By Antra Kalnins
Co-editor, This Week
So, it’s February – how are those New Year’s resolutions going? If your Christmas ham leftovers lasted longer than your pledge to stay off the smartphone, it might be a good time to re-visit your wellness goals.
The good news is, New Year’s Day isn’t the only day of the year you can set yourself up with good habits. 2020 offers 365 opportunities for a ‘new start’, and Macquarie will be right there with you, supporting staff through the year with the ‘Better you at MQ’ staff wellbeing program.
The all-new wellbeing calendar
We know you love to hear about staff wellness events and activities in This Week, and now you can also find them all in one place in the new monthly wellbeing calendar on the staff wellbeing webpage.
You’ll find all the on-campus activities for staff, including:
- ‘Pop-up’ exercise, yoga and art classes
- Staff massages,
- Free Swim Tuesdays
- Weekly campus walking group and lunchtime nature walks (stay tuned for more details on these next week)
Staff can also look forward to the University’s special wellness events in 2020, including Wellbeing Month and the free flu vaccinations program.
Wellness, one month at a time
A great component of Macquarie’s Employee Assistance Program (provided by BeneStar) is the BeneHub – an online portal positively bursting with great advice and tools to improve your mental, physical and financial health.
(Never heard of BeneHub? Check out our road test of this fantastic free resource for Macquarie staff).
In 2020, the Benehub encourages you to follow its ‘road map’ to wellbeing, with a different wellness focus each month. In February, it’s all about improving your work performance, with great advice about managing your time and working effectively with others. There are also special resources for managers, like the MyCoach for People Leaders coaching service.
For information about how to access the Benehub and Benestar’s confidential counselling and coaching services, visit the Employee Assistance Program page.
Is this the year you become friends with the treadmill?
Regular exercise is number one on many New Year’s resolution lists, and having a Sport and Aquatic Centre right here on campus makes it easier for you to reach that goal.
With discounted staff membership, a salary sacrifice option for full-time staff and multi-visit pass options, now is a great time to explore the Centre’s offerings, including the health club, swimming (don’t miss Free Swim Tuesdays and $1 coffee, starting on 18 February), group fitness, adult learn-a-sport and social sport options.
And don’t forget the Macquarie Uni Moves app, which has been specially designed to help Macquarie staff get moving.
Sort out that health issue
If you have a health concern you want to tackle this year, why not take the first step and make an appointment at one of the University’s world-class specialist clinics?
Our on-campus clinics include:
- GP Clinic
- Psychology Clinic and the Centre for Emotional Health Clinic
- Preventative Health Clinic
- Nutrition and Dietetics Clinic
- Healthy Weight Clinic
The Physiotherapy Clinic is continuing its popular functional strength training program this year, with classes available on most days of the week – email physiotherapy@mqhealth.org.au for more information.
Back to homepage
Our GP Clinic is less than satisfactory re expense. They do not accept medicare bulk bill, which is a huge discouragement. Everyday cost has become so high that we cannot afford to pay high consultation fees at GP clinic (even if we get around half of its back). Please consider re-instating the bulk bill arrangements. I was sad to give up my longtime gp.