When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we were overwhelmed with generous calls, donations and offers of support for the amazing healthcare workers and researchers at Flinders and the wider Southern Adelaide Local Health Network.

Now thanks to you, Staff have received a small boost to recharge and focus on their own wellbeing.

Your generous support for our Flinders Heroes has already provided coffees and meals for hardworking staff, funds for world-leading research to make inroads into the COVID-19 virus, as well as equipment and facilities to keep staff and patients safe.

Last week we were pleased to award 18 ‘Wellbeing Wallet’ grants to areas and teams working across Flinders Medical Centre, Noarlunga Hospital, the Repat Health Precinct and in the community.

These grants will be used for staff-led activities and initiatives which improve their own wellbeing and provide them with the opportunity to reset, recharge and regroup.

Successful applications ranged from team building activities, art and gardening projects, exercise and relaxation activities, virtual conferences and repurposed spaces.

Among them was:

• A team building day in Belair National Park for the physiotherapy department to boost morale and also allow the team to better connect, particularly for new staff.
• An outdoor table setting for staff based at ‘The Flats’ so they can enjoy lunch in the fresh air and socially interact.
• Ten weeks of yoga and mindfulness classes for Rehabilitation, Aged Care and Palliative Service teams.
• A two-hour art therapy session for the Child Protection Service staff to encourage self-reflection and strengthen team connection.
• A treadmill to help nearly 40 mental health staff at Noarlunga to keep moving more throughout the day, providing them with an opportunity to do short walks and rejuvenate.
• A coffee machine for the Clinical Governance and Patient Safety units to provide staff, and their visitors, with a little pick-me-up.

Flinders administration staff Lauren Pattimore and Beryl Sutton also received funding for their new wellbeing initiative to encourage administration staff right across the hospitals to get up and move.

Their ‘Deskercise Program’ will create online resources, ideas and encouragement to build a culture which encourages administration staff to stretch, conduct walking meetings and take 5 minutes outside to stretch their legs and get some fresh air.

“I know I’m guilty of not getting up from my desk,” Lauren says.

“I would love to see it as part of our culture to encourage each other to get up and move and stay healthy, while also connecting with each other at the same time. By stepping away from our desks we can also be more productive when we return.”

Our Flinders Heroes are always there to care for us. Thank you for helping them to care for themselves.