Staff Well-being

Managing change for staff | Fostering High Quality Connections

The current COVID-19 situation is changing the way that we work. Many people are now required to work from home. For many people this will be the first time that they have worked from home for a prolonged period.

Working from home brings with it many challenges including:

1. Feelings of isolation.
2. Remaining motivated.
3. Adapting to new technology and methods.
4. Adapting material and meetings for online purposes.
5. Ensuring access for people that require it.
6. Learning new technology and platforms.
7. Fear and anxiety caused by COVID-19
8. Frustrations when connectivity impacts on productivity.

With this in mind we have provided a number of links to articles to assist you to adjust to this new working from home and online environment. We hope these articles can assist you to adapt to this new environment to allow you some self-maintenance and continued productivity.

Beyond Blue - Looking after your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak Beyond Blue recognises and understands the feelings of anxiety, distress and concern many people may be experiencing in relation to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and offers a number of strategies to look after your mental health during these unprecedented times.

Lifeline - Mental health and wellbeing during the Coronavirus COVID-19 The outbreak of the coronavirus COVID-19 has impacted people in varying ways on an international scale. It is understandable that during times like this, people may be feeling afraid, worried, and anxious and overwhelmed by the constantly changing alerts and media coverage regarding the spread of the virus. Lifeline has provided some mental health and wellbeing tips and strategies to continue looking after ourselves and each other during these difficult times.

Coronavirus COVID-19: How to look after your mental health when working from home. As Australia grapples with the spread of coronavirus, workers are scrambling to figure out how they can do their jobs from home. This blog article provides tips and strategies for positive mental health whilst working from home.

Australian Human Rights Institute - A COVID-19 guide to working at home (from someone who did it for 6 years) With COVID-19 quarantines happening all over the world, a lot of people are experiencing extended periods of working from home for the first time. This blog article provides a guide to working from home.

Journal Article - The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence The COVID-19 outbreak has seen many countries ask people who have potentially come into contact with the infection to isolate themselves at home or in a dedicated quarantine facility. This journal article provides a review of the psychological impact of quarantine using three electronic databases. The article is not specific to working from home, however provides insight into the negative psychological effects of quarantine and offers strategies to mitigate these effects.

The Be Well Plan program supports users to investigate wellbeing strategies to improve overall mental health. This usually costs $320 but it has been made free and available online to help support mental health during COVID-19.

Key steps and a short video summary of the 'FACE COVID' method. Dr Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap has developed a resource that provides a set of practical steps for responding effectively to the Corona crisis that uses the principles of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). 

COVID-19 is an evolving situation that has changed the way we live, work and connect with family, friends and colleagues. Each day, we learn new ways of adapting to COVID-19. Everything from working from home to physical distancing and separation from our loved ones. Making these changes can take a significant toll and impact the way we think, feel and act. The way we respond to COVID-19 will likely change as further news and information becomes available. Comcare, the National Work Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation Authority, has put together a number of resources to support you during this time. This includes:

• Working from Home Checklist which outlines considerations for short-term working from home arrangements
• Looking after your Mental Health Fact Sheet to support you to take steps to recognise, protect and improve your mental health during this current and evolving COVID-19 environment. 
• Supporting Others in Times of Uncertainty Fact Sheet which provides tips to help you reach out and start a conversation with those who may need extra support. 

Please contact us if you know of other useful resources that could be added to this page.