Wellbeing @ Monash & Monash Sport newsletter – May 2014
Browse the Timeout newsletter for information on what’s new in Wellbeing at Monash. Read about the latest Wellbeing and Monash Sport events, services and activities.
For information about latest events, special offers, discounts, and news, subscribe to the newsletter by emailing wellbeing@monash.edu
In the May edition:
- Wellbeing events and news
- Monash Sport news and offers
- TeamMONASH news
- Employee benefits and discounts
Wellbeing Events and News
Step out for better health in the Global Walk/Run
All Monash staff are invited to take a step toward better health and participate in the lunchtime 3km walk or 5km GLOBAL walk/run event.
Delivered in conjunction with Wellbeing at Monash, TeamMONASH, Monash Sport and Andrology Australia, the GLOBAL walk/run aims to increase the awareness and knowledge of men’s health.
Participation in this event will count towards your department Wellbeing KPI, aiming for 30% participation in wellbeing events.
Date: Tuesday, 20 May 2014, 12.15pm-1pm
Campuses: Alfred, Bendigo, Berwick, Caulfield, Clayton, MMC Clayton, Parkville, Peninsula
Cost: Gold coin donation to Andrology Australia. Light lunch provided.
To register: Go to Global Walk/Run
Towards a smoke-free Monash
To support the health of everyone at Monash, the University is moving towards becoming smoke-free by 2016.
From 28 July 2014, smoking will only be allowed in designated areas at Monash. These areas will be marked in campus maps and clearly signposted at all Monash venues.
Going smoke-free is a big transition for the University, and we understand this will be a big transition for smokers too. Over time, we’ll provide more information on how you can go smoke-free, and how to handle the changes with those around you.
It’s our priority to create a healthier environment for all at Monash. This move places Monash among a core group of Australian universities committed to the health and safety of those on university grounds.
More information is available at the Monash Smoke-Free website
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea
This is a great opportunity for you and your colleagues to come together, share a cuppa and some delicious food, while raisin
g funds for those affected by cancer.
Over 30,000 Biggest Morning Teas were held across Australia last year, with a staggering $12,671,573 raised to help beat cancer.
This year, why not get involved and do your part by organising a morning tea for your area.
While the official day for the morning tea is Thursday 22nd May, events can be held anytime throughout May and June.
To host a morning tea, simply register your morning tea online. For more information and for some great ideas on how to fundraise, go to http://www.biggestmorningtea.com.au/
Why not get together to make a difference. Remember, every cup counts!
Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
In Victoria we are currently seeing over 70 new cases of diabetes diagnosed every day and it is estimated that 1.2 million Victorians are currently in the high risk category for developing type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes usually develops in adults over the age of 45, but is increasingly developing at a younger age. Diabetes, if undiagnosed or not well managed, can reduce your life span by up to 15 years due to a raft of complications.
Information sessions are being held on the 17th June at the Caulfield and 16th July at Clayton Campus for staff interested in hearing more about preventing the onset of this terrible disease. To register, click here.
For a quick and easy questionnaire to determine your own risk of developing type 2 diabetes, click here. Those who score 12 or more will be eligible to participate in the FREE type 2 diabetes prevention program – Life. This program is a 5 session group education course funded by Diabetes Australia and offered at Monash BASE, a dietitian and endocrine private consulting clinic.
If you score more than 12 and would like to have access to the Life program, please contact the dietitian’s reception staff on: 9079 0477 or via email: base.nutrition@monash.edu.
Mindfulness for wellbeing, resilience and performance
For staff:
Register to take part in a 3.5 hour Mindfulness Workshop through. The workshop will e
xplore:
- the science, principles and practice of mindfulness
- its applications in areas including wellbeing, mental health, and resilience
- its role in leadership development
- the capacity of mindfulness to enhance information processing, decision making and performance.
Workshops are available in July, September and November. Register online.
For Supervisors:
Supervisors are encouraged to take part in this 3.5 hour program which in addition to the above 4 points, also looks at what you can do as supervisors, to assist in the embedding of the mindfulness practice.
The mindfulness program for supervisors is available online.
Expert nutrition advice at a great price!
Private individual nutrition consultations are now available with an experienced and qualified Accredited Practising Dietitian at highly discounted rates for staff, friends and family of Monash University. The sessions are run by the Monash Nutrition Clinic is part of the Human Base (Be Active Sleep & Eat) Facility, in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science at Monash University.
No referral is necessary to see the dietitian, and Medicare rebates only with an Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Pathway are available for chronic illnesses from your GP), private health insurance and DVA rebates are available.
Appointments to see the dietitian are currently being taken for Thursday afternoons. All nutrition consultations are with a fully qualified and experienced Accredited Practising Dietitian. The clinic also delivers structured and supervised training for student dietitians, and at times, you may be asked if a student could be present during your consultation. This service is offered at a discounted rate to promote community wellness and student education. The cost is $60 for your first assessment and $40 for a review session. To make an appointment, call 99024298 or email nutrition.dietetics@monash.edu
Do you cycle to work or run/walk regularly at lunchtime?
The University Wellbeing KPI aims to achieve 30% participation
in wellbeing events and programs.
Staff who regularly participate in a wellbeing related activity during their work day can now log their participation in a database to help contribute to their Faculty/Division Wellbeing KPI.
Regularly is defined as at least once per week, for a minimum of 30 minutes during your work day (Monday to Friday).
Log your participation in the Wellbeing KPI form.
Order a delicious fruit box for your next staff meeting or event
At Monash we encourage staff to make the healthy choice when providing food for staff meetings and events. Why not try a delicious box of fruit at your next meeting and event?
FruitAddicts offers Monash departments an excellent fresh
box of fruit, with free delivery to Monash campuses and 10% discount off the following prices –
Box of 30 fruit pieces $24
Box of 45 fruit pieces $34
Box of 60 fruit pieces $44
To order contact Steve at FruitAddicts or phone 1300 438 378 and quote ‘Monash Wellbeing’. Payment can be made via cheque, credit card or monthly invoicing.
You can order these and find many more suggestions in our Health Smart Healthy Catering brochure or the Catering How To Buy Guide.
Do you wear glasses? Monash eye glasses collection
Do you have old eye glasses sitting in your desk draw? Wellbeing @ Monash is now collecting used eye glasses for the Lions Recycle For Sight Program.
Send your unwanted eye glasses via internal mail to Wellbeing @ Monash – OHS, Building 40P, Clayton
Monash Sport news and offers
Doug Ellis Swimming Pool refurbishment
The Doug Ellis Pool will be undergoing essential maintenance works to replace the roof structure and retile the 25m Variable Swimming Pool. This project will deliver important updates to the facility, including:
- Addressing ongoing maintenance defects associated with the ageing pool roof.
- Upgrading the air handling systems to increase air circulation and customer and staff comfort in the pool hall.
- Re-tiling the Variable Pool in line with recent refurbishments to the main pool and spa.
- Providing an improved aquatic environment including the installation of acoustic wall panelling to decrease ambient noise.
Please visit our website for more information.
Monash Games – Register to Participate!
Faculty vs Faculty, Department vs Department, Campus vs Campus, Staff Vs Students! 
The annual Monash Games is happening between 23 & 25 July. Get a team together and compete for ultimate glory and bragging rights. There is even a competition aimed directly at staff. This event caters for staff who are unable to dedicate 1 full day to a competition. Get your colleagues together, pick a sport, and have a great afternoon on the sports arena! Teams from all campuses are welcome to play in our futsal, netball, dodgeball, volleyball or basketball competitions. If your department would like to participate in a different sport, please contact us.
Registrations are opening soon, so don’t miss out! For more information, please click here.
Nutrition tip of the month – Staying Hydrated
An often overlooked component of nutrition is the importance of fluid intake pre/intra and post exercise. The loss of fluid during exercise has a negative effect on performance by decreasing concentration while increasing your heart rate and body temperature.
To ensure you are consuming enough fluid during your workout try weighing yourself prior to commencing exercise and then weighing yourself immediately after finishing your workout. The difference in your weight equals the amount of fluid that has been lost that needs to be replaced, if not you will become dehydrated.
Remember, if you’ve finished exercise and you’re feeling thirsty, it’s most likely that you’ve already become dehydrated. If this happens, don’t ignore your body – rehydrate as soon as possible.
How can nutrition aid me in my recovery?
How well you recover from activity is determined largely by your post-exercise nutrition. Eating the wrong foods can lead to a slower recovery.
Post-exercise nutrition works through the following three ways:
- Restoration of fluid and electrolytes which were lost through sweating
- Replacement of muscle fuel (carbohydrate) to allow for faster return to normal energy levels
- Intake of protein to aid in repair of damaged muscle and to stimulate muscle growth
Remember: not every workout is the same!
Different types of workouts require different types of foods to help you recover after your exercise. If you’ve just done a weights session, you’ll need to consume more protein to recover effectively than someone who has done a cardio based workout.
TeamMONASH news
Participate in the annual Mother’s Day Classic event!
The annual event is being held Sunday, 11 May 2014 – get involved by registering to compete or putting your hand up to volunteer!
The Mother’s Day Classic is the biggest community fundraising event for breast cancer in Australia. With over 80,000 people participating nationally, this walk/run event gives people the chance to make a real difference to the lives of those diagnosed with breast cancer. 
Participants who are a part of TeamMONASH™ can select to compete in either the 4km run or 4km walk, or the 8km run or 8km walk.
Be a part of a great day and a great cause and wear the TeamMONASH blue!
First time students, staff and alumni get a free TeamMONASH top, and all participants registered with Team MONASH get access to the Uni Hub – free snacks, drinks, massage, cloakroom and more!!
Emer Casey Fun Run – raise money for a good cause
Emer Casey Fun Run is on the Sunday, 25 May! The Emer Casey Foundation raises money for Ovarian and Uterine Cancer research. Over $30,000 was raised last year and we’re looking to raise that and more in 2014!
The event is to be held at Monash University, Clayton Campus, there is a 5k and a 10k option. To register or find out more, visit our website.
Monash Minds Mumbai Fundraising Trivia Dinner
In an emerging economy like India’s, speaking English is a highly sought after skill which opens many employment opportunities for underprivileged children in India. The Make A Difference charity delivers language programs to children aged 10-15 living in slum orphanages. It costs AUD$70 per child per year to deliver the program. Along with the money raised to help these children, eight Monash Minds students will travel to Mumbai in July to volunteer as ‘shadow teachers’ with the Make A Difference charity.
Our trivia dinner will raise essential funds to put children through this program and help them break the poverty cycle.
Date: Wednesday 28 May, 2014
Time: 6.30pm
Location: Monash Residential Services Function Room, Building 47 Clayton Campus
Cost: $50, includes a two-course dinner, trivia and auction
To purchase your ticket(s) please click here.
Enquiries: Tammy Fitzgerald
Donations: tammy.fitzgerald@monash.edu M: 0424 791 795
Employee benefits and discounts
Monash staff have access to a great range of employee benefits and discounts including accommodation, travel, travel insurance, airport parking and car hire and plenty more. Read more information in the range of employee benefits and staff discounts
BUPA health insurance staff discount
Bupa provides staff access to the Monash Corporate Health Insurance Plan, with:
- A suite of health cover options not available to the general public
- Competitive premiums
- No GAP optical packages
- No GAP physio and dental for kids
- Switching from another fund is easy
- A single room or your money back # conditions apply
- Your premiums paid through direct debit/credit card*
For pricing and detailed information:
Visit the BUPA Corporate webpage:
- Username: monashuni
- Password: healthplan
Or see Cover for Corporate (pdf 3Mb), for more information about benefits see the Corporate Benefits Guide (pdf 388kb).
Special offer 2014: Take out hospital and extras cover under your Monash University corporate health plan and choose from a New Balance, Bupa Optical or Trek/Bontrager voucher. Conditions apply.
For pricing and detailed information see staff benefits and discounts.
Medibank joins Monash employee benefits program
Medibank has partnered with Monash University to create a special corporate arrangement on health cover for you as a part of the Monash employee benefits program. Here are some of the benefits you can look forward to when you join Medibank Corporate hospital and extras:
- An ongoing 8.3% discount – that’s like getting one month of cover free each year*
- Discount applies to new and existing Medibank members but is based on premiums of equivalent and eligible Medibank retail covers and applies for the life of your corporate cover.
- Tailored packages for every stage of life
- No hospital excess for kids on family memberships+
- 100% back on optical items at optical retailers, up to your annual limits#
- Medibank hospital cover includes access to a range of health support services, including a 24/7 health advice line.
And, join Medibank Corporate hospital and extras cover between 1 April and 15 May 2014 and get 1 month free*.
Get a quote or join by booking a face to face cover review by calling 131 680. Don’t forget to mention this offer when you get a quote. *Conditions apply
Join the Travel club
Introducing Travel Club, the newest addition to 
Monash University Employee Benefit’s Program.
Travel Club is a private leisure club which gives you access to amazing holiday deals and discounts to destinations all over the world. Backed by the global Flight Centre Travel Group, Travel Club offers Monash University staff access to the best deals together with a dedicated, highly experienced consultant.
As a member of Travel Club you will have access to specially negotiated holidays, products and services tailor-made for you.
And, as a bonus, all Monash University staff who register will receive a $50 gift voucher upfront, and one every year after that, to put toward their next holiday*. With Travel Club’s “Price Promise” you can be sure you’re getting the very best price, Travel club will beat any available quote you find*, that’s how committed they are to ensuring you have the best value experience every time you travel.
So register today and start planning your next trip. *Terms and Conditions apply.
Virgin Airlines Discount
Virgin Airlines is offering all Monash staff a 10% discount on domestic travel booked before the 30th June 2014 for travel to December 2014. For more information go to Corporate Leisure Offer
Up to 50% off Peppers and Mantra Resorts
Staff have access to the exclusive Departure Lounge with discounted rates at selected Peppers, Mantra and BreakFree properties throughout Australia, Bali and New Zealand.
Download the May specials here . See the flyer for travel dates and specials.
To book visit Departure Lounge and enter the password: monashstaff Rates are best when searching for 3 night+ stays.
Bank Benefits
As a Monash employee you can now access a range of banking and financial benefits including competitive rates on home lending and other NAB financial products, discounted movie tickets, computers, travel, shopping and much more from a range of top brands.
Benefits include:
- Preferential rate of 0.7% p.a. less than the standard variable home loan rate for both owner-occupied and residential investment home loans. For higher loan amounts, additional benefits may be negotiated.
- First year annual fee waiver for NAB Choice Package under NAB@work (saving $395).
- Home lending: 50% discount on the standard application fee for home loans (saving of $300).
- Term deposits: Receive a 0.25% p.a. bonus on the standard rates or 0.10% p.a. bonus on the blackboard special rate. This offer is available for deposit amounts of $5,000 – $250,000 for terms of 6-24 months, for online applications through NAB@work.
- Dining: Special offers on a wide range of restaurants around Australia including local eateries and premium restaurants.
- Shopping: Special offers on an extensive array of quality brands, products and services through telephone based and online service providers.
For more information about the NAB@work program visit the Monash employee benefits and discounts webpage
10% off Rydges, Art Series and QT Hotels & Resorts
Enter the Monash Corporate ID at 40 Rydges, Art Series and Q
T Hotels & Resorts in Australia, New Zealand and the UK and receive:
- 10% off all your accommodation bookings
- Best rates online guaranteed
To start saving:
- Visit any of the hotel websites and select your preferred location and stay dates
- Enter the Monash Corporate ID: PC102298 in the text box and save 10% off the best rates
Travelling soon? Discounted Virgin and Qantas lounge access
Sign up for a discounted airport lounge membership for Qantas and Virgin and enjoy the benefits!
Qantas Club memberships offer heavily discounted rates that can be salary sacrificed; pricing: $316 (one year) or $560.89 (two years) plus $230.00 joining fee.
Virgin Australia lounge corporate memberships offer a special price of $200 per year with a $100 joining fee.
Visit Airport Lounge discounts for more information.
Other discounts available to staff
- Andrew’s Airport Parking – 20% discount for staff, 15% for family
- Avis car hire – reduced excess and 3rd day of weekend rentals free
- Aussie Farmers Direct – first order discount
- Blink Optical – 20% off sunglasses and lenses
- BMW & Mini Corporate Program – complimentary scheduled servicing for 4 years / 60,000km, use of a BMW during scheduled servicing, corporate pricing, reduced dealer delivery charges
- Convenient Kitchen home delivery meals
- Dell – up to 15% discount
- Lite n’ Easy – 7 day meal pack discount
- Magazine subscriptions – 10% off
- Monash Commuter Club, 10% discount on Myki
- Parkville Carlton Football Club Cafe
- Travel insurance – special rates for staff