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Health and wellbeing programmes

Health and wellbeing programmes

Looking after the health and wellbeing of your employees and students is critical to the success of your school.

Employees who are looked after are more likely to go over and above what they are required to do, and staff morale should be higher.

Research confirms that physical, social, and psychological wellbeing are closely interlinked and that sickness absence is often a symptom of work stress and low engagement.

Reduced teacher absenteeism and increased teacher engagement positively affect students' success at your school.

Keep reading to learn more.

What are health and wellbeing programmes?

Your school will have two health and wellbeing programmes: those provided to students as part of the health curriculum and those that promote an emotionally and physically safe school culture for all.

We will not focus on the health curriculum programmes other than to say that your board must consult the school community every two years on what is being delivered and how these tie into your school’s overall wellbeing objectives.

Instead, we’ll focus on health and wellbeing programmes to promote an emotionally and physically safe school culture.

These programmes aim to improve the health of workers and their families (mostly focused on staff but could include school-wide initiatives to improve school culture) while reducing health-related costs to your school.

Many workplaces implement comprehensive health and wellbeing programmes encouraging workers to focus on key health behaviours such as increasing physical activity, improving eating habits, reducing stress, and decreasing tobacco use.

The rationale behind health and wellbeing programmes is that encouraging healthy habits can prevent or lower the risk of serious health conditions later.

Similarly, adopting these same habits can help workers manage an existing health condition.

Why have health and wellbeing programmes?

Health at work is not just about people being physically well.

Your board is primarily responsible for ensuring that the school is emotionally and physically safe for all staff and students.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015open_in_new makes the health of workers and the safety of workplaces a priority.

As an employer, it's your board's role to ensure that health and wellbeing programmes are available to your employees and the board.

Workers who are physically and emotionally healthy are more likely to contribute fully at work and in the broader community.

"Safety and security don't just happen; they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
- Nelson Mandela

What are the benefits to your school? 

Health and wellbeing programmes significantly benefit your board, the school, and the students.

Your employees will be more engaged, with increased energy and morale – leading to increased job satisfaction.

You’ll have a happier, more resilient workplace and increased worker performance.

It can also reduce absenteeism and lower sick leave.

Reduced teacher absenteeism has a positive flow-on effect on students' success at your school.

Students will receive consistency from teaching staff, have teachers who are more engaged with their learning and form stronger relationships with their teachers.

How can your board ensure staff wellbeing so staff can look after the students?

As an employer, your board must ensure staff feel valued and appreciated.

Here are some suggestions.

Talk about your school in a positive light, and uphold the integrity of staff, even when things are not going as well as you would like.

Ensure your board leads by example by providing a culturally and emotionally safe place for staff and students.

For example, incorporate local tikanga Māori into board meetings, suspension meetings, and other school functions; have gender-neutral facilities and uniforms; and use appropriate personal pronouns.

Be present at the school at formal functions and support staff when they take action on board initiatives.

Ensure staff have a voice in decisions that affect them, particularly when planning and rolling out new strategic objectives.

Provide staff with clear expectations and job descriptions.

Genuinely consider reasonable applications for leave or flexible working relationships.

Have a regular way of surveying staff about their wellbeing so you can monitor trends and patterns over time, such as the NZCER – Wellbeing@School toolkitopen_in_new.

Ensure staff know how to raise concerns and complaints safely.

Ensure all staff and board members have access to professional supervision and counselling, should they require it. 

This is often done through an employment support package with organisations such as EAPopen_in_new or Workplace Supportopen_in_new.

Consider having your board provide simple acknowledgements of successes or other significant life moments such as a thank you card, morning tea shout, flowers, etc. 

These don’t need to be big and expensive; they just show that your board cares about the employees (note - not just the teachers).

Questions your board could ask

  • How do we monitor staff and student wellbeing? 
  • Are we receiving useful information on key performance indicators about wellbeing?
  • How do we know the information we receive is robust and well analysed?
  • Is staff and student wellbeing regularly on the agenda, and are we asking the right questions?
  • Do we promote a speak-up culture (where staff feel comfortable raising concerns or issues with management or the board), and how do we know?
  • Do we support an employer assistance programme for staff and board members?
  • Have we identified any areas of significant organisational change that would lead to improved outcomes for staff and students, and have they been included in the strategic planning process and board reporting expectations?
  • Do we receive enough information from the principal to ensure there is an emotionally and physically safe work environment for all staff and students?

Templates, resources, and references

Click on the link(s) below to access the templates, resources, and references related to this topic.

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Ministry of Education 
WorkSafe Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa 
Other resources
Legislation