Caring for Others at Impact: A case study

About

This virtual program was designed by Impact Australia to help leaders confronting new challenges as a result of the pandemic, enabling them to support their people through the disruption of working and schooling from home, restricted movement, financial stress, isolation, anxiety and trauma, and maintaining mental and physical health during a global pandemic.

Though initially just for leaders, the need for these skills across the board was quickly recognised and the program was rolled out to all Impact staff globally.

Objective

The session aimed to equip people with the knowledge and confidence needed to provide support to people at work, in their families and in their community. It focused on exploring what a crisis is, how people react to a crisis, managing wellbeing, recovery journeys, psychological first aid and practical approaches for helping others.

Solution

The program is based on the principles of psychological first aid and real-world lessons on recovery. Starting from the understanding that everyone’s experience of a crisis is different, the solution teaches participants about the varied impacts of the current crisis and the different ways that people react to sustained stress.

Result

'This is the missing piece of leadership. It provides a vital human-to-human focus, not just now when the world is in turmoil, but for whenever life throws challenges your way. The session itself is authentic and down to earth. The Impact facilitators who run this have a deft touch and big hearts. Our people on the receiving end of this, locally and globally, have feasted on its much needed humanity and relevance.'

Dean Mounsey, General Manager, Impact Australia