Inspector Rebecca Hill is keen to get staff, their family and friends signed up to the new Police Wellness Hub.
The initiative from Police’s Safer People team started in September. By last month, nearly 3500 people – a mix of Police staff, their families and friends – had signed up to the personalised health and wellbeing information service run by Synergy Health.
Once you’re registered with the hub, you can fill out a confidential online questionnaire and get a personal health report, along with suggestions for improving your health profile, such as adopting healthy habits and setting goals, accompanied by incentives such as group challenges and special offers on products and services. There’s a wide range of information, from diet and exercise advice (and recipes) to financial literacy and even how to improve your driving.
Health promotions advisory manager Inspector Rebecca Hill is keen to get even more members and others signed up to the hub, which she says is about creating awareness with a holistic view of health and wellbeing. “It’s not just about the traditional ‘exercise and nutrition’ model,” she says.
The hub includes:
- Police members sharing their stories of health challenges and fitness achievements
- Sports events
- The Coppuccino podcast by Constable Bryan Ward (of Bryan and Bobby fame)
- Events and special offers
- Advice from physical education officers on subjects such as preparing for the PCT, health checks, fitness programmes and rehab plans
- Contact details for Safer People staff throughout the country
- Regularly updated content with seasonal themes, such as a sun-smart campaign aligned with a police officer’s story of surviving melanoma. This month’s theme will be a walking challenge involving a virtual tour of the Te Araroa trail. Over four weeks, teams of 3 to 6 will be able to earn points for daily steps.
Becky has been delighted with the uptake and positive feedback so far. “It’s a clear indication that our people want to ensure they stay fit for work and fit for life,” she says.
Anonymised data from the hub will be shared with Police to decide which areas need more focus and to structure the best programmes for staff, she says.
The Wellness Hub icon is installed on Police phones.