Encouraging healthy lifestyles is one important way to improve the health, happiness and productivity of employees and reduce the levels of sick leave and workplace injuries in the NSW public sector.

A Healthy Workforce is a policy developed by the Department of Premier and Cabinet to improve the health and wellbeing of public sector employees. The Policy is aimed at assisting agencies develop comprehensive healthy workforce programs and details seven steps to implement an effective program.

A number of agencies have already developed programs which have included: providing weight reduction or quit smoking programs; negotiating corporate rates for membership to sporting clubs and gyms; coordinating group fitness activities; and running health information sessions on site. These are only some of the possible strategies and agencies will need to ensure programs are targeted to:

• respond to their employees' needs;
• work with the agency's structure and culture; and
• relate to occupational health and safety policies and other factors that may contribute to sick leave and workplace illness or injury. 

The Department of Premier and Cabinet is also working with the Department of Commerce to develop a suite of whole of government standing offer contracts to assist agencies in developing their programs. 
 
 
 
Robyn Kruk
Director General

This circular has not superseded any other Memorandum/Circular