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Consultations Findings Report: Wellbeing Language and Definitions Guide

NSW Wellbeing Collaborative Launch

Associate Professor Lindsay Oades (University of Melbourne) & Ms Fleur Heazlewood (Blueberry Institute) 9 June 2015

Wellbeing: Language & Definitions

• What is wellbeing?
• eg. word, concept, brand, experience, state
• At what level are we discussing wellbeing?
• eg. Individual, couple, family/team/group, organisation, city,

region, nation

• Is wellbeing made up of multiple parts?
• eg. psychological, social and emotional for Aboriginal people

A Guide on Language and Definitions

• The Wellbeing Collaborative is developing a guide
• n language and definitions around wellbeing
• Need for some common language and consistency
• Need for some agreement and consistency on

definitions

A Guide on Language and Definitions

This will enable: – clearer understanding between stakeholders – ability to measure and evaluate wellbeing initiatives across different contexts – improved confidence and competence of people new to the language of wellbeing – reduced confusion.

Consultation process

Consultation participants (50)

• NSW Family and Community Services - Northern

Sydney District

• NSW Department of Education and Communities
• Justice Health
• City of Sydney
• Aboriginal Affairs NSW

Consultation process

• Mana Allawah Project Management Group
• NSW Mental Health Commission
• Uniting Care Mental Health
• Transcultural Mental Health Centre, Western Sydney

Local Health District

Unanimous positive response

• Overall desire to improve wellbeing
• Openness to guidance and expertise
• Thirst for knowledge on how to improve wellbeing
• Genuine interest in discussing wellbeing and

collaborating with others to develop wellbeing initiatives

Unanimous positive response

• Wellbeing will be improved by working together

versus silos

• View the formation of the NSW Wellbeing

Collaborative positively

• Want to be kept in the loop regarding the Wellbeing

Collaborative and initiatives

• Whole of government approach to wellbeing

language and definitions guidance is positive and helpful

Definitions of wellbeing

Wellbeing is

• Having quality of life, balance
• Feeling safe and secure, place to call home
• Feeling included and supported, belonging
• Being respected, valued and acknowledged
• Having resilience, being able to cope
• Feeling understood, acceptance
• Feeling happy, satisfied, content

Wellbeing is

• Sense of purpose, direction, goals, personalised
• Functioning, productive, participating
• Empowered, control over your life,
• Harmony, peace, calm
• Meaningful relationships, supportive community
• Positive outlook
• Cultural identity
• Healthy state of emotional, mental

and physical being

Wellbeing is not

• Physically unhealthy
• Suffering
• Feeling stressed, not coping, overwhelmed
• Feeling devalued
• Feeling unsupported
• Discrimination, exclusion
• Unemployment

Wellbeing is not

• Isolation
• Illness
• Poverty
• Feeling unsafe
• The absence of mental illness
• Depression, anxiety
• Working in an unhealthy environment
• Welfare

Challenges in promoting wellbeing

• 1. Perceived time to invest in wellbeing when

workloads are already under pressure

• 2. Lack of confidence and the skills needed to deal

with wellbeing issues that may present

• 3. Wellbeing can be seen as a program over and

above activities providing another impost on already limited budgets

Challenges in promoting wellbeing

• 4. ‘If we ask about wellbeing in the workplace we will

have to do something about it’

• 5. Wellbeing is “policy speak” dictated by the

government

• 6. Wellbeing is pollyanna-ish, too positive
• 7. Wellbeing carries stigma by association to mental

illness

• 8. Wellbeing is not tangible enough

Developing the guide

• The guide will assist people

 with helpful language to use in different contexts  to understand wellbeing  to communicate using different types and definitions of wellbeing

• The guide will not be prescriptive but will provide a

common vehicle for communication about wellbeing

Wellbeing Collaborative

Join the Wellbeing Collaborative Network to get updates on events and other announcements. Visit the website to join.

www.wbcnsw.net