Wellbeing @ Monash and Monash Sport newsletter – July 2015
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 July edition:
- Wellbeing events and news
- Monash Sport news and offers
- TeamMONASH news
- Employee benefits and discounts
Wellbeing Events and News
Want to reduce your risk of developing diabetes ?
Learn how to reduce your chance of developing type 2 diabetes, as well as heart disease and stroke, by registering for one of the information sessions being held on Tuesday 14th July at Clayton and Wednesday 15th July at Caulfield from 12-1pm.
The sessions, to be run by Diabetes Victoria, will cover the following topics:
- What is diabetes?
- Symptoms and complications of diabetes
- Risk factors linked to type 2 diabetes
- How to prevent type 2 diabetes
Click here to register.
These sessions are being held as part of National Diabetes Week. To find out more of what’s happening in Victoria, click here.
Going Smoke Free in 2016
As Monash moves towards a smoke-free environment from January 2016, it will continue to support staff and students who wish to quit smoking and transition to a healthier lifestyle. Support will be provided through a range of services via the University Health Service,and Counselling. Staff can also attend fully funded QUIT programs at their campus by simply registering their interest. Watch this video to see the progress Monash University has made towards becoming smoke-free!
Mental health programs available
With one in five Australians experiencing a mental illness this year, it’s important we at Monash continue to encourage our friends, workmates and family to seek help when they need it, without fear or stigma.
Monash provides a range of programs to assist staff, students and their family members to improve their mental health. Upcoming programs available to staff and staff groups include:
- Mental Health Awareness:
3 hours, Free for staff groups, requires a minimum of 10 participants
For information click here. Contact clare.swanson@monash.edu - Mental Health First Aid Training:
Berwick: Tuesday 14 & Thursday 16 July, 9am to 5pm
Register online - Mindfulness for wellbeing, resilience and performance – for Supervisors
Clayton: Friday 24 July, 1:30pm to 5pm
Register online - Stress Release Program:
Peninsula: Tuesdays 28 July, Aug 4, 11, 18, 25, Sep 1, 10am-11am
Register online - Lunchtime drop-in meditation sessions
Half hour sessions held over lunchtime at all campuses. Click here for more information.
Men’s Health Week
During 15th-21st June Monash University took part in Men’s Health Week by holding two health 
seminars addressing prominent men’s health issues.
The seminars presented by both Andrology Australia and the Heart Foundation provided Monash staff with the opportunity to learn about the relationship between male infertility and diabetes and about heart health and nutrition for a healthy heart.
A video on men’s health week is available here.
If you would like a copy of the presentations by Andrology Australia or The Heart Foundation please email wellbeing@monash.edu
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The Employee Assistance Program is a professional counselling service available to all employees and their immediate family members. The service offers confidential, short-term support for a variety of work-related and personal problems that may be affecting you at work or at home. The key principles of the EAP are to ensure that:
- it is available to all staff members and their immediate families free of charge;
- access to EAP is voluntary;
- professional counselling is provided by qualified psychologists;
- strictest confidentiality is maintained by the provider;
- staff members seeking assistance will not jeopardise their employment in any way; and
- staff may choose to seek assistance from an established internal or external service provider.
Visit for following site, for more information on the Employee Assistance Program or call 1800 350 359.
Monash Short Courses: Relaxation Massage Course
Monash Short courses are offering a Relaxation Massage Course.
This popular relaxation massage course goes for 2 days; it’s based on Swedish techniques and gives you hands–on experience with practical methods to assist in the prevention and relief of common ailments such as headaches, tiredness, backaches and stress. Uses oils.
Details:
- Saturday and Sunday 8th August & 9th August, 10am – 3.30pm
- Saturday and Sunday 24th October & 25th October 10am-3.30pm
Staff and students are entitled to the Discount rate of $154
Monash Sport news and offers
Monash ARV Awards Win!
We are proud to announce that Monash Sport has won the Health Club of the Year Award at the 2015 Aquatics and Recreation Victoria Awards.
Aquatics & Recreation Victoria (ARV) is the peak body for aquatic and recreation in the state. Ever year the ARV awards acknowledges people and organisations that have achieved outstanding results through their awards night.
This year Monash Sport applied and was shortlisted for both the Health Club of the year Award and the Facility Management Award for the Doug Ellis Pool.
The Health Club of the Year award recognises innovative and effective management practices to achieve excellence in health club operations. It focuses on programming, human resources, customer service, risk management, community involvement and partnerships.
The application for this award required Monash Sport to submit a written application outlining what sets us apart from the other health clubs within the industry. It allowed a maximum of
2200 words and required referencing to customer survey results, programming initiatives, member usage and features such as accessibility and enhancements to the centre. It also required a video submission (links below).
Monash Sport’s win for the Health Club of the Year came on the back of last months Platinum Pool achievement, demonstrating the overall commitment of Health Club and Pool staff to providing excellent services and features to their members.
- Health Club Award – http://youtu.be/q-7jLnbOMXI
- Facility Management Award – http://youtu.be/N6FIlJq29SA
Monash Games – Register Now!
Staff vs staff, faculty vs faculty, departments vs departments
Get your teams together and start your training, Monash Games is nearly here.
From Wednesday 22 – Friday 24 July Monash students and staff will have the opportunity to get teams together and compete for ultimate glory, recognition and most importantly bragging rights!
A staff only competition is available on the Friday – catering to staff who cannot commit to a full day of competition. Due to the significant growth in the competition this year sports will be divided into two time slots. One from 11am to 1pm and another from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. There’s never been a better time to get your colleagues together, pick a sport and have a great time duking it out in the sports arena!
Registrations close Tuesday 14 July so don’t miss out! For more information please click here.
Friday Night Freeze
During the upcoming WinterFest event Monash Sport will be hosting Friday Night Freeze. A winter themed event full of sport and activity.
The event will host a range of festivities including Music, Food, Fireworks and Mulled Wine as well as the opportunity to take part in a number of fun activities such as Toboggan Rides, Snowball Dodgeball and live sporting matches by our Soccer and Football Clubs.
The event will also be hosting the Icebath Slide Challenge in support of Motor Neuron Disease. Participants will have a chance to nominate themselves or others by pledging a donation. The minimum pledge is $10. The nominated member can redirect their trip down the slide by nominating a larger pledge to someone else taking a trip into the icy depths.
Motor Neuron Disease causes those affected to progressively lose the use of their limbs, ability to speak, swallow and breathe while their mind and senses typically remain intact. There is currently no known cure or effective treatment for this disease and donations will go towards research into better treatment and possible cures for this.
So come down, enjoy the festivities and help us raise funds to this vital research.
See our website for more information!
Recreation Hall Closure
Monash Sport have taken the opportunity during the University break to update our oldest building.
The floor will be finished just in time for use in Semester 2 Social Sport and we look forward to seeing it get used!
Variable Pool Closure
The variable pool in the Doug Ellis Swimming Pool has been closed for the completion of it’s final refurbishment project. The project is estimated to take around two months and works should be completed by the end of August. During this time the main pool will still be available and the timetabling around this had been modified slightly to take into consideration the missing second pool so that members have as much accessibility as possible.
The retiling of the variable pool will significantly reduce buoyancy allowing varying depths for a variety of programming. During this period Monash Sport is also taking the opportunity to refurbish the sauna and steam rooms and expect all works to be completed by the end of August.
We want your feedback!
In order to build the best team, we all need to work together. Please let us know your thoughts on any of our programs, SWAP, Group Fitness, etc via our online feedback system. Let’s kick some goals together!
Water Wise Program Launched
Last year alone 266 people drowned in Australia, with the highest risk group being 25-34 year olds. Monash recognised that whilst many students have been brought up learning how to swim, others may have come from remote areas without access to swimming facilities or programs preventing them from learning this life saving skill.At the beginning of this year the Water Wise program was launched as a fully funded learn to swim program. It is open to all current Monash University students, teaching them swimming skills to a beginner level. The initiative was designed to increase the water safety and swimming ability of Monash Students.
We believe that by increasing the number of students with the ability to swim we can help reduce the incidence of drowning. Funded by the Student Services and Amenities Fee, since it’s launch date in January more than 450 students have signed up to this valuable program, with numbers increasing every week.
To find out more click here.
TeamMONASH news
Southern University Games
Southern University Games began this week in Adelaide with over 1800 students competing. Since it’s inception in 1991 the Southern Uni Games have been renowned for providing a friendly but competitive environment for student athletes from all over Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
Despite the dreary weather our students turned up ready to play and have had a great start to the Southern University Games. Notable mentions from the first two days include our Women’s Futsal team who have won 5 out of their six matches played so far and drawn their other match, our Ultimate and Touch MX teams who have had straight wins in each of their five matches played and an incredible win for Toby O’Brien who came first in the Individual Cross Country.
Matches will continue for all sports until the end of Thursday with the exception of the team cross country which will be undertaken on Thursday. Check out our Facebook page for all the latest photos, news and results!
Melbourne Marathon – participate with TeamMONASH!
The Melbourne Marathon is an exciting event for participants of all ages and fitness levels. There are running and walking opportunities ranging from 3km up to 42.195km. All events will start from Batman Avenue (150m north of Rod Laver Arena entrance); Melways Ref 2G A7 and finish outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Event date: Sunday 18 October, 2015
Before and after the event you can ‘hang out’ with other TeamMONASH™ participants in our marquee which also offers face painting and a free massage service provided by Recover Sports Medicine. TeamMONASH™ has entered a team in the Melbourne Marathon every year since 2006.
To register or for more information, please see our website.
WinterFest
In the second week of Semester 2, Clayton Campus will be transformed into a winter wonderland for our first ever WinterFest event. The festival will offer plenty of activities for everyone including music and comedy performances, theatre shows, live sport, a family movie night and light shows. There will be plenty of delectable offering from a mouth-watering selection of food trucks each night as well as a night market taking place on the Wednesday night.
Don’t forget to check it out! Details can be found here.
Volunteering at Monash
Volunteering at Monash is a brand new online system that is set up to match students with thousands of Volunteering opportunities both internal and external to Monash.
Operated by the team at “Careers, Leadership and Volunteering”, opportunities range from getting involved in the TeamMONASH Support Crews, or becoming an Open Day Ambassador to joining your local Neighbourhood Watch. Launched in March this year the program already has over 400 students registered with numbers continually increasing.
The program offers you the opportunity to advertise your own volunteering opportunities via the website or you can send it around to your own students. To get involved click here.
Alternately, if you’re looking to volunteer, we also have a great opportunity for staff to volunteer with the St Kilda Football Club. Staff, students an alumni can get involved in the fun of an AFL match day. You can bring a friend of two, and each of you will get a free ticket to each game you volunteer at, some merchandise and the opportunity to get involved in the pre-game activities in and amongst the crowd. For more information or to register your interest, click here.
Volunteering is a rich and rewarding experience for Monash University Staff.
See our website for more information.
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 about the range of employee benefits and staff discounts
Peppers and Mantra Queensland hotel special offers
Staff have access to the exclusive Departure Lounge with discounted rates at selected Peppers,
Mantra and BreakFree properties throughout Australia, Bali and New Zealand.
To read more about these and other July specials view the discounts flyer here.For pricing, availability and to book visit Departure Lounge and enter the password: monashstaff
Rates are best when searching for 3 night+ stays. If you have any reservations enquiries, email departurelounge@mantragroup.com.au.
Join Medibank and get two months of GymBetter for free!
Join Medibank Corporate & Extras cover by August 15 and get 2 months GymBetter for free. With over 600 gyms in the network, GymBetter provides access to participating gyms including Goodlife Health Clubs, Fernwood Fitness and YMCA nationwide. Once your 2 months free is up, you can continue to use GymBetter at the member’s price. Plus, as a Monash University employee you also get an ongoing discount on corporate cover.
Medibank’s Corporate health cover makes it easier for you to get the most from your extras.
- Use your extras how you want with a combined limit on included extras, If you need lots of physio, use it all on physio. They’re your extras, use them your way.
- Claim anywhere. With Medibank Corporate cover, you can claim back at any recognised provider you like, on included extras.
- 100% back on optical. Medibank Corporate cover will reimburse you for 100% of your optical cost, up to your annual limit.
Join BUPA and enjoy the benefits
We understand that illness can strike at anytime including when your GP is not available – like on weeknights, weekends, and public holidays. That’s why, as part of Bupa’s commitment to caring for our members we’re giving you access to After Hours Plus from National Home Doctor Service.
If you’re unwell after hours you can book a bulk billed home visit from National Home Doctor Service, and as a Bupa health insurance member you will be treated as an After Hours Plus patient. This means you can be supplied medications from a list of commonly required antibiotics and other medications on the spot, at no cost so treatment can begin immediately. Usually $59 per year, as a Bupa member, you’ll get complimentary access to After Hours Plus.
For information and pricing on the Monash BUPA program, visit the BUPA Corporate webpage and enter:
- Username: monashuni
- Password: healthplan
Other discounts available to staff include:
- Andrew’s Airport Parking – 20% discount for staff, 15% for family
- Avis car hire – reduced excess and 3rd day of weekend rentals free
- BUPA 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
- Lite n’ Easy – 7 day meal pack discount
- Travel insurance – special rates for staff