Step 2: Determine the expectations and goals of the health promotion program – this step involves identifying the needs of the business and its workers in developing the program. How will the health promotion program benefit the business? What issues will it address? Consult workers and get them involved from the beginning to ensure the program you develop attends to their concerns and interests.

Step 3: Decide who will coordinate the program – there needs to be a person or a team at the helm of the program to ensure it is planned and carried out effectively to achieve its goals.

Step 4: Plan how the program will address the set goals and objectives – this step involves determining the methods you will use in your health promotion program to address the identified concerns and needs of your workplace and workers.

Step 5: Identify the resources and skills needed – what do you need to make the plan a reality? Determine the level of resources (cost, people, expertise, etc) needed to implement the health promotion program and seek out these resources. 

Step 6: Implementation – put all the plans into place. 

Step 7: Promote your program – you need to make sure that your workers know what’s going on. Encourage them to be involved – promote the program and make it inviting, point out the benefits and get your workers excited about it.

Step 8: Monitor and review the program – once it’s all in place, don’t forget to go back and review the program. Workplaces change, the people inside them change, and you need to ensure the health promotion program remains relevant. Make any relevant adjustments.

Healthier Workplace WA is currently offering grants to reduce out of pocket costs of Worksite Health Promotion.

More and more people with sedentary employment appear to be having difficulty reaching adequate physical activity levels. New technology means less physical effort is required for daily living and life is becoming increasingly busy as we strive for cars, televisions, computers, and convenience. The apparent technological revolution is making us all a little 'soft around the edges', compared to our physically hard working ancestors.

Some suggest we expend up to 800Kcal less per day than our parents and grand parents did in the 1970's. This is the equivalent of 8-10km of walking per day.

More alarming was the data collected by the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study. This was a large, continuing survey of the health habits of almost 12,000 Australian adults. Along with questions about general health, disease status, exercise regimens, smoking, diet and so on, the survey asked respondents how many hours per day in the previous week they had spent sitting in front of the television. Television viewing time is a useful, if somewhat imprecise, marker of how much someone is engaging in 'sedentary' behaviour.

This group concluded that an adult who spends an average of six hours a day watching TV over the course of a lifetime can expect to live 5 years less.

The financial burden of physical inactivity

There has been a perennial call for ergonomics to demonstrate that it is good value for money. Quite apart from the legal, ethical and moral aspects of ergonomics, Stanton and Barber, 2004  argue not whether an organisation can afford ergonomics, but rather whether the organisation can afford not to consider ergonomics. 

Health promotion (or wellbeing) programs can be a very effective way for you to cultivate a healthy mindset and lifestyle in your workers, both within and outside the workplace.

The reason this is important is that the choices your workers make outside the workplace can affect their health and safety inside the workplace, the place where you have an obligation for that person’s wellbeing.

Examples of topics that your health promotion program may cover include:

• physical activity/inactivity;


• healthy eating/diet;


• tobacco smoking;


• alcohol and other drug misuse;


• emotional wellbeing;


• dental health;


• mental wellbeing;


• safe social environments/behaviours;


• UV protection; and


• sexual health and wellbeing.

The needs and nature of your business will affect what your health promotion program will cover, and how much time and resources your business puts into them.

What are the advantages of health promotion programs?

Health promotion programs involve educating your workers about ways they can go about adopting healthier lifestyles for themselves. There are many ways that your business can benefit from having an effective health promotion program in place, including:

• increase in worker productivity


• demonstration of company commitment to workers’ health and safety


• decrease in workers’ compensation claims


• reduction in absenteeism


• reduced long-term health problems in workers


• reduced turnover


• reduction in health and safety risk of injury and illness


• increase in worker motivation and job satisfaction


• improved alertness and concentration on the job; and


• attractive to candidates for employment.

Temika Lee's next Dietitian Talk is on Friday 16th August 2013, 12 noon at Central West Health & Rehabilitation in Geraldton. This talk is free for gym members and people who are completing Central West Health & Rehab's Diabetes Management and Chronic Disease Prevention programs.

This talk covers:

• Healthy Eating Habits


• Glycemic Index


• Fat Types and Cholesterol


• Recipe Modification Label Reading

A broad range of lifestyle risk factors have been identified that act independently and in combination. These Lifestyle factors have Economic and Financial consequences. These costs have been estimated for various populations.

Lifestyle risk factors increase your personal medical costs compared to those individuals with no lifestyle risk factors.

The following program will help you to identify your individual risk factors. The Initial Assessment is private and confidential, and covers areas such as diet, activity levels, alcohol consumption, smoking, family history and mental health.

This assessment leads to a LifeRISK Score.

Your LifeRisk Score is a 'dollar value' and can be thought of as an estimate of extra medical costs from now until the end of your life, due to your lifestyle choices.

You can access the LifeRISK program here or by clicking on it in the Quick Links.

Temika Lee's next Dietitian Talk is on Friday 7th June 2013, 12 noon at Central West Health & Rehabilitation in Geraldton. This talk is free for gym members and people who are completing Central West Health & Rehab's Diabetes Management and Chronic Disease Prevention programs.

This talk covers:

• Healthy Eating Habits


• Glycemic Index


• Fat Types and Cholesterol


• Recipe Modification Label Reading

Temika Lee's next Dietitian Talk is on Friday 7th June 2013, 12 noon at Central West Health & Rehabilitation in Geraldton. This talk is free for gym members and people who are completing Central West Health & Rehab's Diabetes Management and Chronic Disease Prevention programs.

This talk covers:

• Healthy Eating Habits


• Glycemic Index


• Fat Types and Cholesterol


• Recipe Modification Label Reading

Catherine Dumont's next Dietitian Talk is on Thursday 18th April 2013, 12 noon at Central West Health & Rehabilitation in Geraldton. This talk is free for gym members and people who are completing Central West Health & Rehab's Diabetes Management and Chronic Disease Prevention programs.

This talk covers:

• Healthy Eating Habits


• Glycemic Index


• Fat Types and Cholesterol


• Recipe Modification Label Reading

There are also Supermarket Tours led by Catherine, please register your interest at the dietitian talk.

Catherine Dumont's next Dietitian Talk is on the 28th February 2013, 12 noon at Central West Health & Rehabilitation in Geraldton. This talk is free for gym members and people who are completing Central West Health & Rehab's Diabetes Management and Chronic Disease Prevention programs.

This talk covers:

• Healthy Eating Habits


• Glycemic Index


• Fat Types and Cholesterol


• Recipe Modification Label Reading

There are also Supermarket Tours led by Catherine, please register your interest at the dietitian talk.

Catherine Dumont's next Dietitian Talk is on the 24th January 2013, 12 noon at Central West Health & Rehabilitation in Geraldton. This talk is free for gym members and people who are completing Central West Health & Rehab's Diabetes management program.

This talk covers:

• Healthy Eating Habits


• Glycemic Index


• Fat Types and Cholesterol


• Recipe Modification Label Reading

There are also future Supermarket Tours led by Catherine, please register your interest at the dietitian talk.

Catherine Dumont's next Dietitian Talk is on the 29th November, 12 noon at Central West Health & Rehabilitation in Geraldton. This talk is free for gym members and people who are completing Central West Health & Rehab's Diabetes management program.

This talk covers:

• Healthy Eating Habits


• Glycemic Index


• Fat Types and Cholesterol


• Recipe Modification Label Reading

Plus there will be some tips for Christmas!

Catherine Dumonts next Dietitian Talk is on the 23rd of August; 12 noon at Central West Health and Rehabilitation in Geraldton. This talk is free for gym members and people who are completing relevant Central West Health and Rehabilitation Programs.

Catherine Dumonts next Dietitian Talk is on the 26th of July; 12 noon at Central West Health and Rehabilitation in Geraldton. This talk is free for gym members and people who are completing Central West Diabetes management program.

This talk covers:

• Healthy Eating Habits


• Glycemic Index


• Fat Types and Cholesterol


• Recipe Modification Label Reading

Central West Health and Rehabilitation is proud to introduce our Healthy Worker Package. This service is designed to assist your workforce to move towards postive behaviour change. This leads to:

• Improved Productivity


• Reduced Absenteeism


• Lower medical costs for the individual and the employer. More

Click for Flyer

Catherine Dumonts next Dietitian Talk is on the 21st of June; 12 noon at Central West Health and Rehabilitation in Geraldton. This talk is free for gym members and people who are completing Central West Diabetes management program.

This talk covers:

• Healthy Eating Habits


• Glycemic Index


• Fat Types and Cholesterol


• Recipe Modification Label Reading

Are you or someone you care for living with cancer? The cancer council of WA is offering a free 12 week life now exercise group. Remaining and becoming a little more active has been shown to reduce side effects of cancer treatment and improve survival rates. The program includes 2 exercise groups per week for 12 weeks. An initial assessment is important to make sure you are doing suitable exercise. The cost of the initial assessment can be covered by one of your Medicare Exercise Physiology sessions (see chronic disease management section in services tab).

Group starts 22nd of May 2012. To register call Ben Clune on 0899650697 or phone the Cancer Council on 131120.

More Information

Central West Health and Rehabilitation is proud to introduce our Workforce Management Package. This service is designed to assist an employer to manage each stage of an employee’s lifecycle with a focus on:

• Prevention


• Injury Management


• Return to Work

Click for More on Employer Services

More Information

The inaugrual year of the East Fremantle Midwest Football Academy ended in early march. The players all made significant physical improvement to their football. East Fremantle have been very impressed with the preparedness of the boy's who came to Perth to tryout for Colts. Central West Health and Rehabilitation had a significant role providing

• Strength & Conditioning


• Injury Management


• Musculoskeletal Screening


• Nutrition Education


• Game Preparation

For more on our Sports Performance Program Click Here

Catherine Dumonts next Dietitian Talk is on the 22st of March at 12 noon at Central West Health and Rehabilitation in Geraldton. This talk is free for gym members and people who are completing Central West Diabetes management program.

 This talk covers: 

• Healthy Eating Habits


• Glycemic Index


• Fat Types and Cholesterol


• Recipe Modification Label Reading

Central West Health and Rehabilitation now brings you a complete evidence based joint replacement rehabilitation program to ensure you gain the most benefit from your surgical procedure. Our team provides you support and guidance through all phase of the process:

• Pre-surgical Preparation


• Physiotherapy Care in SJOG Hospital


• Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation following Discharge

Click for More

Catherine Dumonts next Dietitian Talk is on the 21st of February at 12 noon. This talk is free for gym members and people who are completing Central West Diabetes management program. This talk covers:

• Healthy Eating Habits


• Glycemic Index


• Fat Types and Cholesterol


• Recipe Modification Label Reading

Todd Teakle is now accredited to provide physiotherapy services at St John of Gods Hospital in Geraldton. See our Rehabilitation page under the services tab above for more details of our Total Joint replacement program.

Are you or someone you care for living with cancer? The cancer council of WA is offering a free 12 week life now exercise group. Remaining and becoming a little more active has been shown to reduce side effects of cancer treatment and improve survival rates. The program includes 2 exercise groups per week for 12 weeks. An initial assessment is important to make sure you are doing suitable exercise. The cost of the initial assessment can be covered by one of your Medicare Exercise Physiology sessions (see chronic disease management section in services tab). To register call Ben Clune on 0899650697 or phone the Cancer Counsel on 131120.