Without a doubt this year’s Wellbeing Month was a huge success.

From indoor plant workshops to topical wellbeing seminars and daily exercise classes, the turnout was incredible with registrations soaring into the 2000’s – an increase of 131 per cent on last year.

This year was the first time the exercise classes were added to the program and there were over 1200 registrations for these alone. The team hopes to build on these successes next year.

Over the month, staff took full advantage of the wonderful program to prioritise the wellbeing of themselves and their teams. It was great to see so many colleagues out and about.

Wendy Botha, Senior Organisation Development Consultant, Human Resources, extended her thanks to all involved in the four-week program.

“We would like to thank all of our guest speakers, hosts of activities and members of our Wellbeing Action Group. Without them, our Wellbeing Month for 2019 would not have been possible,” she says.

“We are very grateful to everyone who donated prizes and participated in our program. It was the collaborative and generous effort of everyone involved that made the program something we could be proud to deliver to our staff this year. It has been a phenomenal team effort and we really appreciate the time that everyone put into this event.”

1. Body Balance
2. Hospital Tour
3. Wellbeing Launch

4. Art class

5. Arboretum Walk

What staff had to say

“Bushcare is such a great experience to bond with your colleagues, get close to nature and feel a sense of achievement in what an hour of ‘people power’ can achieve for our campus environment. It is very invigorating, and more teams should try to embark in this activity, as it is good for the mind and body.”

– Nina Bernius, Macquarie Business School (Learning and Teaching) 

“Body Balance was a great session – we feel well and truly stretched, toned and restored!”

– Kirsty Tancred, Events and Domestic Protocol

“It was great to see that there are dedicated resources addressing the arboretum (the whole campus) and discover the teaching garden strategies and history. I learnt a lot about food plants on campus and the origins of plants. I also know where to find the macadamia trees and just have to work out how to crack the nuts.”

­– Lynne Cousins, Macquarie Business School

“I really enjoyed the Moment of Stillness Watercolour Painting class with Michelle. It was an opportunity for some quiet time amid my busy schedule. By tuning into what I was painting and drawing I found it to be quite a mindful exercise. I came away feeling surprisingly calm and creatively inspired.”

– Suzi Browne, Communication Officer, Office of the Vice-Chancellor

“I attended Bush Care during wellbeing month, working alongside colleagues to tackle invasive weeds impacting the creek near Herring Road Apartments. I very much enjoyed spending the time outdoors on a lovely spring afternoon, learning about bush rejuvenation at Macquarie and getting my hands dirty! I would certainly recommend attending a similar event if you can find the time to participate. Thanks for organising a successful event Leah Dudley and the MQ Property team.

–  Benjamin Dougall, Governance Services

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Don’t forget to check if you have been lucky enough to win one of the fabulous lucky draw prizes.