In fact, it’s a place where most Australians already spend about a third of their life - work.

The new Get Healthy at Work initiative makes it easy for businesses to support workers in making healthier food choices, become more physically active and maintain a healthy body weight.

Workplaces can also use the free workplace health service to support the New Year’s resolutions of workers who want to quit smoking or reduce harmful alcohol use.

Southern NSW Medicare Local (SNSWML) has been contracted by the NSW Government to offer the Get Healthy at Work service to businesses in the Bega Valley.

At participating workplaces this involves offering confidential health checks to assess people’s risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

It also involves setting some health goals for the workplace, supported by an action plan filled with motivating healthy activities such as the use of pedometers and healthy eating initiatives.

For Carmen Falvey, a health promotion officer with the SNSWML, the benefits for both the workers and the business are obvious.

“Healthy workers are happy workers. They are more productive and are less likely to take time off work due to ill-health,” Ms Falvey said.

“In my own workplace, Medicare Local employees have embraced Get Healthy At Work by looking at stress reduction initiatives as well as ways to fit more incidental exercise into the day.

“For instance, we’ve started weekly lunchtime walking groups as an easy way to introduce physical activity, reduce stress, and have some fun with colleagues. 

“We’re also offering support and free nicotine replacement therapy for employees wishing to quit smoking as part of the program.

“Get Healthy at Work is all about making it as easy as possible for workplaces to decide what they need to do and implement some simple changes to support their workers in achieving their personal health goals – best of all, it’s completely free,” she said.

For more information about Get Healthy at Work visit www.gethealthyatwork.com.au.

If you would like the Medicare Local to assist your business with its Get Healthy at Work registration, health checks and workplace health program please call Carmen on 6499 0421 or 0409 034 407.