Helper wellbeing

We can't look after other people unless we are being looked after. At Lively, we care about supporting each other to be well in our working lives. Here are some of the ways we try to make sure Helpers' mental health is taken care of while working at Lively.

Wellbeing Check-ins

If you are struggling at work, are feeling overwhelmed, need to renegotiate your commitments, or if you have had a distressing relationship with a member, we are here to chat at any time.

The Helper Coordinator is trained in mental health first-aid and will listen to what's going on non-judgementally and work with you to put the supports in place you need to be well.

We accept that we all move in and out of strong and poor mental health, and you do not need to worry about fear of being disadvantaged if you need to request a change in work arrangements to support your health.

We do request that you try to be proactive in communicating how you're going, though, so we can make the appropriate adjustments before any personal challenges escalate.

Burnout self-check

Burnout is a state of physical and mental exhaustion that arises from sustained exposure to stress without proper management of that stress. There are three dimensions of burnout you should keep an eye out for (World Health Organization, 2019; Maslach & Jackson, 1981):

Fatigue
Cynicism about work
Feelings of inefficacy

If you recognise you are experiencing these three symptoms, make sure you reach out and get support. You can find more information at: https://positivepsychology.com/burnout-tests-signs/

Employee Assistance Program

Lively is fortunate to have access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through one of our past funders, the Westpac Foundation.

Through this EAP, provided by Benestar, you can directly book in a session of free professional support from a clinician through MyCoach, either over the phone or via live chat. There are also heaps of additional resources to check out. We encourage you to make the most of this great program!

It's super easy to access the EAP! Check out the details on the information sheet below for how to log in using the online portal.

When you are asked to name your employer, you should name "Lively Community Ltd (under Westpac)".

Alternatively, if you would prefer, just chat to the Helper Coordinator, and they can make the arrangements with Benestar on your behalf.

Benestar EAP - Support.pdf

Helper Meet-Ups

Sometimes, working out and about as a Helper, you can feel like you are on your own a lot. You're not!

Helper Meet-Ups are important opportunities to connect with your colleagues, debrief on any challenging experiences you've had with members, share ideas and resources, and just have a chat!

These are paid sessions and are an essential part of your Lively experience. We also conduct mental health temperature checks as part of these check-ins to see how everyone is going, so we can follow up with you if anything is feeling a bit overwhelming.

Taking Time Off

If you need time off for your mental or physical health, Lively will support you to do so by ensuring we re-match your members with another Helper for the duration of your time away.

Taking time off for your health will also not disadvantage you in any way for future matching; we just ask that you communicate actively and openly about the HQ team so we can effectively plan to support you while keeping our services running.

When you return to work, we will develop a Return to Work Plan alongside you, to ensure that your re-entry into work supports your recovery.

Being Anti-Discriminatory

At Lively, we have a zero tolerance to discrimination in the workplace as per our Anti-Discrimination Policy.

Our Community Code outlines how we expect to treat one another, and our Incidents & Complaints process outlines how we will respond whenever incidences of harassment or discrimination are reported.

We have these processes in place so you know that when you raise these incidents with HQ, you can feel confident that they will be taken seriously to ensure our workplace continues to be a safe environment for everyone.

Feeling valued at work

Supporting positive mental health at work isn't just about responding to crises; it's also important to have an environment where you feel you are valued, where you can develop your skills, and where you can contribute to the evolution of the organisation.

At Lively, we regularly hold co-design sessions bringing together HQ and Helpers to strategise and plan about the future of the organisation; we encourage you to take up these opportunities wherever you can.

These sessions are always fully paid, and are an opportunity for you to meaningfully shape how we do things into the future.

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