Wellbeing @ Monash and Monash Sport newsletter – August 2017
Browse the Timeout newsletter for information on what’s new in Wellbeing at Monash. Read about the latest Wellbeing, Monash Sport and Team Monash 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 August edition:
- Wellbeing events and news
- Monash Sport news and offers
- TeamMONASH news
- Employee benefits and discounts
Sign up for the Monash Global Walk/Run 
The bi-annual Monash Global Walk/Run will be held on September 20th. The event will form part of this year’s International Sports Day in collaboration with Monash in Motion.Sign up now and get together with your colleagues and friends to take a walk around our many wonderful campuses and sites.
All staff and students are invited to get their walking shoes on and take part in the second Global Walk/Run event this year between the 20th and 21st of September. The event will commence at 12.15pm with a walk or run and will conclude with a healthy lunch and some great prize giveaways.
The event aims to raise an awareness of preventing violence against women and the work done by the White Ribbon Foundation. Participants will be encouraged to make a gold coin donation at the lunch.
So, why not take a step toward better health and be part of the global Monash community.
For more information and to register visit our website. Registrations close Monday,18th of September
Women’s Health Week
The two biggest barriers for women not maintaining a healthy lifestyle is ‘lack of time’ and ‘health not being a priority’.
Women’s Health Week is the time to put ourselves first, for just one week, and start making positive changes that can last a lifetime.
Dr Deidre Bentley from Jean Hailes for Women’s Health will be speaking on key issues affecting women’s health including menopause, heart health, bone health and stress. The talk will focus on this year’s Women’s Health Week theme It’s time we put ourselves first!
Sign up for the event on Monday 4th of September on the Clayton campus. If you can’t attend on campus, you can join us live via webinar
RUOK – Its time to check in with family and friends
R U OK? Day is a national day of action and a reminder to regularly check in with family, friends and workmates. Staying connected and having meaningful conversations is something we can all do. You don’t need to be an expert – just a great mate and a good listener.
We encourage staff and student groups to promote the day by;
- Getting a group together and host an activity
This could be a morning tea, random acts of kindness, a team sport – anything that brings your group together to provide time to connect with each other.
- Register your event
Jump on the Monash R U OK? Day website and let us know what you are up to. We have a limited amount of merchandise which can only be given to events we know about. A small starter pack will be allocated to groups that register their event on our website.
- Promote your event
Posters, flyers and plasma screens available for download from the Monash R U OK? Day website. Use whatever forms of communication work for your group ie. Social media, newsletters etc
For Monash resources and information about our events see monash.edu/ruokday or contact Clare Swanson
Check out the winners of the Healthy Snacks Competition
Congratulations to the 30 lucky winners who took out a week’s worth of healthy snacks in the healthy vending competition.
Check out the winning photos here
Competitors were challenged to take a photo enjoying one of the many healthy snacks on offer, and post it to instagram. Some of the great pictures entered together with the details of our competition winners can be seen here.
Free Health Checks a hit with staff
Hundreds of staff have signed up for the free health checks which have now commenced
The free 20-minute health checks which were offered at multiple Monash campuses and sites, include a check of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose and waist circumference all measured by a health professional. In addition, an assessment of your type 2 diabetes risk, cardiovascular disease risk, and modifiable risk factors (smoking and exercise) was also included, together with an individual results card.
It is hoped that the free health checks will be offered as part of Monash’s annual staff wellbeing program.
Ride the red sharebikes for FREE 
The Monash Bikeshare scheme is now free to all Monash staff and students at Clayton. All you need to do is register!
Users will be able to hop on any of the 70 bikes available on-campus to travel from one point of Uni to another.
Clayton campus is a big place, so why not cut down your travel time and bike around! From the bus loop to class, the carparks to Campus Centre, and from Halls to Menzies. Ride for fun, ride for fitness, ride for free!
Sign up for your free membership here.
30,000 fewer ‘red’ meals sold at The Alfred each year
Alfred Health has successfully slashed sales of unhealthy foods across all hospital sites by more than 30,000 meals each year as part of a new trial to tackle obesity and promote healthy eating.
In partnership with key retailers, they tested whether innovative communication tools at the point of sale would impact consumer choice and retail profit.
Foods were labelled as green, amber or red, according to their nutritional content, and were accompanied by a quirky ‘nudge’ line for example, green – ‘Mum would be proud’, amber ‘like a par in golf’, red – ‘maaaaaate’. Posters to explain the cards were also displayed.
Through this messaging, Alfred Health helped shift buyer behaviour. Consumers kept buying food; there was no significant difference in total food sales. Promisingly however, people shifted away from ‘red’ foods and towards healthier choices.
This translates to around 30,000 fewer red lunches sold at one café at The Alfred each year.
Central Gippsland Health adopted Alfred Health’s Point of Sale Traffic Light System in July and these resources are now available for download by not-for-profit organisations interested in creating their own healthy food environments.
We created this report to help communicate our experience.
For further details and access to the Point of Sale Traffic Light resources, visit our website or contact Kia Noble, Dietitian at Alfred Health at prevention@alfred.org.au.
Mindfulness for wellbeing, resilience and performance
Mindful Relationships
This program consists of 6 x weekly 60 minute sessions. You will learn how to use mindfulness and compassion training to reduce stress and improve your relationship with yourself and others. Research shows this results in better wellbeing and enhanced performance, as well as increased empathy and improved relationships.
Dates of the sessions are: Tuesdays, Sept 12, 19, 26, Oct 3, 10 & 17
To attend, register here
Introduction to Mindfulness
Mindfulness involves a series of simple meditative practices and cognitive strategies to help change unproductive thought and behaviour patterns. Mindfulness can also be described as an attitude to living and may enhance:
- – stress management
- – work and study performance
- – contentment, peace of mind and balance
- – relationships at home and work
- – concentration and focus in the moment
- – resilience
- – physical and emotional health
Date: October 3rd (Caulfield campus)
To attend, register here
Monash Sport News, Events and Offers
MS 24 Hour Mega Swim: Early bird registrations close this Friday!
This year’s MS Mega Swim event will be held on 7 – 8 October at the Doug Ellis Swimming Pool & Monash Sport Clayton. All types of teams are encouraged; work teams, sporting teams, family teams, swim club teams or even a group of friends. The event is a fantastic team building exercise or off season training opportunity. Prizes are awarded to teams who achieve the highest points through fundraising and swimming distance, register your team now!
Monash College Games Recap
Week 4 of this Semester saw over 900 students attend Monash Sport’s Clayton facilities for the inaugural Monash College Games.
Held over the course of one evening, a series of short competitions were held for all residential and non-residential colleges. A total of ten sports were on offer for colleges to register in, with each sport including a round robin competition with finals. More information.
Fitness Video: Sand Bag Training
Recreation Hall Refurbishments
The Recreation Hall change rooms at Monash Sport’s Clayton campus facilities will be closed as of Wednesday 9 August, whilst refurbishment works are undertaken to improve the change room area. More information.
SumoSalad: Smoothies now available!
The SumoSalad Cafe at our Clayton campus facilities now has delicious smoothies available with the option of extra protein. Try one today!
TeamMONASH News
Leo Hurley selected for World University Games
Monash University’s own Leo Hurley has been selected to represent Australia at the World University Games in water polo… more information.
Heart of a warrior, plays like a Saint – Daniel McKenzie
At pick 22 in the 2014 AFL draft, the St. Kilda Football Club selected Daniel McKenzie from the Oakleigh Chargers… more information.
Empowering women to break boundaries – Aira Abarra
It is refreshing to see someone go against the grain of society to follow their passion. Whilst currently completing her studies in nursing and midwifery, Aira is also competing as a professtional powerlifter…more information.
Connecting with culture, the Indigenous University Games is more than a sporting event
The 2017 Indigenous University Games presents an opportunity for indigenous students from across Australia to come together and compete in a variety of sports. 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 in the range of employee benefits and staff discounts
Allianz has partnered with Monash University! 
Monash University has partnered with Allianz to offer exclusive online discounts across a wide range of insurance products. Allianz operates in Australia, employing approximately 4,300 staff and is one of Australia’s largest general insurers. With over 3.1 million policy holders, Allianz is the brand more Australians are relying on.
Purchase online to receive the following discounts:
- Up to 20% off Allianz Comprehensive Car Insurance*
- Up to 15% off Allianz Home Insurance*
- Up to 15% off Allianz Landlord Insurance*
How do I access this Employee Benefit?
- Visit the following website: http://monashuniversity.mybenefits.com.au
- Conveniently quote & buy online 24/7
- Applicable discounts are automatically applied via this portal
- Read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement/s to decide if the product is right for you.
Note: the above discounts are only available online at http://monashuniversity.mybenefits.com.au. and are not available through the Allianz Contact Centre.
Further information about terms and conditions can be found here
Departure Lounge discount
Departure Lounge offers discounted rates at selected Peppers, Mantra and BreakFree properties throughout Australia and New Zealand. These rates can be booked up to 12 months in advance. Get the most out of discounted rates by booking one month in advance for a minimum of three nights.