2025 is shaping up to be the year of wellbeing at Flinders, with the launch of Thriving @ Flinders—a comprehensive new staff wellbeing portal that complements the student-focused BetterU and strengthens the whole university community.
2025 is the year of the wellbeing website! (there I called it) 💻
BetterU was launched earlier this year, providing a centralised place for students to learn about wellbeing supports.
Now Thriving @ Flinders has launched providing the same service for staff. And they have my full congratulations!
“The Thriving @ Flinders staff-wellbeing website brings together the wide range of supports, activities and opportunities available to all staff. Whether you’re after resources for your team, ideas for your own physical, mental or financial wellbeing, or information on campus activations, the site makes it easier than ever to access all that Flinders has to offer.”
We (the student team) thought we were pretty special with our 3 main pages, but Thriving @ Flinders have upped the game. What you’ll find inside their site:
Healthy Body 🏃♀️ – On-campus ways to get moving plus staff-friendly health services and tools
Healthy Mind 🧠 – Mental-health reflection tools, support programs and dedicated neurodiversity resources
Healthy Workplace 🏢 – Belonging & inclusion initiatives, safety & support, wellbeing for leaders and other workplace-wellbeing programs
Healthy Finance 💰 – UniSuper webinars and money-wise resources for every career stage
Activities & Events 📅 – Central and local events that celebrate diversity, connection and professional growth, along with training and development options
Achievements 🏅 – Quick proof points, from Athena SWAN Cygnet awards and Best Practice Breastfeeding accreditation to top-ten global SDG rankings
I’m a student, why do I care about the staff wellbeing page?
Good question!
In modern Australia and many other individualistic cultures, wellbeing is often talked about in terms of what you can do for yourself.
But wellbeing isn’t just individual. It’s also deeply social and community-based. A healthy, supported community helps its members thrive. Just like a happy lecturer tends to create a more engaging class, a positive work environment for staff contributes to a better experience for students.
Conversely, it’s hard to be happy and learning in a burnt-out culture.
So why should you, as a student, care about staff wellbeing?
Because your experience at Flinders is shaped by the people around you and that includes your teachers, tutors, and support staff. If they’re feeling supported, valued and well, it flows into the learning environment you’re part of.
While you won’t access staff-specific wellbeing services yourself (unless you are in a dual role of student and staff member), the presence and use of those services, by staff, helps shape a healthier university community. And I am pretty sure, whether we’ve all thought about it or not, we kinda want that.
I’m a staff member, what do I do?
Warm up that mouse finger of yours and visit their site. Take a look around. I’m confident you’ll discover something of value to you, that you didn’t know about, and that might change your perspective on something.
For example, when I took a look at their belonging and inclusion page, it got me thinking about how the different committees, working groups, and networks we belong to contribute to a sense of belonging. I’d pretty much dismissed them as source of more work, but being part of groups, with a common mission and the power to make change, can satisfy many wellbeing needs.
Once you’ve had a tour of the site, then make sure you check your email regularly (check the ‘Other’ folder) for the Thriving @ Flinders newsletters, so you know what is current and trending (just like my fashion sense).
Find something interesting? Then get involved. I do the occasional training session for staff, so if spending more time with me was on your list, that might be a good way.
Lend your voice
A two-minute Staff Wellbeing Survey is live until Friday 18 July 2025. Share what’s working and what could be better, and help shape the portal’s next chapter.
🔗 Explore the portal: https://www.flinders.edu.au/about/thriving-flinders (staff login required for some pages).
📧 Questions or ideas? thriving@flinders.edu.au | (08) 7421 9073