Wellbeing at Monash newsletter – October
- Contact us at wellbeing@monash.edu
In the October edition:
Wellbeing events & news
Mental Health Week, 10-14 October
With one in five Australians experiencing some form of mental illness, Monash Mental Health Week, from 10 to 14 October, aims to raise awareness of the importance of mental health at Monash through a great variety of events across each campus. We invite you to participate in a range of free events including:
- Mental Health First Aid training refresher
- GLOBAL walk/run
- Random act of kindness lunch
- Fellas tee off
- Mindfulness meditation class
- Chat with the chaplain –
- Mindsight video screening
- Hormones gone wild seminar
- Monash Sport classes and more
Read about what’s happening at your campus.
Mental health week is a joint initiative delivered by Health & wellbeing, Wellbeing at Monash and Monash Sport.
Register for the GLOBAL Monash walk/run and support mental health
All Monash staff are invited to take a step toward better health and participate in the Monash GLOBAL walk/run at their campus.
Delivered in conjunction with Wellbeing at Monash, Monash Sport and Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, the fourth bi-annual GLOBAL walk/run coincides with Mental Health Week – aiming to increase the awareness and knowledge of mental health. Staff can register to participate in the on campus GLOBAL 3km walk or 5km run.
Date: Wednesday 12 October, 12.15pm-1pm
Register: Get your colleagues together and register online
All participants will receive a Health Smart lunch at the end of the event and go in the draw to win great prizes. Participants are encouraged to make a gold coin donation at the lunch to MAPrc which will be used to continue the program’s mental health research and education initiatives.
Last chance to register for the 10,000 Steps Challenge
Get your walking shoes on, the GLOBAL Monash healthy body, healthy mind 10,000 Steps Challenge is on again!
The 5 week Challenge is open to all staff, students, friends and family and commences on Monday, 17 October and will see participants walk a virtual walk visiting national parks around Victoria. Teams of up to 8 people will each aim to clock up at least 10,000 steps each day.
Registrations are also open for pet teams! There are great events happening at each campus and prizes for teams and individuals to win! Participants will not only measure the number of steps they take each day using pedometers, but also experience the many benefits that physical activity has on mental health.
Registrations close Friday 7 October. For more information visit the 10,000 steps website
Top 10 tips for keeping active during the 10,000 Steps Challenge
- Stand up at your desk when taking a phone call
- Pack a picnic or the cricket set and take your family to enjoy one of the many picturesque parks and gardens around Melbourne and Victoria
- Schedule a walking meeting
- Remove your bin from your desk so you have to walk to the next bin
- Stand and take a break from your computer every 30 minutes
- Download a free 7 day trial at Monash Sport
- Register your department for a SWAP program
- Eat your lunch away from your desk
- Get up off the couch and walk around the house during the tv ad breaks
- Enjoy the lunchtime sun with a stroll around campus, download campus walking maps
Lunchtime mindfulness lecture by Dr Craig Hassed
Staff are invited to attend this special Mental Health Week lecture delivered by Dr Craig Hassed on mindfulness.
Recently modern psychology, medicine and neuroscience have explored the importance of attention training, which by other names is called mindfulness or meditation.
This lecture will explore the importance of mindfulness with its applications in healthcare and psychotherapy. A picture is evolving that the training of attention is a generic skill that has a wide variety of particular applications from the most profound to the most mundane. Such applications include the enhancement of wellbeing, the management of depression and stress, dealing with chronic pain, enhancing performance, and leadership training.
Dr Craig Hassed is a general practitioner and senior lecturer in the Monash University Department of General Practice and author of ‘The essence of health’ and ‘Know Thyself’. Dr Hassed has been instrumental in introducing a variety of innovations into medical education and practice with an emphasis on the application of holistic, integrative and mind-body medicine in medical practice, and reconnecting different knowledge systems.
Date: Thursday 13 October, 12.30pm-1.30pm
Where: Many campuses, select your campus and register online
Pilates, boxing, zumba and yoga classes for your team
EResearch, HR, Facilities & Services, Education, ITS, OHS, the Alfred, Engineering and Medicine have all registered for the Staff Wellbeing & Activity Program. SWAP has been designed to bring on campus activity to your office! With 30 or 60 minute yoga, zumba, boxing and pilates classes from just $8 per person, get your colleagues together and organise a class at a time that suits you!
Download the SWAP brochure for all pricing and program information.
New online resilience building program
Resilience is essential for adapting to and overcoming the challenges, setbacks and crises we face in everyday life. It’s our toolkit for responding to one of the 
unfortunate facts of life – that bad stuff happens. The new online Building Resilience Program will help
you understand the psychology behind resilience. It will also equip you with strategies and techniques that will help you build your ability to bounce back from adversity.
Weight Watchers at Work Program
Clayton, Caulfield, Gippsland and Peninsula staff the opportunity to enrol in a new Weight Watchers Program. With the convenience of weekly meetings on campus*, you’ll get the guidance that you need to succeed and stay on track to achieve your weight loss and lifestyle goals.
About the program: The program consists of one weekly meeting for 13 weeks
Cost: $233.35 for 13 week program (payment must be made upfront by cash or card at the first meeting). Some private health insurance providers provide a partial refund.
How to register: Send your interest to join a program to wellbeing@monash.edu with WW and your campus in the subject line. Other campuses welcome to register for their own campus program. A minimum of 12 people required for the program to proceed.
Recipes & Health Tips
Access a vast library of recipes; exercise descriptions; and articles across a broad range of fitness, nutrition and health topics on the Wellbeing at Monash online portal.
From expert tips on strength training to guidance on exercise during pregnancy to advice on how best to cook vegetables, staff have the resources at their fingertips to answer many health and wellbeing queries.
The Recipe Library contains several hundred meals and snacks sourced from expert nutritionists and dietitians. Our Exercise Library provides guidance on more than 200 stretches and muscle build/tone activities for all levels of expertise.
There is also a families section, providing tips on how to keep children active and well nourished – and even some simple games to promote the healthy
Red Cross Blood Service – Clayton campus
The Blood Service will be visiting the Clayton campus in October
When: Bookings are available at the following times: Wednesday 19, Thursday 20 and Friday 29 October 9:30am – 3:30pm
Where: Engineering Building – EH 4/60, Union Loop Road.
Register: To secure your appointment to donate please phone 13 14 95, or email dpallen@redcrossblood.org.au
Confidential, external employee and manager assist counselling
EAP is a professional, external, confidential counselling service available free-of-charge to all University employees and their immediate family members.
The service can be of assistance when staff are experiencing work-related, personal and/or health problems. Manager Assist is a phone consulting service available to University Supervisors and Managers, providing practical advice and support. The service is tailored to meet individual needs when step by step advice or a sounding board is needed.
Further information can be found on the University’s EAP website or phone 1800 350 359.
New e-learning mental health program for managers and supervisors
With one in five Australians experiencing some form of mental illness, Monash managers and supervisors are encouraged to participate in a new online e-learning program ‘Mindful Employer’ developed by SANE Australia.
The program provides a guide for managers and supervisors to help understand the best way to work, communicate and manage a staff member experiencing mental health issues.
The program includes real life case studies on how to manage a range of situations in the workplace and factsheets. Managers and supervisors can register online for the Mindful Employer Program
Improve your mental health – weekly free mindfulness meditation
Mindfulness involves a series of simple meditative practices and cognitive strategies which help change unproductive thought and behaviour patterns. It could also be describes as an attitude to living. 
At our regular weekly calss, you are introduced to simple mindfulness practices that can significantly enhance your relaxation and concentration.
Gippsland: Thursday’s 12pm-12.30pm, Spiritual centre
Caulfield: Weekdays, 12pm-12:30 pm, Spiritual Centre, Room 1.56, Building B
Clayton: Wednesday’s and Friday’s 1:15-1:45 pm, Religious Centre, Building 9
Parkville: Wednesday’s 12pm-12.30pm, Scott Building, Pharmaceutics Meeting Room 232
Parkville Get Active classes
Following the success of the Parkville health checks, Monash Sport are now offering free weekly classes. This is a great opportunity for Parkville staff to get out of the office and get active!
Boot Camp: Wednesdays 7.30-8.30am, meet at the Flagpole
Mindfulness meditation: Wednesdays 12-12.30pm, pharmaceutics meeting room
Pilates: Thursdays 5pm, Cossar Hall.
Enquiries: Contact Michael Jones, Monash Sport x51073
Competition winners and your chance to win
For your chance to win a Village Cinemas movie ticket tell us what you think of the new layout of the newsletter or provide a suggestion for Wellbeing at Monash or Monash Sport (or any wellbeing service you would like to see) Provide feedback via email wellbeing@monash.edu
Monash Sport news and offers
Enjoy FREE group fitness classes as part of Mental Health Week
View the great range group fitness classes available for free at your campus as Monash Sport proudly supports a healthy mind and body through Mental Health Week – October 10 – 14.
Berwick: Zumba – energising new music mixes to calorie burning, easy to follow moves creates this one of a kind fitness program.
Pilates – Improve your flexibility and posture using your mind to control your muscles.
Caulfield: Cycle class – tone the lower body with a simple but very effective cardio workout
Fit Camp – mix it up with a variety of equipment to target all fitness levels.
Clayton: Swim Fit (All evening classes!) – Cardio fitness, strength and muscle tone all in the one class? It is possible with Swim Fit!
Parkville: Zumba – energising new music mixes to energise easy to follow moves creates this one of a kind fitness program.
Pilates – Improve your flexibility and posture by using the power of your mind to control your muscles.
Peninsula: Rotating Class – is exactly that, different every week! Take a chance during mental health week and enjoy trying something new.
Positive sport experiences linked to child development
A study has revealed participation in sport, particularly team sport, can positively impact child development.
Dr Jean Cote, Associate Professor and Acting Director in the School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at Queen’s University of Kingston, Canada, found elements such as a cohesive team environment, assessing own performance and being involved in enjoyable challenges contribute to child development.
As a result, children can learn personal and social skills from sport that can be used in all areas of their life. In response to the importance of sport in the early years of life, Monash Sport has developed specialised programs such as Starta Sports, Infant Aquatics and Learn to Swim. These programs are focused on providing children with an introduction to socialisation and the importance of physical activity.
Starta Sports runs at Monash Peninsula Campus and is targeted at children aged from 2 to 6 years old and combines structured and non-structured methods to keep the children entertained.
The Infant Aquatics Program is designed for parents and children in mind. This program is aimed at preparing children from 6 months old to 3.5 years old with the skills to take part in the Learn to Swim Program where they can continue to progress through different levels according to ability. For more information on each program click on the links above and join your child up today.
Free Fit Camp Lunchtime Session
This 45 minute session is open to everyone and will focus on gaining staff participation. The benefits of regular exercise are no secret and these sessions are targeted at those who need a bit of coaxing out of their offices and into the fresh air.
If nothing else, the thought of a healthier body, stronger immune system and higher work productivity is more than enough motivation to take advantage of this trial.
These sessions will give a taste of the full Fit Camp program that runs across six weeks and provides an opportunity to increase fitness levels with the help of a qualified fitness instructor.
The instructor is there to help with motivation and to carefully monitor and guide progress through the weeks. Fitness Team Leader Robert Elston said “Fit Camp is a way to help people on their way to reaching their health, fitness and well-being goals and because there are lunch time sessions (45mins) it can easily become a part of your daily routine”.
“The lunch time sessions will be great for busy staff to take the time to get fit and also for students between classes in a fun, encouraging group environment,” Mr Elston said.
To register for the Fit Camp trial RSVP attendance to robert.elston@monash.edu
For further information on Fit Camp and how to register for the full program click here
You + Group Exercise and TeamMONASH™ = A Happier You!
October and November marks a particularly busy period for TeamMONASH™ with upcoming major events including: Melbourne Marathon and Around the Bay in a Day bike ride.
Also on the agenda for the latter half of the year is the GLOBAL walk/run. Entry is free to enjoy a 3km stroll or a 5km run in the event, with all participants receiving a free health smart lunch.The walk/run is being held across the entire Monash community; at all Australian campuses plus Monash centres at the Alfred, Bendigo, Notting Hill and the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine. To register your attendance or to find out more, visit this page.
After all this exercise, the Chancellor’s Cup Golf Day is an ideal opportunity to connect with fellow Monash University staff and alumni in a relaxed and informal setting.The four person Ambrose format will provide the basis for a great day of golf on one of Melbourne’s most prestigious courses at the Spring Valley Golf Club. Throughout the day various competitions will be held including, longest drive, nearest the pin and a BBQ all in the name of supporting Monash affiliated sporting clubs.
To cap off this impressive year of participation and achievement, Monash University is presenting the 48th Annual Monash University Sport Awards. Held on Thursday 24 November, 2011 the evening’s celebrations will consist of the presentation of the 2011 Blues Awards and Monash Sport Awards, followed by a cocktail reception. To get yourself an invite to this prestigious event, visit this page.
Movember – the month formerly known as November
Thinking of growing a Mo for Movember? Why not do it as part of TeamMONASH™?
Last year TeamMONASH™ raised over $10,000 for Movember, and this year we’re looking forward to raising even more for men’s health!
Movember is an annual, month long celebration of the moustache, highlighting and raising money for men’s health issues, specifically prostate cancer and depression in men. This time around, the team behind Movember have set up a National Uni Challenge. Mo bros, supported by their Mo sistas, start Movember (November) clean shaven and have a month to grow and groom their moustache.
During the month, each Mo bro builds awareness and raises money through donations for Movember’s mens health partners – The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia; and Beyond Blue – the national depression initiative. We would like you to join this meaningful and interesting event together!
We encourage you to seek for sponsorship from your friends, family and colleagues for the Movember donation.
Go to the Monash Sport page to register and become the participant part of TeamMONASH™ or go to our Facebook page and click attending.
Don’t hesitate!! We are looking forward to seeing you guys!
Launching Fitness Connect!
A service for finding staff and students to join you in exercise and sport? Yes that’s right – it’s car pool matching for fitness, and it’s free for you to use!
You can create your own listing, so others can find you, or click on Search for a fitness connection to find someone interested in the same fitness experience as you.
This service is great for finding that extra player for your sports team, growing your sports club or simply finding a friend in fitness.
Whether you do it outdoors or indoors, on campus or off campus, pursuing general fitness or just a training partner for the coming summer months (and extra daylight hours!), register now via this page and create your own listing now.
You can always try us out anytime you want by downloading a 7 day FREE trial, click here for more details!
For more news and offers from Monash Sport, visit www.sport.monash.edu
Discounts for staff
Discounted health insurance with HBA
HBA corporate offer: Monash staff who sign up as a new member with HBA on the Monash University Corporate Health Plan receive access to a specially designed corporate suite of Health Insurance products. These products contain built-in savings that are not available to the general public.
October special offer: Join Bupa hospital & extras cover and get up to $300 worth of Puma vouchers. This offer is available to all new Bupa Corporate customers who sign up to both hospital and extras cover during the campaign period. More info: Visit a HBA Retail Centre or call 1800 649 406 and quote the Monash University corporate group number – 122265. *Payment must be made by payroll deduction.
For detailed information see health insurance discounts.
adidas factory outlet – 30-40% discount off rrp
adiCentre is offering Monash staff the chance to save 30% off rrp or save 40% when you spend $300 in the month of October
When: Factory outlet opening hours Monday to Friday 9:30am-5pm. Thursday’s till 7pm. Saturday 8 October 9:30am-3pm
Where: adidas Head Office, 767 Springvale Rd. Mulgrave Vic.
Register: You must phone 9263 5276 to book in.
Book now for Christmas holidays! Save up to 50% on holiday accommodation
Monash staff now have access to the exclusive Departure Lounge with discounted rates at selected Peppers, Mantra and BreakFree properties throughout Australia and New Zealand. These rates are exclusive to Monash staff and can be booked up to 12 months in advance. Rates are best when searching for 3 night stays and at least one month in advance (there is limited availability within the next 28 days).
October special: Enjoy up to 44% discount off your next Sunshine Coast holiday in spacious Mantra and BreakFree apartments located near the beach ·
October Departure Lounge Flyer
October Sunshine Coast Feature Flyer
To book: Visit Departure Lounge and enter the password: monashstaff
Milk, bread, fruit and vegies delivered to your door
Monash staff, family and friends, receive $20 off your first order. Aussie Farmers is a 100% Australian owned fruit and vegetables, groceries and organic food, delivered to your door free! Visit the discounts for staff for full details
Lite n’ Easy
Lite n’ Easy offer a $25 discount off their 7-day meal pack to new customers. Call 131512 and quote ‘Monash Uni discount offer’.
DadShop
DadShop is a one stop gift shop targeting gifts for men for almost every occasion. They offer a collection of unique, novelty, quirky gift ideas and a range of personalised gifts. Monash staff receive 10% off by using the promocode on checkout “monash”. Visit DadShop
10% off magazine subscriptions
ACP magazines are offering Monash University staff members a 10% discount on the following magazines titles: APC, Australian PC User, Australian Geographic, Australian Women’s Weekly, Cleo, Cosmo, Empire, Good Health & Medicine, Madison, Money, Motor, Shop Til You Drop, Wheels To receive the 10% discount on subscriptions, visit Magshop or order by phone and quote discount code: P10MUNI
The Convenient Kitchen – We create, We shop, We deliver!
The Convenient Kitchen deliver to your door a grocery bag packed with 5 healthy yummy recipes and all their accompanying market fresh vegetables, meats, fish and poultry for your week’s home cooking. For 2, families of 2-4 or 4-6. All recipes are created by a qualified nutritionist/chef and are easy to cook. No more thinking “what will I cook tonight” no more rushing to the supermarket after work to quickly get what you need, it’s all in your pantry or fridge at home already!
Monash staff offer: 20% discount on all full priced grocery bags for 5 dinners*. Phone 98222877 and mention Monash or visit The Convenient Kitchen and add ” Monash” in the special requirements section. *Available to all new customers only.
Travelling soon? Discounted Airport Lounge access
Sign up for a discounted airport lounge membership and enjoy the benefits! Lounges include Priority Pass: access to 600+ lounges worldwide Virgin Blue The Lounge Qantas Club Lounge.
Visit Airport Lounge discounts for more information.
Other discounts available to Monash staff:
Visit discounts for staff for more information