General News
19 October, 2022
Health service nabs a new achievement
TERANG and Mortlake Health Service (TMHS) continues to make healthy workplace changes under a state government program.
TERANG and Mortlake Health Service (TMHS) continues to make healthy workplace changes under a state government program.
TMHS staff recently met the benchmark to increase physical activity under the Victorian Government’s Achievement Program, which outlines five areas for participating services to improve.
The five key areas are:
Healthy eating;
Physical activity;
Smoking;
Alcohol and Drug use; and
Mental health and wellbeing.
TMHS has now ticked three of the five health benchmarks off the list.
In May 2020 the health service completed the mental health and wellbeing priority program, and in April 2021 completed the alcohol and drug use program.
In addition to participating in the program, TMHS also offers support to other organisations including schools, business and early learning centres to promote healthy changes.
TMHS health promotion officer Tanya Glossop said the health service was committed to making healthy changes a convenient option for employees.
“To reach the benchmark for the program, we promote the idea that any physical activity is better than doing none, and that people could start out with incidental activity and gradually build up their movement,” she said.
“We know finding movement that people enjoy is more beneficial than participating in activity they don’t enjoy, because without enjoyment eventually that activity will cease.”
Steps TMHS has taken to help staff increase physical activity includes:
Installation of bike racks at the Josie Black Community Centre and the hospital to create an environment where active travel for local staff was achievable;
Distribution of the location of local walking and riding tracks to staff;
Created sun safe outdoor areas for staff to use in breaks;
A partnership with Terang Fitness to offer a free two-week trial for staff; and
Changing policy to include information around reducing sitting time, moving more during the work day and using active travel where possible.
Physical activity reduces the risk of serious chronic illnesses like heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
Regular physical activity improves blood pressure, cholesterol and cardiovascular fitness and improves mental health.