Policy Content

According to the World Health Organisation, adults spend approximately one third of their lives at work. Our work in Early Childhood Education requires sustained high physical, mental and emotional effort to complete our job. A range of workplace determinants can have a negative or positive impact on the health and wellbeing of an employee. Within our School, we are committed to promoting a positive work environment where the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees is acknowledged and supported.  

Wellness is more than just an active process of becoming aware of and learning to make healthy choices for our mental, physical and social needs to ensure our body is maintained and works efficiently. Wellness is “about our overall state of wellbeing that enables us to live and function at our best.”  
(Queensland Government, 2019, Healthier. Happier. Workplaces). 
 

National Quality Standard (NQS)

QUALITY AREA 4: Staffing Arrangements

4.2	Professionalism	Management, educators and staff are collaborative, respectful and ethical.
4.2.1	Professional collaboration	Management, educators and staff work with mutual respect and collaboratively, and challenge and learn from each other, recognising each other’s strengths and skills.
4.2.2	Professional Standards	Professional standards guide practice, interactions and relationships.

PURPOSE

We believe in providing a healthy workplace that values and enhances the health and wellbeing of our employees. Promoting wellbeing can help prevent stress and create a positive working environment where individuals and organisations thrive. ‘A healthier workplace means everyone wins.’  
(Queensland Government, 2019, Healthier. Happier. Workplace).  

Scope

This policy applies to educators, staff, management, approved provider, nominated supervisor, apprentence and students of the School. The Akidamy School of Early Learning reserves the right to cancel this policy at its discretion 

Definitions

The following roles are not entitled to Wellness Days under this policy:

• Trainee: An individual employed under a training contract to gain a qualification while working.
• Student Apprentice: An individual completing a practicum, work placement, or apprenticeship as part of an external course of study.

Implementation

As our employees care for and educate children, it is essential to support them with the right tools and resources to make healthier choices to improve their own health and wellbeing. Employees who remain healthy increase productivity, enhance the workplace culture, and embody the healthy behaviours we convey to children on a daily basis. We believe in using the workplace for improving and maintaining good health.  
 
Our School is committed to developing a shared vision to improve the health and wellbeing of our employees. We believe the development of a Wellness Program may build an awareness of a healthy culture within our organisation and motivate and engage all employees to be involved in improving their own health and wellbeing.  
 

Wellness Program  

Our work in Early Childhood Education requires sustained high physical, mental and emotional effort to complete our job.  Such sustained work demands can have an impact on the wellbeing of employees. A Wellness Program may help individual employees overcome specific health-related issues. Our School will encourage employees to create a shared vision to develop a Wellness Program that reflects and addresses the needs of our current staff and creates a wellness culture. Management and staff will co-develop a policy and procedures that support the health and wellbeing of employees.  
 

Components of a Wellness Program may include:  

Environmental wellness:  

• Finding satisfaction within the work environment  
• Ensuring the work environment and relationships are comfortable and supportive  
• Recognising opportunities that lead to new skills and acting on those opportunities  
• Working to ensure the stability and longevity of the natural environment  

Emotional wellness:  

• Keeping a positive attitude  
• Being sensitive to your feelings and the feelings of others 
• Learning to cope with stress 
• Being realistic about your expectations and time  
• Taking responsibility for your own behaviour  
• Dealing with your personal and financial issues realistically  
• Viewing challenges as an opportunity  
• Being able to work independently 
• Being able to work within a team, and knowing you can ask for help  

Spiritual wellness: 

• Being open to different cultures and religions 
• Participating in community projects 
• Defining personal values and ethics 
• Participating in spiritual activities  
• Caring about the welfare of others 

 Social wellness: 

• Being comfortable with and liking yourself as a person 
• Interacting with and accepting people of varying ages, backgrounds, genders, race, lifestyle, etc.  
• Foster healthy and positive relationships with co-workers  
• Communicating your feelings 
• Developing friendships  
• Engaging in social activities  
• Balancing your time to include both work and life  

 Intellectual wellness:  

• Learning because you want to, not because you have been told to 
• Completing required tasks 
• Learning through professional development, including, readings, discussions, workshops, training, etc. 
• Observing what is around you  
• Listening 
• Staying current with early childhood knowledge  
• Questioning  
• Exposing yourself to new experiences 

Physical wellness: 

• Exercising regularly  
• Healthy eating 
• Getting regular check-ups 
• Avoiding the use of tobacco and illicit drugs  

Wellness Days

Wellness Days are available to promote health and wellbeing by allowing eligible employees time away from the School whilst still receiving their normal pay. 

Eligibility Tiers

Eligibility is determined by standard contracted roster patterns to account for existing flexibility:

• Full-Time Staff (38–40 hours per week): Eligible to access 2 Wellness Days per annum. 
• 9-Day Fortnight / Compressed Roster (36 hours per week): Eligible to access 1 Wellness Day per annum.
• Flexible Rosters (32 hours per week or less): Wellness Days do not apply, as these roles benefit from significant built-in flexibility.
• Trainees and Student Apprentices: Not entitled to any Wellness Days.

Service and Return-to-Work Requirements

• Initial Waiting Period: Wellness Days can only be accessed following the 6-month anniversary of the commencement of continuous employment at The Akidamy. 
• Pay Slip Allocation: The allocation for this leave will only appear on your pay slip in the first pay run AFTER your 6-month work anniversary is reached. 
• Post-Leave Restriction: Any staff member who has taken a priority block of 10 days (or more) of Annual Leave is ineligible to take a Wellness Day for at least 6 weeks following their return to work.

Operational Restrictions and Blackout Periods

• Standalone Use: Wellness Days cannot be combined with Annual Leave, sick leave, or any other leave type. 
• Assessment & Rating (A&R) & ECRU: No Wellness Leave may be taken one week prior to or during any ECRU visit or Assessment and Rating (A&R) inspection period.
• Inspections & Mocks: Wellness Leave is strictly blocked during any Mock A&R training, pre-work inspections, or mandatory training days as advised by the School Director.
• Mandatory Presence: Even if previously approved, the School Director will automatically cancel Wellness Leave due to the arrival of an A&R visit or significant requirement for all staff to be present for inspections. 
• Programming Compliance: Wellness Leave will not be approved for Studio Leads and Studio Teachers if programming for their Studio is not completed or fully updated. This needs to be approved by the Educational Leader and/ or  School Director. 
• School Events & Calendar: Any school event, meeting, or activity on the school calendar as advised by the School Director will result in a block on Wellness Leave. 
• Staffing Ratios: Wellness Leave will not be available if staffing numbers are low (e.g., due to a large number of staff who are sick, overseas leave, etc.) as defined by the School Director to ensure the School maintains necessary ratios and allow proper educational programming and planning.
• General Blackout Periods: Days cannot be taken immediately prior to or following a Public Holiday, when the School has a significant amount of staff on Annual Leave, sick leave (e.g. when school have more than 2 staff sick or annual leave), a rostered day off (RDO), or a School closure day. 
• Compliance: Wellness Days will not be approved if an employee has outstanding certifications on Employment Hero. 

Resignation and Accrual Terms

• Non-Cumulative: Wellness Days cannot be accrued and are not cumulative from year to year; they must be used within the period from 1 July to 30 June. 
• Absences: Wellness Leave cannot be accrued during maternity leave, parental leave, or other long periods of absence from the School. 
• Resignation: Wellness Days cannot be accessed following the resignation of an employee. 
• Alternative Employment: Access is denied if it comes to the attention of the School Director that an employee is actively seeking alternative employment (e.g., reference check requests). 
• Cessation: Unused days are not paid out when an employee ceases employment. 

Application and Pay

• Pro-Rata Pay: Wellness Days are paid for the employee's usual hours of work. 
• Approval Process: Each day must be pre-approved by the School Director with a minimum of 2 weeks’ notice. 
• Condition of Benefit: Receiving Wellness Days is conditional upon maintaining school operations and ratios. Refusal to prioritise school needs may result in the loss of the benefit moving forward and/or the loss of remaining Wellness Days. 
• Financials: These days carry 0% leave loading, do not accrue Annual Leave, and Superannuation guarantee does not apply

Management Responsibilities

The School Director and Management will:

• Provide a workplace environment and systems that are supportive of employee wellness. 
• Ensure employees take their required breaks (e.g., morning tea, lunch). 
• Acknowledge stressful situations for employees, both at work and at home. 

Educator Responsibilities

Educators will:

• Work within the School’s procedures and policies implemented to address workplace wellness. 
• Be respectful, caring and inclusive of all colleagues. 
• Communicate their wellness with management.

Resources

Alcohol and Other Drugs Information Service (ADIS) 1800 422599 
Beyond Blue- online and phone mental health support. 1300 22 4636 beyondblue.org.au/ 
Beyou- provides educators with knowledge, resources and strategies for helping children and young people achieve their best possible mental health beyou.edu.au/ 
Black Dog Institute- provides information and resources for mood disorders, depression and bipolar disorder. blackdoginstitute.org.au/education-services/workplaces... 
Blue Knot Helpline- access to trained, experienced and trauma-informed counsellors, male and female, support adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse. 1300 657 380  
Head to Health- Australian Government Department of Health Digital mental health resources for all your needs.  headtohealth.gov.au/ 
Headspace- A meditation app to assist with stress management, sleep and self-care headspace.com/ 
Q Life provides nation-wide peer support and referral service for LGBTI people, their families and health professionals. qlife.org.au/  1800 184 527 
Smiling Mind- Free mindfulness meditation app to help you look after your mental health and manage stress and daily challenges smilingmind.com.au/ 
Ted Talks- explore the latest thinking on how to build a better learning community for educators, families and children. ted.com/talks 
Work Health and Wellbeing- Strengthen your business Workplace Health and Safety Queensland. Toolkit designed to help businesses to improve systems that influence work health and wellbeing.
 

Source

Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority. (2014).  
Be You (2018):  beyou.edu.au 
Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics. (2016). 
Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). 
Guide to the Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulations. (2017). 
Guide to the National Quality Framework. (2017). (Amended 2020).  
New South Wales Government Health  
Ombudsman Act 2001 (Cth). 
Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (Cth).  
Revised National Quality Standard. (2018). 
Queensland Government Healthier. Happier. Workplaces  
Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth).   
Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth). 
World Health Organization