness and health Remember the age-old adage that ‘laughter is the best medicine’? Well, there might be more truth to it than you think. The study of humour and laughter, and their effects on psychological and physiological health is called gelotology and it has been around for quite a while.
“ …ten minutes or so of good belly laughter allowed him to enjoy several hours of painfree healing sleep.”
Back in the late 1960s, after being diagnosed with a debilitating disease, prominent political journalist Norman Cousins hypothesised that if anger and negativity could contribute to poor health then laughter and happiness could have the opposite effect, improving health and even aiding recovery from illness and injury. Battling ankylosing spondolitis, a crippling and potentially fatal illness, Cousins decided that the traditional medication prescribed for his condition and the hospital environment were not helping his healing process. So, with the somewhat sceptical support of his doctors he checked himself out of the hospital and into a hotel, and started a new treatment regime comprising massive doses of vitamin c and Marx Brothers movies. Cousins found that laughter reduced his perception of pain, and that ten minutes or so of good belly laughter allowed him to enjoy several hours of pain-free healing sleep. Tests conducted by his doctors found that his inflammation levels reduced each time he laughed, and that the
reduction was cumulative – the levels went down and stayed down. Cousins described his laughter therapy as ‘…a good way to jog internally without having to go outside’, and eventually went on to recover from the condition. Following a heart attack 15 years later, he once again implemented his laughter treatment and once again achieved a full recovery. Since Cousins’ groundbreaking achievements, researchers have been intrigued with the premise that laughter and positivity can promote healing and recovery, and it’s a theory that is growing in popularity. In 1998, Robin Williams portrayed Dr Patch Adams in the blockbuster film of the same name. Dr Hunter ‘Patch’ Adams graduated from medical school in the US in 1971 and soon became disillusioned with the established hospital and medical system. Taking a wholistic approach to medicine that included a firm belief that humour plays a vital role in healing, Patch opened the Gesundheit! Institute – a free hospital where humour and fun were definitely what the doctor ordered, and where the doctor was a clown.
the newsletter for rt health fund members | summer 2008/09
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“ …next time you’re under the weather, or if you’re facing a serious health issue, try an injection of humour as well as following the advice of your medical practitioner…”
Today in Australia, the Humour Foundation (www.humourfoundation.com.au) sends ‘clown doctors’ into hospitals to entertain patients and help in making medical procedures a little less frightening. Originally based only in children’s hospitals and wards, the benefits of clown doctor visits have become clear and the red-nosed practitioners now visit patients of all ages.
Shared laughter, based on caring and empathy also: • creates bonds between people • nourishes the soul • helps people cope with difficult situations • provides support • helps people to better manage their thoughts and feelings.
The Humour Foundation’s clown doctor program is based on gelotological research, which has found that humour therapy: • has a positive effect, similar to exercise, on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems • relaxes the muscles • boosts the immune system, increasing the levels of ‘killer’ cells (the cells that fight cancer) in the bloodstream, increasing t-cells and lowering serum cortisol levels • reduces pain perception through the release of endorphins • reduces stress levels and negativity • promotes a positive outlook and attitude.
The Humour Foundation says that, ‘Caring clowning can speak the language of the heart and bring a sense of profound connection and consolation’. So next time you’re under the weather, or if you’re facing a serious health issue, try an injection of humour as well as following the advice of your medical practitioner – it might just fast-track your recovery and it’s sure to make you feel better!
feel well. 14
is happiness the key to a longer life? We all know one of them – they’re the person who seems to do everything ‘wrong’ in life: they eat the wrong foods, drink, smoke, and don’t exercise … but they’re always happy, they live life to the fullest and they seem to live forever. It begs the question: is happiness the key to a longer life?
“ …people who reported having the highest levels of happiness also had a higher immunity to flu and other viruses…”
It’s been widely accepted for a while now that stress and negativity are bad for your health. People who are stressed are more likely to suffer heart attack or stroke and may be more inclined to suffer from chronic illness, cancer and autoimmune disease. So if stress and negativity can have such an enormous negative impact on your health, can happiness and positivity have the opposite effect? We already know that laughter and positivity can help people recover from illness faster, but can they actually help prevent illness and increase lifespan too? Of course, happiness is something that’s really quite hard to measure – its subjective nature means that having a definitive scale is virtually impossible, so the majority of research is based on people’s perception of their happiness levels. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh discovered that people who reported having the highest levels of happiness also had a
higher immunity to flu and other viruses, and were likely to be ill for a shorter length of time with less severe symptoms if they did become sick. One theory is the idea that whatever it is that causes people to have a more positive outlook also increases immunity. According to US psychiatrist, Dr Donald Rosen, ‘Science is beginning to more precisely measure, understand and construct mechanisms for attaining a frame of mind that potentially can have as significant an impact on health as diet, exercise or not smoking’. He also suggests that immunity is the result of many factors and that boosting any of those factors – including happiness and positivity – could have an enormous overall impact on health. This would appear to be reinforced by a study that was done in the 1930s in Detroit. Over several years, the diaries of nuns were analysed by researchers, who looked for references to positive emotions, positive words and the number of different types of positive words. The nuns whose
the newsletter for rt health fund members | summer 2008/09
15 “ …happiness has the same effect on a person’s longevity as whether they smoke or not and can increase lifespan by between sevenand-a-half and ten years.”
diaries were most positive lived an average of nine years longer than the nuns prone to more negative thoughts. This finding supports the Happiness Institute’s belief that having a clearly defined purpose, living a life of gratitude and fostering close personal relationships leads to happiness and therefore, longer life. More recent research also shows that being happy can increase your lifespan by several years. Professor Ruut Veenhoven of Erasmus University in Rotterdam reviewed 30 international studies where subjects were monitored over a period of one to 60 years. He discovered that happiness has the same effect on a person’s longevity as whether they smoke or not and can increase lifespan by between seven-and-a-half and ten years. So while we’re not suggesting that you should forego a healthy smoke-free lifestyle with a balanced diet and moderate exercise – maybe we could all indulge in a little happiness and positivity every day … it could just give us plenty more days to enjoy!
feel well. 16
what makes us happy? There’s a lot of talk these days about happiness – or rather, the lack of it. While we’re better off in so many ways than any previous generation, people are still striving to be happier, constantly on the search for that ‘one thing’ that will make a difference. But are we searching for the emotional equivalent of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?
“ Sure, we need to be more mature as we age, but does that mean we can’t have total and uninhibited fun anymore?”
We spend the majority of our childhood learning – to walk, to talk, to read, to write – but as we get older (and more ‘sensible’) it seems that we spend a lot of time ‘unlearning’ one of the most important things that we learn to do as children – to be happy through playing and having fun. Sure, we need to be more mature as we age, but does that mean we can’t have total and uninhibited fun anymore? Let’s have a look at what makes us happy and how we can have more fun every day.
Overall, although the methods may differ, spending time with friends and family ranks highest for both men and women. Fifty-five per cent of women and 45 per cent of men said sharing meals and spending time with their families makes them happy, although women are more likely to derive happiness from family activities such as playing with kids and pets than men who prefer surfing the net, spending time on social networking sites and being intimate to taking the dog for a walk or throwing a ball at the park.
So Australia, what makes you happy? In August this year The Leading Edge business consultancy conducted a survey of 8,500 Australians aged between 18 and 64 to find out what makes them happy. Of the people surveyed, 65 per cent ranked relaxation first – no surprises there. What we find relaxing does differ slightly between men and women though!
But despite all the differences in style, one thing remains constant – it’s time spent with family and friends that makes us happiest, not ‘things’. ‘Australians are made happy on a week-to-week basis not by possessions and achievements but by entertaining experiences and by meaningful interactions with others’, said Karen Phillips, managing director of The Leading Edge. So once your basic needs are covered – shelter, food, clothing and so on – it would seem that the ‘stuff’ we collect is just cluttering up our lives and that true joy in life comes from human experiences. This would
Debunking the myth that material objects make us happy, only 30 per cent of women and 14 per cent of men said that shopping makes them happy.
the newsletter for rt health fund members | summer 2008/09
17 explain why so many people living in poverty-stricken areas of the world are so inexplicably happy – their lack of possessions results in a stronger value for the community and family bonds that create true human happiness. Above all, it seems that human happiness is derived from the things we used to do as kids – so why not ‘act your shoe size, not your age’ for a while every day and remember what it’s like to live life as a kid again? 15 ways to have fun and be happy today 1. Grab one of your kids, or borrow a niece, nephew or grandchild, make some bubble mix and dip an old tennis racquet in it – then shower the kids in bubbles, it’s guaranteed to make them giggle – and you will too! 2. Have a food fight – baked beans are best, but anything runny will do! 3. Play a round of Worst Joke Wednesday (or Thursday, Friday, Saturday…). 4. Take the kids to the local playground and start a game of anyone-can-play tag – invite total strangers to play and see how many adults you can get to join in. 5. Hire some funny movies, make a huge bowl of popcorn, and settle in for a laugh-fest with your best friends. 6. Put your favourite music on and dance around the house singing at the top of your lungs.
7. Remember skipping stones when you were a kid? Have a competition to see how many ‘skips’ you can do now! 8. Turn off the phone, grab that book you’ve been meaning to read, a good supply of healthy snacks and the comfiest chair you have, and lose yourself in a great story for a day. 9. Dance in the park and see how many ‘happy police’ you can get to glare at you – you get ten points for each one! 10. Go to the beach and actually play – run in the water, ride some waves, do cartwheels … anything that makes you laugh. 11. Have a competition to see who can make the most total strangers smile at them. 12. Make a baby laugh – it’s more fun than you think! 13. Get involved in a visit-the-elderly program with your local community centre – nothing cheers you up faster than brightening up someone else’s day. 14. Challenge the kids to a round of their favourite video game and see how good your reflexes are! 15. Give a stranger a flower just to see the look on their face – or pay the toll for the car behind you at the tollbooth then watch in the mirror as they drive through for free.
feel well. 18
happiness is important in everyone’s life Let’s take a look at what some of the world’s leading thinkers have had to say about happiness in these inspiring and thought-provoking quotes. Why not tear out this page and stick it on the fridge or keep it in your wallet so you can get a daily dose of happiness just by re-reading your favourites.
“ Nobody really cares if you’re miserable, so you might as well be happy.” Cynthia Nelms
“ Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Abraham Lincoln
“ It’s never too late to have a happy childhood.” Berke Breathed
“ Happiness is a direction, not a place.” Sydney J Harris
“ Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.” Joseph Addison
“ Cheerfulness is what greases the axles of the world. Don’t go through life creaking.” HW Byles
“ The only time I was truly happy was as a child, before I knew what happiness was – or wasn’t.” DH Mondfleur
“ Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realise they were the big things.” Robert Brault
“ Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.” Guilaume Apollinaire
“ Happiness is your dentist telling you it won’t hurt and then having him catch his hand in the drill.” Johnny Carson
the newsletter for rt health fund members | summer 2008/09
19 need a date? Don’t you hate it when you just can’t put your hands on a calendar when you really need one? We do too – so, back again by popular demand is our handy rt pocket calendar – it’s compact design means that it fits easily into your wallet or purse and with national public holidays marked, it’ll keep you up to date throughout the year no matter where you are. keep as cool as ICE in an emergency It’s nice to think that we would have a trusted friend or relative on hand to help us if we were ever in an emergency, but sometimes that’s simply not the case. An idea that is increasing in popularity is to have an ICE (In Case of Emergency) contact in our mobile phones, but it’s also worth having information that’s vital to your health recorded on a handy card that can be kept in your wallet, just in case your emergency contact can’t be reached or if you don’t carry a mobile phone. Our handy emergency card fits easily in your purse, wallet or pocket and the internationally recognisable medical symbol means that whoever helps you will be able to find the information they need fast.
You should find both these handy items enclosed with this newsletter, but if they’ve gone astray, or if you need additional copies to stop the squabbles over who gets to keep them, please give us a call on
1300 886 123
rt in the community. 20 “ More than 4,000 QR staff and their families turned out for a day of fun at the QR Family Day…”
rt in the community City2Surf 2008 rt once again partnered with RailCorp to support its City2Surf team for the third year running. It was a fantastic day with a few light showers keeping the team cool as they completed the race to Bondi, where the rt team were waiting with post-race massages and well-earned healthy refreshments! Dragon Boat Races October saw rt’s Karen Kelly joining the floating buses crew on the waters of the Slipway in Newcastle for the annual Dragon Boat charity race. With a solid effort on the day delivering the team third place ribbons for most events, the crew had a great time and raised some much-needed funds for very worthy causes. QR Family Day – 19 October 2008 More than 4,000 QR staff and their families turned out for a day of fun at the QR Family Day at Sherwood in Brisbane. rt provided face painters (thanks to Apex Club Sandgate), seated massages, temporary tattoos and balloons for the kids, sunscreen and fresh apples to keep everyone going through the day. Resultz Personal Fitness supported rt at the event with blood pressure checks, health assessments and fit ball demonstrations. Above: (from left) Trudy from Resultz Personal Fitness with Rebecca, Tony, Vinette and Bianca from the rt team. Left: Karen kept the team on track as the boat’s drummer.
the newsletter for rt health fund members | summer 2008/09
21 Retiree’s lunch The 75th state luncheon of the NSW Transport Authorities Retired Employees Association Incorporated was held on 20 October at Nambucca Heads. The celebrations included the laying of a plaque and monument at the Australian Railway Museum at Werris Creek. The event was attended by many long-standing rt members, as well as representatives from CountryLink and the RTBU, and a fantastic day was had by all. rt Families Foundation A big ‘thank you’ to rt staff members Angie Delia and Adma Lahoud for volunteering their time on Sunday 19 October to staff the Families Foundation stand at the GT Club Inc car rally. The girls raised some muchneeded funds for the Foundation and were kept very busy helping kids at the show apply their rt tattoos! The car club has announced that all funds raised at their next ‘cruise’ will be donated to the Foundation, for which we are enormously grateful.
A big thanks to the GT Car Club for its support of the rt Families Foundation.
“ The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.” Mark Twain