‘Get healthy at work’

Saturday, 13 September 2014 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The concern of the state in the health of the people was demonstrated by the programmes held last week in New South Wales during the Multicultural Health Week. The first week of September is devoted every year in NSW to create awareness particularly among the multicultural community on the need to be concerned about their health. Programs are planned on a single theme every year.

This year’s programs were targeted at the workforce. In Australia, an estimated 60% adult population is employed. The estimated number of workers in NSW is over three million. Studies have shown that 96% of working-age Australians had at least one chronic disease risk factor and 72% had multiple risk factors. Research indicates that the greatest disease burdens are tobacco smoking, alcohol misuse, poor diet physical inactivity and unhealthy weight. The theme this year was ‘Get healthy at work’. The management of chronic disease risk factors for those in the workplace was addressed during the Week. The accent was on preventing lifestyle-related chronic disease in workers by changing their eating practices, weight, smoking habits and alcohol consumption. The message was simple:

Be Active at Work Eat Healthily at Work Be Smoke Free at Work With 19% of workers reporting that their main language spoken at home as a language other than English and more than 20% of workers having been born in a non-English speaking country, the need for them to have access to information has been realised. The publicity material has been prepared in languages other than English as well. Arabic, Chinese and Vietnamese are the chosen languages. Among the key campaign material is a multilingual booklet entitled ‘Practical Tips to Get Healthy at Work’ in these languages. Print, radio, television, online and digital advertisements are used in ethnic media promoting tips for workers to get healthy at work. In addition, outdoor banners are displayed at strategic locations in main cities. Other events to create awareness were held during the Week. The planned two-year program costing A$ 12 million is expected to reach 40,000 workers. Up to 15,000 workplaces are expected to participate. Of the total workforce of three million in NSW, it has been found that many of them work behind desks and are sedentary for most of the day. The authorities feel that this year’s theme promotes the importance of having a healthy program at work which increases productivity, improves wellbeing, job satisfaction, as well as increasing the retention of staff. Using the stairs instead of an elevator, preparing healthier homemade lunches rather than eating out or increasing your intake of fruit and vegetables, will count on the journey to a healthier lifestyle. The workers are being are being told that looking after oneself is a vital way to avoid unnecessary hospitalisation. Multicultural Health Week has been held annually since 2009 to highlight the importance of language and culture in health services as well as providing an opportunity to raise health issues in multicultural communities. Last year the theme for the Week was ‘Working together for safe, quality care’. Programs promoting ‘Healthy Kids’, ‘Evidence to Equity’, the role of libraries in obtaining health information is one’s language have been held in the previous years.