Additional wellbeing support for the Canberra Health Services workforce is now available with the first cohort of Wellbeing Peer Support Officers completing their training.
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the Wellbeing Peer Support Officer program is one of the first initiatives co-designed and chosen by Canberra Health Services staff as part of the ACT Government's $8.5 million Health Workforce Wellbeing and Recovery Fund.
"The first group of 17 Wellbeing Peer Support Officers have been selected and have done specific training to enable them to provide confidential, informal and short-term assistance to colleagues experiencing difficulties in the workplace or at home.
"These officers are trained to link their peers with important resources to support their wellbeing. This could be helping team members who are dealing with anxiety or stress, mental health distress or experiencing difficulties in their personal life or in the workplace," said Minister Stephen-Smith.
Ongoing professional supervision will be provided along with tracking and reporting of the program to monitor its benefits and success.
The second round of applications for the Wellbeing Peer Support Officer program has commenced, with the next cohort of 20 officers scheduled to be trained in June.
Canberra Health Services is aiming to have 100 Peer Support Officers across the workforce by the end of 2023.
"The Wellbeing Peer Support Officers, the Mayo Clinic Wellbeing Index app and wellness spaces are priority initiatives chosen by staff.
"I look forward to seeing these initiatives make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of our health workforce and thank everyone who has been involved in making these initiatives a reality," said Minister Stephen-Smith.
Further co-designed wellbeing initiatives will be implemented across the organisation in the coming months.
Quote attributable to Flavia D'Ambrosio, Senior Director of Workforce Culture and Leadership:
"We are delighted to have great wellbeing peer support officers from a variety of disciplines across Canberra Health Services and look forward to growing the program throughout the year."
Quote attributable to Tubi Oyston, Assistant Director of Workforce Culture and Leadership:
"We are delighted to have great wellbeing peer support officers from a variety of disciplines across Canberra Health Services. We look forward to growing the program throughout the year."
Quote attributable to Janelle Rae, Renal Registered Nurse and Wellbeing Peer Support Officer:
"Everyone experiences challenges. It's nice to know that, as a Wellbeing Peer Support Officer, I can make a difference for people who need some help dealing with whatever challenges life brings them."
"I have benefitted both personally and professionally from assistance and care provided by generous people over my 30 years of nursing. I feel grateful that the program offers me the opportunity to participate in returning the favour."
