Zurich and OnePath Life launch industry-wide mental health support for financial advisers

Thursday, 10 September 2020: Timed in recognition of R U OK? Day, Zurich Life & Investments and OnePath Life have launched a Holistic Adviser Wellbeing Toolkit, an industry-first that provides mental health and wellbeing support for financial advisers.

The Holistic Adviser Wellbeing Toolkit is comprised of two parts:

1.  My Wellbeing Hub,  https://www.zurich.com.au/mywellbeinghub

2.  CPD-accredited training modules hosted on _Zone, the new on-demand financial adviser learning platform. These are the first modules focussed on mental health within _Zone.

My Wellbeing Hub is a brand-new, purpose-built website with tools and resources that can be accessed by anyone at any time, although it has particularly been designed for Zurich and OnePath Life customers, distribution partners and communities.  Its curated and regularly updated resources consider:

• Mental wellbeing: ways to manage mental health, stress, and sleep.
• Nutrition and fitness: tips for healthy living.
• Community: health and wellness organisations.
• Tools and support: links to financial adviser support resources from AFA Care and the Financial Planning Association (FPA) Wellbeing, as well as national support services such as R U OK?, Lifeline and Beyond Blue.

The Holistic Adviser Toolkit was developed in collaboration with a cross-industry working group borne out of the Zurich Leaders Forums in late 2019. The working group was established to help fight the rising levels of mental ill-health amongst financial advisers, setting out to provide greater guidance and better coordination of resources to help advisers take care of their wellbeing. Feedback from the industry also showed that advisers wanted tools and support to provide industry-leading care, understanding and coaching for their clients and teams.

The working group included: Philip Kewin, CEO Association of Financial Advisers (AFA); Dante De Gori, CEO Financial Planning Association (FPA); Nettie Handley, Consultant at Bombora Advice; and Aaron Williams, CEO and co-founder of Mindstar – alongside Zurich Life & Investments’ Kristine Brooks, Chief Distribution Officer, Tim Atley, Head of Strategic Account Management, and Maria Falas, Head of Mental Health & Wellness.

Maria Falas, Zurich and OnePath Life’s Head of Mental Health & Wellness, said, “We’re very proud to be working in collaboration with the industry and our community partners to provide tools, resources and training to help advisers understand and manage their mental wellbeing, and to support customers in the same pursuit. Our ability to support each other as a community is needed like never before, and Zurich and OnePath Life will continue to take an active role in helping to address this pressing issue in all of our communities of influence.”

Philip Kewin, CEO, Association of Financial Advisers (AFA), said, “At a time when financial advisers are providing such valuable service and support to their clients to ease their emotional and financial burden, it is so important for they themselves to have access to tools and support to look after their own wellbeing.”

The Holistic Adviser Wellbeing Toolkit is another initiative within Zurich’s multi-faceted MindFIT program, which was established four years ago to support greater understanding and positive mental wellbeing for its employees, customers, distribution partners, and communities.

Its content enclosed draws upon the resources and expertise from Zurich and OnePath Life’s network of mental health community programs, partners and key industry bodies. This includes SuperFriend; Tackle Your Feelings, a community program for AFL clubs and coaches; and Mr Perfect, which encourages conversations and connections through informal BBQs across Australia.

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