Preventative health in Western Australia has been taken to a new level, with the launch of the Change for Life program. This is a unique Local Government initiative designed to improve productivity, reduce absenteeism and work related injuries, and save costs.
Since its inception in 1997, thousands of Local Government employees have had completely confidential individual health assessments.
From these assessments the following health related issues have been detected.
- cardiac problems resulting in 21 operations
- 511 cancers
- 1,378 cases of high blood pressure
- 2,067 cases of high cholesterol
- 530 cases of diabetes
- 3,816 cases of poor posture
A reassessment, 6-12 months after the initial assessment, has discovered some remarkable results.
There has been a 19 percent decrease in the number of cases of blood pressure, 24 percent decrease for high cholesterol, nine percent decrease in
kidney abnormalities, 10 percent decrease in liver abnormalities and a 12 percent reduction in the number of smokers.
Many of the Councils that have run the initial assessments have started supervised exercise programs for their employees.
These range from aquarobics, weights sessions to walking and volleyball games.
Stress management and nutrition seminars have also been run for employees and their families, Fluvax immunisations have been provided, and manual handling training to reduce work related injuries has been implemented.
Local Government is one of the largest employers in Western Australia with over 12,000 employees statewide.
Its workers compensation scheme, the Municipal Workcare Scheme, established the Change for Life program, providing a comprehensive suite of preventative health services to Local Government.
“This program is remarkable and is having a significant impact on employees’ lives,” said Western Australian Municipal Association President, Jamie Edwards.
Municipal Workcare Scheme Executive Director, Leon Lawrence, agrees.
“This program has had a profound effect on workers’ lives and it is exciting to see the statistics proving the value of preventative health interventions,” he said.
The Change for Life program is demonstrating that, with the correct mix of screening, education and ongoing support, the changes people make today can be a change for life.
For further information contact Leon Lawrence, telephone (08) 9483 8888.
