Create a positive environment

• Encourage staff to talk openly and work together. 
• Set up ways for staff to share ideas, give feedback, and have helpful conversations. Make sure everyone listens to each other and shows respect.
• Build a culture where everyone feels respected, included, and understood. 
• Treat everyone fairly. Value diverse backgrounds, strengths, and ideas. 
• Ensure everyone can grow and do well. For example, share training opportunities. Help workers with disabilities thrive. Support and value everyone.
• Arrange events where staff can socialise. Plan team outings, fun activities, or regular get-togethers. Help people connect. Make sure everyone can access these events.
• Include remote workers. How can you make time for staff to connect online?

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Fix work-life balance

• Have clear expectations. Be fair and reasonable.
• Make sure everyone knows the work hours and tasks expected of them. 
• Seek staff feedback. Listen and respond.
• Encourage staff to tell you when they are overworked. Have systems in place to reduce workload as needed. 
• Remind your team to take breaks during the day to relax and recharge.
• Create a culture that values self-care. 
• Encourage staff to use leave time. It can prevent burnout. 
• Support flexible work. Let staff choose their hours, work remotely, or have a shorter week. Focus on what needs to be done rather than when. 
• Regularly check in with your team. Make changes to support wellbeing.

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Promote health and wellness

• Offer wellness programs. Exercise classes can keep employees fit. Meditation sessions teach relaxation and reduce stress. Ask staff what they need, then help them do it.
• Provide professional counselling services, like an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). This ensures staff get help with problems at work or at home. 
• Offer online wellness options to remote teams.
• Share resources on healthy eating, exercise, and managing stress. For example, you could share links, information in emails or offer workshops. 
• Provide training to help staff feel confident and capable at work. 
  • "Accidental counsellor" training helps staff cope when they must offer emotional support to a client. 
  • Mental Health First Aid courses teach the signs of mental distress and how to help. 
  • Skills to deal with vicarious trauma and burnout are vital in community service jobs. Vicarious trauma is when someone else's trauma has a big impact on you. Training can help keep staff safe.

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Offer professional development 

• People feel good when they do well and make a difference at work. Professional development helps staff grow and succeed in their careers. 
• Recognise people's strengths and interests. You might have staff who are interested in mentoring or training others. Promote these skills. 

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Recognise and reward staff success

• Create a formal recognition program. It shows you appreciate your worker's efforts.
• Give regular feedback and praise. Recognise a job well done.
• Celebrate milestones, big and small. 
• Encourage staff to celebrate each other. It creates a sense of teamwork. 

Address work-related stress

• Regularly check workloads. Adjust tasks as necessary. It helps prevent burnout and ensures staff can manage their work.
• Encourage self-care. Offer resources for stress management. Help people look after themselves.
• Create a supportive environment. Staff should feel safe to ask for help when they can't manage their work.
• Communicate well with your staff. Make sure all changes are clearly explained.
• Respond to problems in the workplace with solutions.
• When you identify problems, work together to solve them.

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Encourage employee feedback 

• Create open channels for staff to share feedback, suggestions, and ideas.  
• Involve staff in decision-making processes whenever possible. 
• Listen to feedback and act on it.

Staff thrive in positive and supportive workplaces, and the community benefits, too. Greater wellbeing increases worker satisfaction and performance. It's an ongoing process. Keep records of your progress, measure success, and make changes as needed. 

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You can download a PDF copy of the Guide on supporting staff wellbeing in the community sector here.