OPENS TODAY, THURSDAY 7 MARCH 2024
The second of the Movember-funded wellbeing survey opens today.
The NZPFU urges all members who participated in the March 2023 survey to participate in the March 2024 survey.
Approximately 75 percent of all uniformed employees responded to the first survey conducted independently by AUT in March 2023. That survey resulted in the sobering report released in September 2023. The report and outline of its findings can be read via the 18th September 2023 national notice.
Due to the very high participation in the March 2023 survey we now have internationally accepted credible and robust evidence on the impact of the role and FENZ as an organisation has on the wellbeing of our members. But that was just the start – it is just as important to have the same high participation in March 2024 so that comparative analysis can be made. This evidence will form part of the discussions of the evolution of the pilot in Te Hiku to the wider organisation.
This is ground-breaking research as it is the first study that canvassed the state of mental health but also the organisational stressors that impact and harm firefighters, call centre dispatchers and all others that work for FENZ. The Whanaungatanga Programme is an important programme of work and is one of 15 international projects funded by the Movember Foundation in an endeavour to develop evidence-based mental ill-health and suicide prevention programmes for veterans and first responders.
It is vital that we have the same level of response to the March 2024 survey to understand what, if anything, has changed for our members.
- FENZ has already acted on the 2023 survey report by implementing grassroots “interventions” in the pilot region, Te Hiku. These interventions came from workshops also piloted in Te Hiku that allowed firefighters to discuss the key organisational issues that cause harm and actions that can be taken to address that harm.
- One national intervention has been the removal of access to the red-light absence indicator. Members recorded in the survey how the absence indicator was being used as a disciplinary tool or to refuse promotion or appointment which was in breach of its purpose which was to assist with wellbeing discussions. The NZPFU has received positive feedback from members detailing how the removal of the absence indicator has had a positive impact on their wellbeing and now no longer feel restricted to take accrued sick leave when ill or injured.
How do you participate?
- Only those that participated in the March 2023 survey will receive the March 2024 survey.
- Because this survey measures against last year’s, if you did not complete the survey last year you will be unable to take part.
- The survey will be sent by email and will have the subject ‘2024 Whanaungatanga Wellbeing Survey’ and is run using the Qualtrics platform. It will be sent from Lisa Mackay, AUT Project Supervisor lmackay@aut.ac.nz
- Please check your email inboxes for the email that will be sent today. If it is not in your inbox check your “focused”, “other” and “junk” email boxes.
- It takes around 30 minutes to complete and it can be completed at work or home. You can also stop part way through and finish it later.
- Some of the survey questions ask about sensitive topics such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and exposure to potentially traumatic events. People can skip any questions that they do not wish to answer and support is always available for people if they need to talk about their mental health.
- Survey respondents in the pilot region Te Hiku will be asked some additional questions to measure the effectiveness of the interventions that have been developed after the first survey and piloted in the region.
- It also gives us an important comparison between our pilot region Te Hiku (where the interventions have been piloted) and the rest of the country.
- As with the first survey, once the researchers have analysed the findings the results will be shared.
- If you have any questions email whanaungatangapgm@fireandemergency.nz
Details of the methodology and privacy protections of the survey are the same as for the 2023 survey and can be found here.
The NZPFU will hold video conferences with NZPFU Local representatives to ensure that all who participated in 2023 take the time to participate in the 2024 survey. We also ask that Officers discuss the participation in the survey with the crews at every shift so that everyone who is eligible has the opportunity to participate and is reminded to do so.
In unity,
Wattie Watson
National Secretary
