The Challenge

In 2023, the City of Port Phillip (CoPP) Local Government sought to improve wellbeing, resilience, and performance in their Family and Children Service. Staff faced challenges like:

• High workloads and leadership turnover.

• Struggling to maintain high-quality support for families.

• A need for a more proactive approach to wellbeing.

Objectives

City of Port Phillip aimed to:

• Reduce burnout and improve team performance.

• Enhance staff wellbeing to better support families.

• Foster a resilient, supportive organisational culture.

The Solution

City of Port Phillip engaged How to Thrive to address these challenges using our Me, We, Us approach:

1. Building Wellbeing (Me)
   Staff completed the How to Thrive for Individuals program, focusing on wellbeing, strengths, and resilience through online learning and live sessions.

2. Supporting Others (We)
   Staff became Thrive Guides, learning to support colleagues and teach wellbeing tools to families.

3. Embedding in Culture (Us)
   Leadership integrated How to Thrive for Workplaces principles into daily practice, focusing on team values and ongoing wellbeing assessments.

The Impact

• Increased personal wellbeing: Staff reported higher levels of resilience and wellbeing.

• Improved team performance: The team felt more equipped to support families, with positive feedback from both staff and clients.

• Greater team cohesion: Staff felt more connected and supported.

• Sustainable change: Thrive Guides ensured ongoing application of wellbeing principles.

Annual Staff Survey Results:

• 30% increase in leadership and collaboration.

• 20% increase in team effectiveness and service culture.

• 50% increase in high performance.

• 100% staff engagement.

Conclusion

The How to Thrive program successfully boosted wellbeing and performance at CoPP. By enhancing individual resilience, equipping staff to support each other, and embedding wellbeing into the organisation, CoPP achieved lasting positive change.