Become a healthier workplace!
Join over 1,000 Victorian workplaces and ignite a happy, productive and healthy workforce in the Healthy Workplaces Achievement Program.
The program is a free, evidence-based health and wellbeing program that will help your workplace create an environment that promotes health and healthy behaviours.
Aligned to the World Health Organization’s healthy workplaces model and Occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMSs), you’ll be supported to improve your workplace’s health and wellbeing.
The program has been operating since 2012 and is supported by the Victorian Government and delivered by Cancer Council Victoria.
Register
How the program works
The program is centred around five health areas. Each health area has a set of targets to achieve, guiding your workplace's healthy changes. By achieving the health area targets, you'll improve your workplace's physical environment, policies and practices, and culture. Your workplace will also receive Victorian Government recognition as a healthy workplace.
Physical Activity
Physical activity reduces the risk of serious chronic illnesses like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Regular physical activity improves blood pressure, cholesterol and cardiovascular fitness and improves mental health and wellbeing. Workplaces can support their staff to be physically active by creating an infrastructure and culture that celebrates physical movement and reduces sedentary behaviour.
Healthy Eating
A healthy diet helps maintain a healthy weight, boost energy, supports the immune system and reduces the risk of chronic disease. A workplace with a healthy eating culture might offer healthy food options in its canteen or vending machines, provide food prep areas and encourage staff to bring healthy lunches.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Improving workplace participation and increasing social inclusion can increase wellbeing and productivity. Mentally healthy workplaces have a positive workplace culture, help staff manage stress, support people with mental health conditions and have a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination.
Alcohol and Other Drug Use
Unhealthy alcohol and drug use is linked to serious health issues including addiction and cancer, and can affect workplace productivity through absenteeism, lateness, staff turnover, accidents and reduced performance. Alcohol and drug abuse can also affect staff morale and health. A workplace can support healthy alcohol and drug behaviour by having clear policies and providing education opportunities to staff.
Smoking
Reducing smoking rates among staff and promoting a smokefree workplace helps protect the entire workforce from the harms of tobacco smoke, and can improve health. A workplace can support a smokefree environment by having clear policies, education and resources to help assist smoking cessation.
What you get
By registering your workplace, you’ll gain access to an online portal which contains the tools, resources and information you need to start making healthy changes. You'll also be supported by our program staff and wide network of regional health promoters to ensure you achieve your goals.
Resources housed in the portal include:
- Practical tools
Our tools will help you measure and calculate your progress in the program. For example, the snapshot survey provides a succinct overview of your workplace's health and wellbeing landscape and suggested next steps.
- Templates
We've got action plans to guide direction and a range of policy templates to set healthy expectations and provide guidance.
- Surveys
Take the time out of consultation by using our pre-formed surveys to gauge your employees' thoughts and workplace wellbeing needs.
The program can be tailored to your workplace's unique needs and is completed at your own pace. To get started, download our Business Case template to inspire your workplace to take healthy steps today!
Business Case template
Health and wellbeing in the workplace