ROW: Workplace Wellbeing Podcast

The Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) podcast explores how we can build better, stronger workplaces.  Note Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) was formally known as My Health Revolution.

This episode: 'Green Light to Talk' - Mental health at PwC

In this session, we discuss PwC Australia's 'Green Light to Talk' initiative with Kate Connors from PwC Australia's Wellness Centre of Excellence. 

PwC Australia launched 'Green Light to Talk' in 2018, as part of the firm's commitment to dial up the dialogue on mental wellbeing.  A key component of the initiative is leaders sharing their stories on how mental ill health has impacted them personally during their career. 

In this podcast, we discuss how the 'Green Light to Talk' program was developed and it's aims and success. We'll also explore some of the challenges and Kate's tips to other organisations looking to improve the mental health of their team.

Kate has been the leader of PwC Australia's Wellness Centre of Excellence for over three years and has worked at PwC for five and a half years.  Prior to joining PwC she worked in corporate health & wellbeing for over 20 years and her passion is creating mentally healthy workplaces.  Kate is a registered psychologist with a Masters degree in Counselling Psychology from Curtin University in WA. Kate's experience in supporting mental health at PwC includes supporting the NZ firm following the Christchurch mosque attacks in March 2019.

Be a leader. Join ROW

The Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) podcast explores how we can build better, stronger workplaces.  Note Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) was formally known as My Health Revolution.

This episode: How to support men's mental health

In this session, we're joined by guest Gerard Vaughan from the Mental Health Foundation to discuss men's mental health.

Businesses can play an important role in helping men to manage their mental health - including reducing stigma, opening the conversation, and sharing positive role models. In this discussion, we will discuss the role organisations can play in more depth, some of the challenges and myths, and Gerard shares his tips for engaging with men to improve mental wellbeing.

Gerard has worked as a consultant for the Mental Health Foundation for the last four years leading the Farmstrong project. He also helps organisations to establish, design and deliver behaviour change programmes. Prior to consulting, Gerard was the National Project Manager of the Like Minds, Like Mine campaign in New Zealand and was CEO of the Alcohol Advisory Council for five years. He has an MA in Community Psychology from Waikato University.

Be a leader. Join ROW

The Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) podcast explores how we can build better, stronger workplaces.  Note Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) was formally known as My Health Revolution.

This episode: Ask an Expert - Jacqui Maguire

Our first Ask an Expert guest is Jacqui Maguire. Jacqui is a registered clinical psychologist and media commentator with a particular interest in lifting organisational performance by developing the resilience and wellbeing of employees. Jacqui's passion is to work closely with clients to understand the unique needs of their organisation and develop tailored programmes to best fit.

Be a leader. Join ROW

The Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) podcast explores how we can build better, stronger workplaces.  Note Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) was formally known as My Health Revolution.

This episode: Case study - wellbeing at Environment Canterbury

Environment Canterbury (ECan) began their wellbeing journey back in 2017 and its current vision is to have a culture where the wellbeing of its people is at the heart of what they do and is interwoven in all they do. They have integrated hauora or the Māori perspective of wellbeing into their strategy and actions, and take a holistic perspective to consider the four pillars of wellbeing (physical, mental and emotional, social, and spiritual) across three dimensions (individual, organisational, and environmental). Mary Abbott is the Human Resources Advisor (OD)at ECan.

Be a leader. Join ROW

The Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) podcast explores how we can build better, stronger workplaces.  Note Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) was formally known as My Health Revolution.

This episode: Case study - wellbeing at Ara

In this session, Andy Hearn, Ara's Wellbeing Specialist, joins us to share the vocational training institute's wellbeing framework and how it has been used to shape the response to the Covid-19 crisis.  Andy will share the components of the framework and discuss the framework's flexibility to support different levels of focus and intervention for workers during this uncertain time (at organisation, team and self levels). 

Ara is the largest vocational training institute in the South Island of New Zealand.

Andy is an experienced Wellbeing Specialist who is nearing the end of two year contract as ‘Manager – Health & Wellbeing’ at Ara Institute of Technology. He worked for 10 years as a Senior Academic Staff Member and Head of Science at CPIT (now Ara) before moving to the Canterbury DHB in 2012 to lead the DHB’s staff wellbeing response following the Christchurch earthquakes. After four years at the CDHB Andy moved to Emerge Aotearoa as their National Health, Safety and Wellbeing Manager. In 2018 he returned to Ara to develop and embed an evidence-based focus on staff wellbeing.

Andy holds a Master’s Degree in Physiotherapy, a Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety, and is a ICF Certified Coach.

Be a leader. Join ROW

The Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) podcast explores how we can build better, stronger workplaces.  Note Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) was formally known as My Health Revolution.

This episode: How to build resilience in a COVID-19 world

In this podcast, Kathryn Jackson, author of Resilience at Work (finalist at the 2019 Business Book Awards, London), joins us to share her insights and tips for building resilience.  Building resilience will be a critical part of recovery from COVID-19. It will be essential for leaders as they navigate the business challenges ahead and for employees as they forge their path through the turbulence of the changing world.

Kathryn’s book is based on her own experience of working in extreme circumstances in post-earthquake Christchurch and is enhanced by collaboration with leading resilience experts from around the world.  In this discussion, Kathryn shares the keys to building resilience in a COVID-19 world, based on the findings in her book, and we discuss what lessons we can take away from the recovery process following the Christchurch earthquakes - knowing that the path ahead will require leadership and a sense of sustained wellbeing.

Be a leader. Join ROW

The Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) podcast explores how we can build better, stronger workplaces.  Note Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) was formally known as My Health Revolution.

This episode: Case Study - Wellbeing at Chorus

In this podcast, we're joined by Phillippa Powell, OD Advisor at Chorus. Phillippa shares her tips for building a robust program that supports wellbeing across the business and has the flexibility to meet challenges such as Covid-19.

Phillippa plays a key role in creating an enviable employee experience through her leadership of organisational development programmes.  She supports, influences and advises organisations to effectively deliver upon business and people strategies, raise engagement and drive positive culture through projects and initiatives focussed on Wellbeing, Diversity and Inclusion.

She’s extremely passionate about designing and delivering innovative OD initiatives that enable people to shine and for organisations to be awesome places to work.  Projects she’s recently been involved on include gender equity, cultural diversity, flexible working, mental health, anti-bullying and Rainbow Tick accreditation.  She also leads Chorus’ holistic Wellbeing Programme that covers four pillars – mental, physical, career and financial wellbeing.  She plays a visible and valuable role in an organisation by influencing and motivating others via a range of committees and networks.

Her varied experience comes from working in Human Resources for over 14 years in recruitment, business partnering and organisational development roles in internal HR teams and the HR consultancy environment. Her goal is to create positive working environments underpinned by a wellbeing culture that supports a sense of belonging.

Be a leader. Join ROW

The Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) podcast explores how we can build better, stronger workplaces.  Note Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) was formally known as My Health Revolution.

This episode: How to engage leaders in wellbeing

Wellbeing starts at the top of an organisation and leadership is crucial to embedding a culture that supports people to thrive.

Leaders who prioritise wellbeing can make a big difference to an organisation by engaging, inspiring and supporting employees to be their best. Great leaders role model wellbeing and seek opportunities to promote good health. They clear barriers to success and bring compassion and empathy to their role. At the most senior levels, leaders who value wellbeing take a strategic approach, ensuring it is well funded, well resourced and meets the needs of both employees and the business.

However, not all leaders understand the value of wellbeing or see it as more than a tick-box exercise. How do we influence those leaders to engage in wellbeing? How do we support leaders to role model wellbeing and see the value in a strategic view? And how can leaders embrace wellbeing through the COVID-19 recovery phase?

Looking to the future, the way we work will change dramatically and leaders will need to learn how to create a well and adaptable workforce, ready to meet the challenges ahead.

In this session, Jono Brent, Orion Group - Transformation Lead, joins us to share his perspective on leadership and wellbeing. Over 2019, Jono led a significant project looking into the future of work across the electricity industry, with wellbeing and leadership at the core. Rolling out the project will require engagement across the sector and Jono will share his experience, insights, and lessons for supporting leaders on the journey.

 Jono Brent has been operating within New Zealand’s infrastructure industry for the past two decades. He was the Chief Executive of Connetics Ltd from December 2010 to April 2020, moving to Orion as Orion Group - Transformation Lead. Before Connetics, Jono was the General Manager – Business Development of City Care Ltd.

Jono is on the steering committee of the New Zealand Business Leaders Health and Safety Forum, is chair of the board of College House (a University Hostel) and is on the Advisory Boards of Art of Work and Seipp Construction.

The Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) podcast explores how we can build better, stronger workplaces.  Note Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) was formally known as My Health Revolution (we are currently transitioning between brands).

This episode: How to measure employee wellbeing

In business, it is well known that you cannot manage what you cannot measure. With the increased focus on wellbeing at work, there is a growing demand to accurately measure employee wellbeing, track progress and deliver results.

Of course, there are many ways to evaluate workplace wellbeing, but where to start and what’s realistic?

In this episode, ROW's Dr Mark Wallace-Bell joins us to discuss the benefits and potential pitfalls of measuring wellbeing in the workplace. We discuss organisational measures, such as engagement surveys, and personal measures, such as wearable devices.

We also explore which metrics are important and how to demonstrate the effectiveness of wellbeing initiatives in the workplace.

Mark is an internationally recognised health behaviour change specialist and the Behaviour Change Lead at ROW. He has facilitated health behaviour change programmes for numerous organisations in New Zealand and Australia. When not with ROW, he is at the University of Canterbury where he teaches post-graduate papers on health behaviour change. Mark is also a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT).

The Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) podcast explores how we can build better, stronger workplaces.  Note Revolutionaries of Wellbeing (ROW) was formally known as My Health Revolution.

This episode: Creating a culture that values mental health

In this podcast, we reflect on changing attitudes to mental health with New Zealand Rugby’s Education and Wellbeing Manager, Dr Nathan Price.

Over the last two and a half years, New Zealand Rugby has delivered a remarkable campaign aimed at reducing the stigma around mental health.

The campaign began in 2017 with the launch of the www.headfirst.co.nz website, which is a rich resource of videos, self-tests, and informative material. As a campaign, HeadFirst helps players, coaches, support staff and families in the rugby community to support their own wellbeing and that of others.

Since its launch, HeadFirst has quickly developed into a comprehensive programme that supports mental health and mental fitness across schools, local rugby clubs, and the wider community.

It has been as much of a cultural change project, as it has been one that encourages people to take care, ask for help and support others. HeadFirst has elevated and opened up conversations around mental health and has challenged stereotypes around mental illness and sharing vulnerability.

In this interview, Nathan reflects on the HeadFirst journey and shares some of the critical factors of success – which could be applied to any workplace.