EDITORIAL: Getting the balance right
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WORKERS are being encouraged to balance their work behind their desks with time in parks.
The Healthy Together Wodonga team yesterday launched a brochure to guide the corporate community on how to embark on volunteer work outdoors.
Wodonga councillor Michael Fraser said the initiative would improve the health and wellbeing of employees.
“We are getting older and getting fatter,” he said.
“You don’t have to do a lot, it’s about maintaining parks and bushland, whether it’s planting trees or maintaining tracks.
“They can be part of creating an attractive environment.”
Victorian parliamentary health secretary Georgie Crozier said the workplaces in open spaces initiative built partnerships between organisations.
“And with this prospectus we expect the numbers to build because the guide is a great example of how corporate organisations can get involved,” she said.
“Getting their employees out will result in a healthier workforce.”
Ms Crozier said there was an issue with chronic disease and the initiative worked as a prevention.
Hume Building Society chief executive Andrew Saxby said his company had been volunteering for 10 years with Parklands Albury Wodonga.
“We have planted about 8500 trees over the time,” he said.
Mr Saxby encouraged other organisations to get involved.
“Employees have been healthy and engaged and staff turnover and absentees are not a problem for us,” he said.
“This guideline will help people get on board and when staff have an idea it can be implemented.”
The council will work with any businesses wanting to start a project.