ECH is pioneering a new frontier in workplace health with the launch of a perimenopause program, Positive Pause, which will arm its female workforce with the knowledge and clinical support they need to age well.
In what is believed to be an Australian-first, 300 women aged between 40 and 60 who work at ECH will be able to access Menopause Doctors for consultations and referrals to a free DEXA bone density scan, blood tests and treatment plans to manage symptoms.
Employees will continue to be paid to attend the appointments, rather than needing to take personal leave.
Partnering with Emsee Menopause Centre’s telehealth services and Jones Radiology, the ECH initiative will connect women with the diagnostic information, medical support and potential treatment options needed to navigate perimenopause and menopause.
ECH is one of South Australia’s largest providers of retirement living accommodation and in-home care and employs more than 800 people – around 70 per cent of their female workforce will be eligible for the program.
Introducing the program, ECH Head of People and Culture, Dr Richard Laidlaw, said it was an opportunity to build understanding and make conversations more comfortable in the workplace.
“Perimenopause and menopause is a natural stage of life experienced by many women, yet it remains rarely discussed in the workplace and is often misunderstood,” Dr Laidlaw said.
“At ECH, we wanted to change that by making perimenopause something we can talk about openly and comfortably, while building greater awareness and understanding across our workforce.
“Perimenopause education benefits everyone, supporting women through an important life stage while helping others become more informed and supportive of colleagues, partners and family members.”
ECH Employee Engagement & Diversity Partner Heather Shaw said the innovative program was developed to help employees access information, clinical guidance and practical support.
“Symptoms can include hot flushes, brain fog, disrupted sleep, and joint or muscle discomfort. Changes in bone density are also an important consideration,” Ms Shaw said.
“We want our employees to feel informed and supported, rather than having to navigate these changes alone. Early support and intervention are so important, including slowing down the loss of bone density that occurs as hormones shift. However, many employees have reported difficulties accessing the clinical guidance they were looking for, and a bone density scan isn’t funded by Medicare until the age of 70.
“An early diagnosis of low bone density means there’s an opportunity to intervene to slow down that bone loss, while medical or natural treatment can help manage other symptoms to improve health and wellbeing.”
After consulting the Emsee Menopause Centre’s telehealth services and undergoing the DEXA bone density scan with Jones Radiology, ECH employees can choose to explore medical or naturopathic treatment with Emsee.
Jones Radiology Consultant Radiologist Dr Mary Moss said bone loss speeds up after menopause, usually without warning signs.
“A DEXA scan is a quick, low dose and non-invasive way to give your GP a clearer picture of your bone health, so problems can be picked up and managed early,” Dr Moss said.
While other organisations have introduced additional paid leave for women to manage symptoms, ECH understands no one else is actually funding women to undergo diagnostic tests and empower them to access medical support and treatment they may need.
Employees will also be able to draw on the expertise of ECH’s own team of exercise physiologists and dietitians for weight-bearing and bone-strengthening exercise programs, alongside nutrition planning.
Complementing this clinical support, ECH partnered with Amanda Pulford and Mia Handshin from Empowering Midlife to deliver information sessions on perimenopause and menopause, and dedicated sessions for team leaders and managers to build awareness and help leaders feel more confident having supportive conversations and responding to their team members’ needs.
ECH is also developing a resource hub where employees and leaders can find information and guidance, with further supports planned as the initiative progresses. Alongside this work, ECH is reviewing its policies and processes to formalise perimenopause and menopause support within its broader wellbeing framework.
The initiative has the strong support of ECH Chief Executive Alan Morrison, who is committed to progressing this work and fostering a workplace where people feel comfortable seeking support through perimenopause and menopause.
“Our Employees play a critical role in helping our clients and residents to age well, so we’re pleased we can extend that mission to support our own employees to get on the path to good health in mid-life and beyond,” Mr Morrison said.
A snapshot of the ECH Positive Pause employee health program:
- 4 weeks access to Emsee Menopause Centre, Australia’s largest provider of menopause-focused. Access includes 2 telehealth consultations with Menopause Doctors and access to a digital education hub of expert-reviewed articles, tips and resources to learn more about menopause.
- Free DEXA bone density scan via Jones Radiology, a low-dose x-ray which measures bone mineral density to evaluate bone strength and fracture risk. A scan enables women to understand their risk of developing osteoporosis, enabling them to take steps to reduce the rate of bone loss.
- Access to ECH’s exercise physiologists and dietitians for exercise programs and nutrition advice.
- Option to repeat the tests at 4-year
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Media contact:
communikate et al – Vicki Cirillo, 0427 020 909 or [email protected]
About ECH:
ECH is a South Australian retirement living and in-home care services provider, helping people to live confidently and independently, and get MORE out of life. Established in 1964 as a profit-for-purpose organisation, ECH employs more than 800 people and supports over 7,000 clients and residents through its network of 89 villages, wellness centres and in-home services, across Adelaide, Adelaide Hills and Victor Harbor.
For more information, please visit ech.asn.au
