Wellbeing Considerations for Human Service Workers when working in Remote Regional Areas.

I recently ran a Wellbeing workshop “Self – Care in a Challenging Environment” for Government Human Service employees who work across remote regional areas of Queensland.

It was very interesting to unpack the challenges of working in remote teams, where the topics of isolation and extensive travelling bring forward the obvious needs for wellbeing strategies. It was also clear that in addition, the natural environment presents challenges, particularly in the light of recent natural disasters in Queensland, impacting individuals, families and communities with whom Human Services officers engage with on a daily basis.

So the realities of working in remote areas requires workers to be proactive and take responsibility for monitoring and responding to their own personal / workplace wellbeing and maintaining resilience particularly when engaged with stressed clients. The challenges of limited mobile reception, flooded roads, cars becoming ones mobile office and workers often having to step in to a number of different roles were identified as some of the challenges. On the Australian Government, Australian Institute of Family Studies web site Roufeil and Battye (2008) state: 

Rural service providers have identified a range of issues that are more likely to impact on service delivery in non-metropolitan regions (CWA/FaCSIA, 2006; Lehmann, 2005). These factors include: community pressure to be "all things to all people" (CWA/FaCSIA, 2006, p. 11) in the absence of an adequate range of health and welfare services; 

During the workshop we identified that the pressure is really on for remote workers, and these types of challenges definitely impact individual wellbeing.

Much research has gone in to what is needed for wellbeing. The 5 Daily Actions for Wellbeing are a major key. From this research and using a holistic approach, the Wellbeing Consultancy Australia’s 5 Realms Wellbeing Model and Wellbeing Action plan was developed.

In the “Self – Care in a Challenging Environment” workshop we worked with the 5 Realms Wellbeing Model which enabled participants to develop individual and team Wellbeing Action Plans. Some of the ideas that came out of this workshop and ideas from other workshops I have conducted to support individual and workplace wellbeing for remote workers are as follows and may be helpful to you:

Mental – LEARN Emotional – CONNECT Spiritual / Cultural – TAKE NOTICE Physical – BE ACTIVE Environmental – GIVE

• ·         Write positive statements or affirmations and stick on your desk or in your car.
• ·         Listen to relaxing music using head phones while going through your emails or driving.
• ·         Place a photo of family / loved ones/ holiday destination in your work area.
• ·         Make a regular time each day or week to phone family / friends when away from home.
• ·         Clean up your desk/office or car of clutter and rubbish.
• ·         Have a walking team meeting.
• ·         Watch a funny movie – have a good laugh.
• ·         Take a moment to gaze out at the horizon and “be”.
• ·         Take 3 slow deep breaths.
• ·         Use mindfulness meditation via an app The 8 best apps for mindfulness meditation
• ·         Do some simple stretches on a daily basis.
• ·         Volunteer your time to support a local community event.
• ·         Reflect on the good things in life and list the things you are looking forward to.
• ·         Give a genuine compliment to a colleague on the good work they have done
• ·         Review you professional development plan – look at new and interesting areas of learning.
• ·         Take time to debrief regularly internally with manager/team and externally with trusted friend.
•          Use a few drops of pure peppermint oil on a tissue and push in to your car vent, use fan to activate aroma - clears the head.

Community Service Workers attend Wellbeing Workshop

A second successful Wellbeing workshop was held at Humanity Place in Brisbane last week for Australian Red Cross Community Service Workers.

The 5 Realm Wellbeing Model I have developed for identifying and implementing Wellbeing strategies for Community Service workers and the organisations they work in was once again tested out by another group of interested and very keen Red Cross staff. By the end of the morning everyone had developed their own Wellbeing Action Plan.

The workshop included exploration and discussion on what Wellbeing looks like, how this manifests in the workplace and what barriers present. Very specific issues were identified for those working in community services roles. Working with individuals and families with very complex needs requires workers to have a consistent level of wellbeing to sustain this type of complex work with clients.  This is one of the reasons I have developed the Wellbeing model, as I believe this to be a practical and effective tool for community service workers to build the resilience and increased wellbeing needed for the important jobs they do.

The workshop participants explored each of the 5 Realms of the model, which are based on holistic concepts and also the research done by NEF, who were commissioned by the UK Government to identify a set of evidenced- based actions to improve wellbeing  a few years ago.

I included some simple self-help techniques and exercises throughout the workshop that people found very useful (the super food snacks were popular!). Everyone provided really helpful feedback so I can keep improving the model. Thanks to all who came along and also to Red Cross in Queensland for supporting the workshop.

What participants had to say about the Wellbeing Workshop…

“Thank you Anna for delivering such a great and useful workshop. It is a healthy reminder of self-care in the workplace and in our personal lives. I highly recommend this workshop for all workplaces” Claire Dunglison, Caseworker

 “It was great to identify the 5 realms of wellbeing. They are very realistic and doable. It is great that the framework identifies the different systems in a person that influence wellbeing in general, but also in the workplace” Alex Ruiz

“All aspects of the workshop were very useful and connected me with me. I thank you Anna for bringing this self-awareness in me, in a kind way” Manjusha Gupta, Caseworker

“Lots of ah ha moments! Thank you so much” Jen

“The practical techniques to switch on the brain were very useful” Alhajie Kanu, Caseworker

 “Very useful in assessing my personal and organisational work practices and developing ideas for improvement. Thanks Anna!”  Christine, Caseworker

A Mindful Walking Meditation

Walking the Labyrinth 

The ancient and sacred practice of walking the Labyrinth is a wonderful moving meditation experience. I was very fortunate to be able to join the Woodfloria team under the guidance of Linda to participate in this seven circle traditional Labyrinth walk earlier this week.

The Labyrinth is a single path that leads in to a central point then leads back out.  To walk or follow the path of the labyrinth is an experience that can reveal the metaphors of your current path in life, bring you in to the centre of mindfulness, and present opportunities for self-reflection. Walking the Labyrinth is very calming on the mind and emotions. Everyone commented how calm and centred they felt afterwards. I have always enjoyed moving meditations, and felt a wonderful flowing feeling as I walked the Labyrinth.

Thanks goes to Woodfloria and also Linda, who kindly facilitated the morning. Another Labyrinth walk is planned in the coming months and will be held in the Woodford area. Please contact Woodfloria http://www.woodfloria.com.au or myself for further information.

A mindful practice you could try at home or in your workplace for increased balance and wellbeing…

Take 3 slow deep breaths and then trace the Labyrinth diagram shown (below) with the finger of your non dominant hand.  

Walking the Labyrinth - Woodford

Staff Wellbeing - Relaxation Meditation sessions

One story of my experience that inspires my next step...

In 2011 I started a 20 minute relaxation meditation session once a month in my workplace. I was amazed how many people turned up, the levels of stress people were experiencing and how much people needed and wanted this type of stress management.

I remember one of the staff (we will call her Jill), who was quite an abrupt woman, was not particularly friendly to others in the workplace, and obviously under stress. Jill came to the session having never meditated before, and was completely open to the session.  She had a profound experience that she described as a deep peace and an opening of her heart. From that day on she had a complete change in attitude and behaviour at work, which was noticeable to other staff who remarked on the positive change and interaction. Jill continued to attend the meditation sessions and also took up yoga and meditation at home.

Three years on and the meditation sessions are still regularly attended and valued by staff.

I gained some funding to create a CD to give access to staff from remote areas to these meditations and also for use if I was unavailable to run the meditation session in person.

This is one of my stories that has inspired me to create a range of Wellbeing workshops, Supervision packages, and training to support Human Services organisations and their workers to maintain the balance needed to carry out the important work they do.

Red Cross staff participating in one of the Wellbeing relaxation sessions. 2014.