Health, safety, and wellbeing resources

Wellbeing support for our people affected by the northern floods and Cyclone Gabrielle

Our current emergencies page has information for our people on staying safe and up to date, and how to get in touch if there’s anything you need. The website also has guidance on caring for yourself and others after disasters and emergencies such as these extreme weather events.

EAP Services has also produced a downloadable PDF on coping after a major weather event.

Coping after a major weather event (PDF file, 152KB)

General health, safety and wellbeing support 

Reporting accidents and incidents 

All members and employees must report accidents and incidents via our Health Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) reporting system, GOSH. You do not need a login or account to access GOSH. For help or advice on health and safety contact hsw@redcross.org.nz. 

Report an accident or incident on GOSH 

Reporting stress 

GOSH also has the option for you to report stress affecting you at work in the same way as reporting injuries and incidents.;

Stress reports are confidential to the HSW team, but the report also gives you options of escalating the report to your people leader or requesting someone from the People and Capability team to get in touch.

If you're not comfortable with either option, someone from our HSW team will confidentially check in with you.

Report a stress event

Reporting unacceptable behaviour

If you've observed or been impacted by abuse, aggression, bullying, harassment or discrimination while working or volunteering for New Zealand Red Cross, please let us know by raising an unacceptable behaviour" report.

Like stress reports, these reports are confidential to the HSW team. We will get in touch with you to talk about the issue and what you want to happen as a result of the report. 

Report unacceptable behaviour

Read our policy on abusive behaviour

Read the guidance on how to deal with abusive behaviour

Safe driving guidelines

All members who drive as part of their volunteer role need to be aware of driving safety.

Anyone who drives a New Zealand Red Cross vehicle must also:

• Complete the safe driving module on the Aspire e-learning website
• Complete our Comprehensive First Aid course or the equivalent course from another provider
• Register with EROAD

EROAD

EROAD is a driver safety and fleet monitoring programme installed in most New Zealand Red Cross vehicles. You must log into EROAD When driving one of our vehicles. The systems monitors:

• driver practices and behaviours
• excess speed
• road user charges
• vehicle registration and WOF expiry dates.

To register with EROAD email copies of your driver licence and your First Aid Certificate to David McConachie who is based in Red Cross House in Wellington.  

Safe driving policy (PDF file, 1.8MB)
Safe driving guidelines (PDF file, 1.2MB)
Find out how to access Aspire

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) 

EAP is a confidential external wellbeing support service that allows our people and their immediate family members free access to multiple sessions with qualified counsellors.

This service is also available to members and volunteers who don’t have access to EAP through their employer.

EAP provides the following support:

• Family challenges, relationship issues, and couples counselling.
• Conflict and tension with colleagues, managers, partners.
• Parenting problems, elder care support.
• Pressures placed on you in the workplace or personal situations.
• Building resilience during times of change and uncertainty.
• Feelings of anxiety, stress or depression.
• Coping with serious illness, trauma, grief or bereavement.
• Preparing for retirement or redundancy.
• Reviewing your career direction.
• Living with addictions—yourself or others—and minimising their impact on your life.
• Family violence.
• Personal—not employment—legal advice, such as relationships and estate planning.
• Support and advice with financial matters.

EAP NOW app

There is also a free EAP NOW app you can download to your device. Once you've registered, use the code NZRC2019 to access a range of wellbeing resources and securely book appointments.

Download the app from Google play or the Apple store.

Download the flyer for more about the app (PDF file, 263KB)

Book an EAP appointment

Ring 0800 327 669 or book online: EAP website.

You can also book appointments directly through the EAP NOW app.

2023 flu vaccinations

It’s important to get vaccinated against the seasonal influenza (flu) virus in 2023:

• A flu vaccine helps reduce your risk of getting really sick or going to hospital. 
• Protecting yourself also helps to reduce flu transmission and protects vulnerable people in our community.

You are eligible for a free flu vaccination if you meet these criteria:

• You volunteer for New Zealand Red Cross.
• You don't have access to a flu vaccination through your own employer.
• You don't qualify for a free flu vaccination from the Government.
  Ministry of Health website 

Members and volunteers who are over 65 are eligible for a free vaccination from the Government.

Getting a voucher for a free vaccination

Contact the Health Safety and Wellbeing team using our online form. The team will be in touch within three working days.

Flu vaccination form  

Mental wellbeing resources

The Mental Health Foundation has some excellent resources to support your wellbeing. We recommend:

1. Te Whare Tapa Whā model of wellbeing 

This holistic wellbeing model was developed by leading Māori health advocate Tā Mason Durie in 1984, describing health and wellbeing as a wharenui. It is a metaphor based on four pillars of a wharenui | meeting house. When we look after all four aspects, we look after our hauora | wellbeing. Checking in on the four pillars helps us balance our hauora and support others to balance theirs, too. 

Te Whare Tapa Whā model of wellbeing 

2. Free self-help tools and apps 

A list of free tools and apps you can access anytime. Topics include: 

• general wellbeing 
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and 
• targeted support for young people. 

Free self-help tools and apps 

3. The Five Ways to Wellbeing 

This is a set of five simple, evidence-based actions which can improve wellbeing in everyday life.  

The Five Ways to Wellbeing 

Coping with change 

Change can be exciting, but also challenging, upsetting, and tiring, and may make maintaining your wellbeing more difficult. It's completely normal to have an emotional reaction to change and to find some days easier or harder than others. 

It may also help to talk with others and share how you're feeling at this time, so please reach out to your people leader or general manager, your colleagues, or the HSW team. 

Talking things through can really help – it’s okay to reach out. 

Change-related resources: 

Leading through change (PDF file, 1.8MB)
This A3 poster was created earlier in the Realising 2030 change process and was written for People Leaders within NZRC.

Tips for building resilience through change (PDF file, 100KB)
Poster of eight tips for supporting your wellbeing and improving resilience. 

Always changing from Dr Sarb Johal  

Always Changing is a 30-minute video recorded for New Zealand Red Cross in late 2021 by clinical psychologist Dr Sarb Johal. In this video, Sarb outlines what dealing with change and uncertainty might look and feel like, simple steps you can take to feel better, prepare for the future and whatever comes next.