Sunshine Coast Council is partnering with corporate partners to deliver an Australian-first free wellbeing program to small and medium-sized businesses.
Council today launched the B-Well and Prosper online portal that connects small business owners and their employees to information on how to establish healthy workplaces, looking after yourself, stress in the workplace – including cash flow stress, and how to manage signs of employee burn out.
Sunshine Coast’s Economic Development and Innovation Councillor Cr Stephen Robinson said the online portal was available free to businesses by registering at bwell.mindstar.com.au The portal includes a workplace wellbeing toolkit designed to proactively manage common workplace stresses and address emerging issues.
“Smaller business owners often don’t have the budget to invest in stress, wellbeing and mental health support for themselves or their employees and can feel like they are doing it all on their own,” Cr Robinson said.
“Council is proud to be working alongside local wellbeing expert Aaron Williams, founder of Mindstar, and corporate partners to deliver an introductory small business support portal that provides business advice as well as wellbeing support and strategies to support business owners, their staff and our region to B-Well and Prosper.
“This is an important first-step to provide support to our local business community and to connect them to further resources if they want to seek additional guidance.
“Local businesses are the lifeblood of this region and through the Regional Economic Development Strategy, we offer a range of programs to support them, through B-Well, we aim to have the healthiest business community in the nation.
“Running your own business can be hugely rewarding, but for many small and medium-sized business owners, having sole responsibility for the business’s success or failure can take its toll.
“We want to help people prosper in our healthy, smart, creative region.
“This portal can be accessed anytime to access free business advice, health tips, wellness ideas, hear other people’s stories and connect with others in the business community. I encourage all business owners to download the free Workplace Wellbeing Toolkit.”
Sunshine Coast resident Bronwyn Delaivuna shared her story via video on the B-Well portal about how she experienced first-hand the struggle of balancing work and life priorities.
“I wish there was something like the B-Well and Prosper program in place when I was struggling in my previous business. When I start my next business the B-Well and Prosper portal will be a part of my business plan,” Mrs Delaivuna said.
In addition to free online tools, Sunshine Coast small business owners can access referral services and other Council business support programs.
Mr Williams said people wanted quality, easy to access, confidential information and the ability to connect to professionals that they and their whole family can speak to when it is convenient to them.
“Together, we have produced an innovative, bespoke site that the coast’s small businesses can use to access more than 35 hours off wellbeing content – factsheets and information, programs, a monthly digital newsletter, workshops, local fitness and wellbeing groups and more,” he said.
