A milestone for wellbeing and mental health awareness
Participants at the Wellbeing Fiesta 2024 launch.
We brought our community together for the Wellbeing Fiesta—a three-day celebration from 20 to 22 August 2024 that promotes wellbeing and mental health awareness while cultivating a healthier work environment. The event’s overwhelming success reflects our deep commitment to the wellbeing of our staff, marking the start of many more initiatives like this in the future.
The Fiesta was a vibrant mix of forums, activities, and experiences designed to engage and uplift everyone involved. At Monash University Malaysia, we believe that a positive work environment starts with truly understanding and prioritising the needs of our community.
Janice Wong, the Director of Human Resources at Monash University Malaysia, expressed gratitude for the collaboration between HR and the Department of Psychology. She recognised the Wellbeing Working Group’s dedication to our Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Implementation Plan. Janice also celebrated the achievements made in 2024 and looked forward to upcoming initiatives, including a leadership program focused on enhancing staff well-being.
Assunta Hospital's on-site vaccination booth.
The launch continued with a speech from Professor Dato’ Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, President & Pro Vice-Chancellor of Monash University Malaysia. In her opening remarks, Professor Adeeba emphasised the importance of focusing on our community’s nutrition and mental health well-being. She highlighted, "Unless we are all physically and mentally well, many studies have shown that we will not thrive, and consequently, our community and institutions will not thrive."
Building on this message, Professor Jane Tong, Co-Director of the forthcoming Southeast Asian Centre for Workplace Wellbeing and Professor of Management from the School of Business, highlighted the importance of ethics and psychological safety in our workplace. She noted that creating a safe environment is essential for fostering a thriving and supportive community at Monash. Professor Jane used a relatable metaphor for building successful habits, stating that "success is like brushing your teeth. To be successful as a leader or a professional, you must develop certain habits and stick to them."
Professor Shaun Lee addresses the crowd during the BAYER’s Expert Forum.
Day one kicked off with interactive booths offering exclusive services and activities for our staff to enjoy. The event featured free health screenings from the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) Mobile Clinic, onsite consultations and screenings by Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, a flu vaccination booth by Assunta Hospital and a Health Talk on Metabolic Syndrome by Roczen. Our crowd favourites included yoga and bowling, adding to the vibrant energy of the Fiesta.
On day two, BAYER’s Expert Forum—For Her: Conversation of Care highlighted women’s health issues such as endometriosis, cancer, and unwanted pregnancies. The forum, which featured Professor Shaun Lee, Head of the School of Pharmacy, as one of the panel speakers, emphasised the importance of early health-seeking behaviour, debunked myths about contraceptives, and highlighted the benefits of family planning.
The Zumba session that got everyone moving.
During the final day of the Fiesta, the Student Life Counselling, Health & Wellness (CHW) team hosted the "Passage to Self-Love" journey, offering participants a unique opportunity to engage in creative activities aimed at fostering relaxation, self-connection, and rejuvenation. Alongside this enriching experience, the Fiesta featured various activities catering to diverse interests and promoting holistic well-being. Highlights included an energetic Zumba session that got everyone moving. To close the Fiesta on a high note, our Monash community came together to enjoy one of Malaysia’s beloved sports, badminton.
The Wellbeing Fiesta 2024 exemplifies Monash University Malaysia's commitment to supporting staff health and wellbeing. Our ambition to be excellent, international, enterprising, and inclusive drives us to create a supportive, positive work environment that promotes a healthy lifestyle. We encourage staff and students to participate in wellbeing activities, provide tailored support, and aim to promote mental health literacy while combating stigma associated with mental illness. It's crucial to note that wellbeing at work is everyone's responsibility, with leadership playing a pivotal role in promoting awareness and implementing wellbeing initiatives.
The Wellbeing Fiesta 2024 marks the beginning of our wellbeing journey. We encourage everyone to carry the insights and positive habits gained during the Fiesta into everyday life, prioritising our health and happiness as we move forward. As we reflect on the Fiesta's success, let's use this momentum to foster a culture of ongoing wellbeing. Remember, a thriving community is built on the wellbeing of its members. While the Fiesta may have concluded, our commitment to fostering a healthy, supportive, and vibrant community at Monash University Malaysia is ongoing.