An Occupational Health Strategy is in place as a supportive resource for staff and leaders in schools. The aim of the Occupational Health Strategy is to promote the health and wellbeing of employees in the workplace, with a strong focus on prevention. The Occupational Health Strategy comprises the Employee Assistance Service and the Occupational Health Service.
The Employee Assistance Service is provided by Spectrum Life and is a self-referral service where school staff have access to a dedicated free-phone confidential helpline. The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The Employee Assistance Service provides advice to all school staff on a range of issues including wellbeing, bereavement, conflict and mediation. Where appropriate, short-term counselling sessions are available to staff and their family members.
These sessions are provided on an individual basis by qualified, accredited/registered counsellors. Up to six sessions can be provided, either via face to face, by telephone or online. In circumstances where short-term counselling is determined to be not clinically appropriate, the EAS provides for Interim Counselling Sessions while the staff member or their family member are awaiting engagement with specialised, or open-ended services to ensure the individual feels supported and guided during the waiting period.
At this point in time, it is not intended to extend the Occupational Health Strategy services that are currently available.
