Be You Wellbeing Plan For Educators

Be You
Wellbeing Plan
for Educators
This plan is designed to help you support your own mental health and wellbeing in the
workplace and address the unique challenges you may experience as an educator.
It will help you to consider strategies and resources you can use to promote and protect
your wellbeing in and outside work, or to manage any difficulties or disruptions at work.
Why a plan is important How to use this plan

Looking after your mental health is just as This personal wellbeing plan is a list of
important as looking after your physical health. strategies in two parts. The first part focusses
on the actions you can take to support your
There are plenty of practical steps you can mental health and wellbeing. The second part
take to promote and protect your mental health can be used to help you navigate a break from
and wellbeing at work, and outside work as well. your role and the subsequent return to work.
But it’s also important to acknowledge that
work – and life – can sometimes be challenging At each step consider the examples in the
and leave us feeling stressed, upset, worried, column on the left, and then record information
or burned out. It’s OK to not be OK and it’s relevant to your own situation on the right. Put
important to recognise if you are feeling that your strategies in action as often as you can.
way, and take steps to get the support that is
right for you.
You do not need to wait until you are

experiencing difficulties to complete and
implement this plan. Creating and maintaining
a wellbeing plan is an important way to protect
your mental health and wellbeing. The plan can
also be useful to prepare for an unexpected
period of difficulty and to know what to do
when such an occasion arises.
With delivery partners Funded by
1
Supporting your own wellbeing
Focus on your strengths as an educator
We often take our strengths for granted. List as many of your strengths as you can.
Paying attention to our strengths means
we can be more aware of them and use them
when facing challenges or to achieve goals.
Ask yourself, what are my strengths as a person
and as an educator that help me do my job well?
Examples:
• Able to build strong relationships with others.
• Creative thinker and can make learning activities
engaging. List how you can use these strengths to
promote your wellbeing at work and in life.
Recognise the challenges in your role that impact your wellbeing

There may be some aspects of your role that can List your main triggers and the strategies
raise your stress levels and make situations more you can use to address them.
difficult to manage. If you know what increases
your stress, then you can often anticipate these Stressor/strategy:
challenges and put strategies in place to manage
them effectively.
Example:
Stressor: A
potentially difficult conversation
with a parent or carer about a child Stressor/strategy:
or young person.
Strategy: R
ehearsing the conversation,
including some possible scenarios,
with a colleague or mentor beforehand.
Stressor/strategy:
2
Know the warning signs of stress and burnout
Warning signs are changes in thoughts, List as many of your own warning signs as you
emotions or behaviours that suggest you may can and actions that will help you address them.
be experiencing high levels of stress, burnout
or symptoms of depression and anxiety.
There are warning signs that we all have in

common, and some that are unique to you.
Knowing these warning signs can help you
act early.
Some potential warning signs are listed below.
Personal
• Sad.
• Anxious.
• Irritable.
• Angry.
• Loss of interest or pleasure.
• Low energy.
• Difficulty sleeping.
• Increased consumption of alcohol.
At work
• Procrastination.
• Difficulty concentrating and meeting deadlines.
• Lower than normal work standards
(less engaged, less attention to detail).
• Less social (or withdrawn) in interactions
with colleagues, families, children, and
young people.
• Low job satisfaction.
• Negative and not solutions focused.
• Cynical or critical attitudes at work.
3
Actions you can take to support yourself
There are actions that each of us can take to List as many strategies as you can to support
support our mental health and wellbeing, and to yourself at work and at home.
address concerns when they arise. These actions
might include self-care, and also include raising Self-care strategies at work:
work-related concerns with a member of the
leadership team.
Some actions that support wellbeing may include:
• Scheduling time for activities that you enjoy.

• Staying in touch with family and friends.
• Talking to a trusted friend or colleague.
• Eating well and keeping physically fit.
• Prioritising sleep, by adopting good sleep habits.
• Engaging in meditation or mindfulness
practices.
• Discussing role clarity and workload with
relevant members of the leadership team.
• Discussing any issues with processes and Self-care strategies at home:
protocols with the leadership team.
• Discussing your work needs with leadership.
• Logging occupational health and safety
(OH&S) concerns.
• Accessing professional support
(see ‘Professional support you can call on’)
Here are some suggested strategies for dealing

with stress and anxiety.
4
Engage with family, friends and colleagues who are supportive
Having a network of family and friends you can Write down the names and contact details of
turn to when life gets challenging is important for your main supporters. Try to include at least one
maintaining perspective and feeling grounded. person you work with. Describe how you can stay
Consider the people in your work or social circles in contact or reach out to them when you need to.
who you enjoy being with, or who help you feel
better during difficult times.
These people could include:
• colleagues
• friends
• family members
• mentors
• contacts in community groups.
Practise work habits that support your wellbeing

Actions that improve your personal wellbeing at List the things you believe you can do to maintain
work can help you in times of stress and, in the your wellbeing at work.
longer term, help to prevent burnout anxiety or
depression.
• Be realistic about what you can achieve

at work.
• Work collaboratively and share the planning
of activities and lessons with colleagues.
• Aim for balance and keep the hours you work
in check.
• Celebrate successes with your colleagues
and leadership team, as well as discussing
concerns or difficulties.
5
Actions you can take to support yourself while supporting others
Contributing to a mentally healthy work List some things you believe you can do with,
environment can add to your own wellbeing and for, others to maintain your wellbeing.
at work. Cultivate positive practices at work,
even if it’s just honest gratitude and small acts
of kindness. These can quickly add up to make
us feel good.
• Grab a coffee with a colleague.

• Write a thank-you note to a colleague.
• If you can, and if it’s appropriate, offer to help
a snowed-under colleague or community
member with some tasks.
• Offer support or advice to a colleague who
could use some help – but remember your
boundaries. You’re a colleague not a counsellor.
6
Supporting your time off from work
Your plan if you need time away from work
Sometimes people may need to take time out List the actions you could take if you were unable
from work to recover from a mental health issue to work.
or condition. Even if this doesn’t eventuate, it can
be helpful to have a plan of action just in case.
• Before planning time away from your role,

find out your work policy on leave.
• Consider how you might be able to change
your duties to support remaining at work,
if appropriate, and who you could speak
to about this.
• If you are a member of a union, obtain advice
on your options.
• If you are concerned about your finances,
seek professional help. Free financial
counselling is a great way of accessing
practical advice and support.
Concerned about discussing your mental

health with your employer? You can find more
information at headsup.org.au.
7
Returning to work after taking time off
If you take time away from work, it’s important List the things you need to consider and discuss
to plan your return to work in a way that supports with a health professional or your employer if
your mental health and wellbeing. For some you return to work after some time off.
people, a gradual return to work is ideal, rather
than going back full time.
You can discuss this with your manager and

your health professional on an ongoing basis.
Some things to consider:
• Who will you liaise with in your organisation

to get support for your return?
• Can you talk to a leader or mentor about
identifying duties and a return to work timeline?
• How many hours a week will you do?
Will these hours increase over time?
• What tasks will you undertake?
• What information do you need to resume
your role?
• How well does your return-to-work plan
accommodate ongoing treatment, if any,
for your mental health and wellbeing?
• What strategies can you implement when you
return to work to protect your mental health
and wellbeing?
Professional supports you can call on

Professional support is always available when List the names, numbers and locations
you need it. of helplines, mental health professionals,
hospitals, and other useful support services.
• General practitioner (GP) or mental health
professional
• Your workplace Employee Assistance Program
• Beyond Blue Support Service 1300 22 4636
• Lifeline 13 11 14
• MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78
• headspace (12–25 years old) 1800 650 890
• HealthInfoNet
• Health Direct
If you need an interpreter to help speak with any

of these services, you can call the Translating and
Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 13 14 50.

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Be You

Why a plan is important How to use this plan

You do not need to wait until you are

With delivery partners Funded by

Recognise the challenges in your role that impact your wellbeing

There are warning signs that we all have in

Some potential warning signs are listed below.

Some actions that support wellbeing may include:

• Scheduling time for activities that you enjoy.

Here are some suggested strategies for dealing

These people could include:

Practise work habits that support your wellbeing

• Be realistic about what you can achieve

• Grab a coffee with a colleague.

• Before planning time away from your role,

Concerned about discussing your mental

You can discuss this with your manager and

Some things to consider:

• Who will you liaise with in your organisation

Professional supports you can call on

If you need an interpreter to help speak with any

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