Health, safety, and wellbeing resources
Engagement & Participation in Health, Safety & Wellbeing
Everyone has a role to play in making sure New Zealand Red Cross is a healthy and safe place to work and participate in volunteering activities.
Health, safety and wellbeing (HSW) is everyone’s responsibility, so everyone should have a say, and everyone’s views and contributions must be considered and valued.
We achieve this through good worker engagement and participation practices, which means having meaningful discussions as a team about HSW. This includes how workers (including volunteer workers) can raise health and safety concerns, suggest improvements, and be involved in the decision-making process.
HSW Standard for Worker Engagement, Participation and Representation
We have two new documents available which cover NZRC’s approach to worker engagement, participation and representation on health, safety & wellbeing which are available for review and feedback until 3 May 2024.
Documents for feedback can be found here:
- HSW Standard for Worker Engagement, Participation and Representation (PDF, 200kb)
- Role of a Health and Safety Representative (HSR) and Health and Safety Champion (HSC) - FAQ sheet (PDF, 220kb)
Please provide feedback on either document to: HSW@redcross.org.nz by 3 May 2024.
More information on “How to have a pro-active health, safety and wellbeing kōrero” can be found here:
- Quick guide: How to have a proactive HSW korero (PDF file, 149KB)
- Poster: How to have a proactive HSW korero (PDF file, 103KB)
Flu vaccinations 2024
We're offering free flu vaccinations to all Red Cross people.
You can pre-register for their voucher from 1 March. You'll receive your voucher via email in early April from our provider Maxwell Health. You can use it at any participating pharmacy.
Participating pharmacies
You can register for flu vouchers until 30 June and vouchers must be used by 31 August.
How to get your voucher
We're offering flu vaccination vouchers for members and volunteers via a registration process.
To register for your flu voucher, you must meet the following criteria:
- you're a member of New Zealand Red Cross
- you don't have access to a flu vaccination through your employer
- you're under 65, and
- you don't meet other eligibility criteria for a government-funded flu vaccination.
If you meet the criteria and want to register for a flu vaccination voucher, please complete our online form.
Online vaccination registration form
You can find more information on flu vaccinations from Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand or speak to your doctor.
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.
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.
Read our policy on abusive behaviour
Read the guidance on how to deal with abusive behaviour
Returning to volunteering after an injury or illness
If you've had time out of volunteering because of an injury or illness we have guidelines to help you get back into your volunteer role. We are committed to supporting our people to return to work (which includes volunteering activities) or to remain at work safely after work-related and non work-related injuries and illnesses. Our guidelines set out the roles and responsibilities during the rehabilitation process, support available, and what to expect.
Read the guidance on returning to volunteering (PDF file, 249KB)
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, 1MB)
Safe driving guidelines (PDF file, 315KB)
Find out how to access Aspire
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
Our EAP provider TELUS Health is a confidential external wellbeing support service that allows our people and their immediate family members free access to sessions with qualified coaches/counsellors.
This service is also available to members, including those who volunteer their time, who don’t have access to EAP through other means, such as through an employer.
The EAP programme provides support in the following areas:
|
Personal |
Work |
| Relationships and Separation or family issues | Work-life balance |
| Anxiety (including climate anxiety) | Interpersonal conflict |
| Grief, loss and bereavement | Career issues or transition |
| Parenting and eldercare | Restructuring |
| Communication issues | Organisational change |
| Stress and depression | Bullying or harassment |
| Financial problems | Difficult customers |
| Addictions | Performance difficulties |
| Illness/other health issues | Work crisis and trauma |
| Loneliness | Self-management |
| Self-esteem confidence | Leadership challenges |
| Non-work-related legal advice | Workplace stress |
| Nutrition and eating issues | Workplace conflict |
| Lifestyle e.g. exercise | Return to work wellbeing |
You can connect with this service:
By calling 0800 835 870 or booking online using the TELUS Health Wellbeing Platform.
By free mobile app for IOS or Android: Download the 'TELUS Health One app' to your device from Google Play or the Apple Store. Please note that TELUS health have several apps, be sure to choose the 'TELUS Health One app' (see image below).
Use the following login details to access a range of wellbeing resources and securely book appointments:
Company code: Redcross
Company password: RED23
- Wellbeing resources include blogs, meditations, podcasts, learning modules, e-books, and more.
- The option of phone, virtual, or face-to-face appointments is available as well as a choice of clinician.
For more information, download the TELUS Health flyer below.
TELUS Health flyer (PDF file, 459KB)
*For anyone who has existing/current programmes with our previous provider (EAP Services) over this time, a three-month extension (until 31 Jan 2024), will be available to transition those existing cases/services safely.
For any queries, please contact the Health, Safety and Wellbeing team: hsw@redcross.org.nz
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.
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
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and wellbeing
Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our people (employees and members) is a priority for us. Caring for people is at the heart of why we exist.
Two recent surveys were taken to ask Red Cross people about their mental health and wellbeing, and to understand diversity, equity and inclusion in our organisation.
Thank you to all who took part. We heard what you said, have considered the feedback and planned for ways to improve how we look after our people.
We have created a factsheet outlining the key themes of what you told us and what we’ll be focusing on improving.
We will continue to update you on how these initiatives are going and on opportunities for you to be involved in wellbeing and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Realising 2030 - Mental health and wellbeing (PDF, 250kb)
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.
Psychological First Aid training
All New Zealand Red Cross employees and volunteers can register for free Psychological First Aid (PFA) training through the First Aid team. This is a one-day, in-person course. You are encouraged to complete this training.
PFA is a simple, yet powerful way of helping someone in distress so they feel calm and supported in coping with their challenges. PFA is relevant whether distress is personal, work-related or affects the whole community, such as after a weather emergency.
Register for PFA training
To make a booking, or for any enquiries, please email firstaid@redcross.org.nz.
Please note that courses are subject to availability in your location.
Emergency helplines and local mental health services
If either you or someone you know, is in immediate danger, please call emergency services immediately on 111.
There are lots of New Zealand organisations with specific expertise supporting people with mental health and wellbeing challenges.
Helplines and local mental health services
In the Mental Health Foundation downloadable PDF guide below you’ll also find contact details for providers with expertise in anxiety, depression, addiction, family harm, parenting and more. Please reach out to them if you or someone you know needs support.
Helplines and local mental health services (PDF, 243KB)
Further information
Read our Statement of Commitment (PDF file, 153 KB)
Read the zero harm workplaces pledge (PDF file, 194KB)
Read the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Framework - April 2022 (PDF file, 4.2MB)
View all tools and guidance for volunteers
Caring for yourself and others after a disaster or emergency
Training available
Mental health and wellbeing courses
Recovery matters workshops