Name
Megan Kingham
Job title
Manager Health and Wellbeing
Organisation
Optus
What are you/your organisation currently focussing on in terms of workplace health and wellbeing?
We have a constant focus on promoting good mental health through our Healthy Minds program.
This year we are also putting extra focus on sleep and health coaching.
What aspect of workplace health and wellbeing does your organisation do well in?
Our health and welling program is part of making Optus a great place to work. By creating a positive, safe and healthy environment for our people we can increase morale, improve work-life blend and, in turn, positively impact our business. We are proud that we provide a program for all Optus people, no matter where they are.
What’s your biggest challenge working in workplace health and wellbeing?
The battle to get the message out! We have people everywhere working in all sorts of roles, and in all sorts of ways so providing information and services to them means using diverse methods and competing with other internal messaging.
How does WayAhead Workplaces add value to your organisations health and wellbeing program?
Great networking opportunities. Meeting other wellbeing practitioners, swapping ideas, recommendations and resources is invaluable.
The case studies presented in forums are also great.
How do you deal with stress?
I make sure I get enough sleep!
I walk every morning and try to meditate daily.
What are the key issues and considerations for people in workplace health and wellbeing roles?
Evidence based practice is vital. Persistence, flexibility and willingness to try something new.
How do you switch off from work?
I try and not look at work emails once I’m home, I don’t always succeed.
What is your best time saving tip?
Give up on multi-tasking! It makes all tasks seem equally important, and this can lead to simply reacting to an in-box of problems. It’s easy to mistake busyness for productivity, so rather than doing as much as possible, I try to choose the one thing that will contribute the most today. This feels uncomfortable and risky, and sometimes I fall back, but generally find I do best when I give my full attention to the one thing that makes the most difference.
What do you think the future of work health and wellness programs look like?
I think there will be increasingly diverse platforms used to promote corporate health and wellbeing. With an increasingly transient and mobile workforce digitalisation will be at the forefront. Face to face delivery should always be an option though, particularly in mental health.
Megan is a speaker at our 2018 Annual Forum - read about Tim Sharp and Georgie Drury who will also be speaking on the day.
