19th EAPAA Conference Speakers - Thursday 5 August
Health and Wellbeing - New Strategies for EAPs | 5 - 6 August 2010 | Hilton Adelaide
Demographic change and health and wellbeing in the workforce
Professor Graeme Hugo | Professorial Research Fellow, Professor of Geography and Director of the National Centre for Social Applications of Geographical Information Systems, University of Adelaide
This presentation examines the demographic outlook for Australia over the next two decades. It examines likely patterns of mortality, fertility, migration and ageing and their implications for the growth of the Australian workforce. It then examines some of the potential consequences for health and wellbeing in Australian workplaces
Dependent care, health and other lifestyle issues – the impact on Australian and New Zealand workplaces
Prue Warrilow | Families at Work
This presentation considers the importance of dependent care and related health care issues. These issues are discussed in terms of overall health and well-being and the ramifications for the workplaces of Australia and New Zealand. Research is also discussed in terms of barriers that may exist to the successful implementation of policies and procedures. Strategies to overcome such barriers or points of resistance are reviewed.
Strengths based approaches in socially disadvantaged settings
Associate Professor Patricia Nagel MBBS FRANZCP PhD | Consultant Psychiatrist, Top End Mental Health Services, Head Healing and Resilience Division, Menzies School of Health Research
Social disadvantage is linked with high rates of ill health and rural and remote communities are particularly at-risk populations given the limitations of access to services. Health outcomes become increasingly poor as the distance from cities in Australia increases. Access to services is not the only determinant of outcomes. Social cohesion, self efficacy, employment, education and literacy are also key issues impacting upon the health of socially disadvantaged Australians. The challenge for mental health service providers is to understand and address these social stressors while also addressing their mental health concerns. This paper will explore these issues and present practical strategies for service delivery.
Counsellors’ case notes - The shared risk to Human Resource Managers and EAP practitioners
Darren McGeachie | Manager, Consultancy Services, Access Programs
Human Resource practitioners and EAP counsellors work together in order to achieve effective outcomes for individual clients and organisations. Darren’s presentation will explore the issues which may arise for each in the area of counsellor’s case notes. These issues include risk flowing between counsellors and HR’s, the expectations of key stakeholders, confidentiality, and the court process including subpoenas. In an environment shaped by risk management the presentation will be useful for Human Resource Managers and EAP practitioners alike.
Australian EAPs - What do stakeholders see as being key to them and what role do they have in Organisational Wellbeing?
Anne Hammond | Researcher, Buseco - Monash University
In this presentation on doctoral research that Anne Hammond is completing which is exploring and describing the key components of EAPs, and factors critical to ‘Organisational Wellbeing’ - factors beyond just by extension well employees - (research based on in-depth interviews with two sets of stakeholders: those in host organisations overseeing the operation of their EAP, and EAP Professionals servicing these programs) - this is an opportunity for her to share findings and implications from this research of relevance to EAP Professionals and their role(s) in gaining ongoing engagements with host organisations in addressing expectations as to an effective EAP, and in assisting Human Resources’ leverage in delivering value-added services, strategic to the organisation’s needs in a rapidly evolving business environment in contributing to Organisational Wellbeing.
How to implement and manage EAP from a customer's perspective
Bernadette Shanahan | Employee Assistance Statewide, OHWS, People and Culture, Queensland Health
How do organisations manage competing agendas when a mixed model of in-house and external providers are thrown into the mix. What are the lessons and how do we do business in the interest of each service provider. Queensland Health, PPC Worldwide and Converge International have a systematic approach to manage some of these issues under a new partnership agreement.
Implementing and Managing an EAP
Panel Facilitator: Grant Brecht | Grant Brecht and Associates
- Launching your EAP - what is important initially and then keeping the momentum going all year round
- Communicating your EAP program - different channels and approaches that work
- (providers to share in advance some successful ideas from different industries)
- Using technology to assist employees - how to maximise the benefit of online platforms and how to use your
- intranet to help employees understand and access the EAP
- Marketing collateral vs face to face sessions - the different merits of using materials such as brochures, posters
- and cards vs induction sessions, briefings and manager discussions
- Success factors for a successful EAP - what is the role and responsibility of the provider and the customer
- to ensuring a successful partnership
- EAP reporting - what is the purpose and who should be involved in reporting discussions.
- How can reporting intelligence be best used in an organisation while still ensuring absolute confidentiality
- Related services - how to understand what other services your provider can assist with and how they can
- complement your EAP and people management strategies
19th EAPAA Conference Program - Friday 6 August
Health and Wellbeing - New Strategies for EAPs | 5 - 6 August 2010 | Hilton Adelaide
Best practice workplace interventions - the importance of integration in health and well-being initiatives
Dr Toby Ford MB, BS | CEO, Ford Health Group and President, HAPIA
The workplace has emerged as a most effective location for the future improvement of health and wellbeing standards in Australia. The workplace provides a captive audience motivated by employment to remain fit and healthy. In distinct contrast to statutory and compulsory OHSE, Rehabilitation and EAP provisions , wellbeing programs must remain voluntary so as to ensure the worker remains the “owner of their health future”. Employers by sponsoring discretionary funding of wellbeing programs are able to focus on how well these programs can cost shift and cost control the impact of demographics and lifestyle on performance and productivity. The presentation looks at key aspects of integrating such programs, setting good standards and creating pathways to better health for Australian workers.
Executive coaching as part of an Organisational Health and Well-being Strategy
Darryl Cross | Crossways Consulting
Whether we like to admit it or not, the culture of any organisation is led from the top. It depends on who you read, but up to 60% of the culture is determined by the leader and his or her executive team. We also know that effective leadership is "walking the talk." If we are really serious about health and well-being in the workplace, then we had better consider how to get the leadership on side. So, what makes them sit up and take notice? If they haven't had a "wake up call" themselves in terms of their own health and life, then probably it will be conversations about productivity and morale that will get their attention. While they won't necessarily see an EAP program as fitting their needs, they will see executive coaching as more acceptable. Besides, it's lonely at the top and having a "confidential sounding board" to talk through their issues and to keep them accountable is not only about the aspect of well-being, but about fulfilment.
Managing suicidal behaviours in the workplace
Kash Thomson | Director EAP Services, Assure Programs
One of the most anxiety provoking scenarios for managers and HR personnel is when an employee presents with suicidal behaviours in the workplace. These behaviours may vary from vague comments and signs to actual self-harm in the workplace and include: signs of recent self harm; disclosing current hopelessness and suicidal ideation; talking about ending one’s life and self harm and suicide attempts. The session will cover strategies that the workplace and EAPs can implement to manage such behaviours as and before they arise.
Depression and suicidal thoughts; what a psychiatrist does
Dr David Horgan | Clinical Associate Professor
No one is immune from depression, personally or professionally, and its effects. It is estimated that 20% of Australians will develop depression during their lifetime, and a sociological rule of thumb is that each person affects 5 people around them. Most suicides are due to depression. 13% of Australians had suicidal ideas in their lifetime in a recent major survey, with greater or lesser degrees of intensity. The author of www.suicideprevention.com.au and www.depression.com.au talks about handling these issues.
Results of EAP survey research
John McManus PhD | President, EAPAA and Director, Mind and Matter
Dr Robert-Leigh Compton | Honorary Fellow, Faculty of Business, Australian Catholic University Employee Assistance Programs – Employer Survey Results. The presentation considers the results of a recent survey into which industries are currently using EAPs, their usage levels and program outcomes. The research paid particular attention to satisfaction with programs, methods of evaluation and the integration of EAPs into HR initiatives.
Research on the latest trends in work / life balance
Dr Natalie Skinner | Centre for Work + Life, University of South Australia
The presentation will describe key trends in Australians' work-life balance, including data from an annual survey of Australian workers in 2008 - 2010. The focus will be on identifying groups most at risk of poor work-life balance, and the key employment and workplace 'levers' that practitioners can use to support and improve work-life balance from an evidence-based practice perspective.
Mindfulness
Elizabeth Williamson | Senior Consultant / Counsellor, Davidson Trahaire Corpsych
This session will cover: An introduction to simple mindfulness techniques; Use of mindfulness in EAP counselling and trauma responses; Mindfulness and cultivating emotional balance and resilience; and a summary of current mindfulness research and resources for EAP practitioners ‘Tutti Ensemble’ will perform - A positive note to conclude the conference program