At today’s employee forum, Chief Executive Andrew Stripp awarded the final STAR Award for Q3, Excellence in Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing.
This award recognises an individual, group or team who have put health and safety at the heart of the way they work.
The winner in this category is the Monash Medical Centre Emergency Department Wellbeing Group. Today, we are joined by Danielle Jackson, Associate Nurse Manager, MMC ED, and Benjamin Cheung, Consultant, MMC ED.
The Wellbeing Group is a multidisciplinary initiative started by Dani and Ben to help increase morale and wellbeing in MMC ED during challenging times. They have organised lots of activities for the team including Zoom trivia nights, team cookbooks, nature walks and special hot drinks for the tearoom.
Every month they send a wellbeing newsletter to the team, which includes segments such as Getting to Know You, Employee of the Month, Pet Profiles and updates on activities to come.
They also organise wellbeing activities that focus on team bonding. For example, the Random Coffee Club initiative they started involves employees nominating themselves to be selected for a random coffee date with another employee. Each person receives a coffee voucher and has coffee with someone they may not normally sit down and have a conversation with. This initiative is multidisciplinary and helps build professional relationships.
Last year when team members were furloughed, they organised a Zoom Netflix movie night to show support for colleagues who were isolating and to remind them they are not alone.
Most of the work put into the Wellbeing Group is done in their own time, outside of work. They deserve recognition for the amazing work they have done and continue to do to support the wellbeing of all the team at MMC ED. Well done Dani and Ben!
This category concludes our STAR Awards for 2021. Congratulations again to this year’s winners and we look forward to continuing the awards next year.
Remember, you can nominate a colleague or team at any time by heading to the STAR Portal. For more information on the STAR Program, visit the Monash Health COVID-19 website.
Approved by Karen Lowe.