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The AFL season may be over... but our Thriving@Flinders events are still here to support you and your wellbeing! Keep reading to see the numerous activities and events on offer to keep you thriving.
“The greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you.” – Joyce Meyer
Thriving@Flinders: Spotlight
Name: Natalie Ciccone
Role: Executive Officer, College of Science & Engineering
How long have you been at Flinders?
14 years!
What supports your wellbeing at Flinders?
I have truly enjoyed each role, team, and College (have worked across three) in my time at Flinders – learning and growing supports my wellbeing. I also love a good laugh at work, a coffee date with the numerous colleagues I hold dear, lake laps/getting outside after staring at the screen and getting involved in the many campus activities and initiatives on offer.
How do you keep yourself thriving? Wellbeing is honestly everything to me (in fact this year I am studying a Grad Cert in Positive Psychology because I love it that much).
Thriving to me is seeing the opportunity, counting your blessings, and being the best version of YOU (noting that daily your best will change and that is ok). I try to journal, meditate (Insight Timer is fantastic for anyone getting started), and exercise daily. A decent night’s sleep and good food are also up there, but most importantly, it is the company I keep and thoughts I feed myself! None of these things are rocket science, but critical to my life.
What’s your wellbeing tip for others? Be responsible for the energy you bring – like attracts like! And, be kind to yourself, it’s so easy to look at others and think they have it all. We are all on a journey, shaped by so many moments, why not be a light in someone’s day.
Save the date - Staff end of year event
Mark your calendars - Friday 21 November is the date for the 2025 Staff End of Year Event!
We will be sharing further details of the event over the coming months, but be prepared for crafts, games, food, ice cream and more.
Remember to submit your ideas for 2026 campus activation events
Over 2025 we have enjoyed a variety of Campus Activation events, with each activity offering something new and different. We’re excited to keep momentum going in 2026. If you have a great idea, submit an application here. Guidelines for campus activation events can be found here.
Which Campus Activation events did you like the most? How can we do better? Share your feedback and help us make 2026 even better.
World Menopause Day – 18 October
October is recognised globally as World Menopause Month, with Saturday 18 October marking World Menopause Day. This day raises awareness and understanding of menopause and promotes the supports available to improve health and wellbeing.
At Flinders, we are proud to be working towards becoming an accredited Menopause Friendly organisation. We have dedicated resources, trained Menopause Champions, and an active Menopause Awareness@Flinders Teams site.
If you are experiencing symptoms of menopause or want to better support a colleague or loved one, we encourage you to explore our Menopause at Work webpage, where you’ll find resources, services you can access, stories, and practical tools.
The 2025 theme is Lifestyle Medicine – highlighting the important role of nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and mental wellbeing in supporting healthy ageing. At Flinders, our Thriving@Flinders programs connect you with a wide range of opportunities, including Recipe Clubs, Health2Go services, support for mental health, and other initiatives that support your wellbeing.
We invite all colleges, portfolios and teams to find a way to acknowledge this important day. Whether through a morning tea, a wellbeing walk, or a reflective conversation in your team, showing support helps create a more open and inclusive workplace.
Tips: We want to know! What’s your lifestyle medicine hack for perimenopause? Post it in the Menopause Teams site, or if you aren't already a member, click here.
Bupa Individual Consultations Available - 22 October
On Wednesday 22 October, Bupa will be providing on-site individual consultations. This is your opportunity to understand more about what BUPA offers, ask personalised questions about the type of cover you might need, and see what deals are available to you.
These appointments can be made by anyone wanting to know more, whether you are currently with another fund, or already with BUPA.
To book a time slot, register here.
Our corporate partnership with Bupa provides access to private health insurance at competitive rates. Bupa is currently offering 8 weeks free on eligible products. If you can’t make an in-person appointment, find out more about the corporate health plan options here.
Supporting Breast Cancer Research
This October, Flinders Student Council is welcoming Flinders University staff, students, and friends to come together for a Pink Ribbon Brunch, a vibrant community event raising vital funds and awareness for breast cancer research through the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
On Friday 24 October, 10:00am – 11:30am, purchase a ticket and come to Alere to enjoy live music, guest speakers, raffles, and delicious food, all while supporting an important cause. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, so you can support just by attending. Book your tickets here!
You can also get involved by creating your own Fundraising Team via the Flinders Pink Ribbon Team page. Click “Join Us”, add your team details, and start collecting donations.
Together, we can make a difference.
Training and information Sessions - All Staff
Bupa Thought Leadership – Clare Bowditch – 15 October
Come along to the final Bupa Thought Leadership of 2025 and hear from Clare Bowditch, award-winning musician, author, and speaker. If you’ve ever struggled with your inner critic, this is the session for you.
Clare will be reflecting on ways to channel anxiety and quiet self-doubt by sharing practical tools and creative techniques. Learn about how to develop tools such as self-compassion and resilience to help you navigate life.
Even if you aren’t a Bupa member, register here to come along, 11:30am-12:30pm, 15 October.
UniSuper – Eat Smart, Live Well! – 16 October
As part of the Thriving@Flinders initiative we are pleased to join with UniSuper for an exclusive webcast for Flinders staff, delivered in partnership with MetLife.
This webcast is packed with practical tips to keep your work lunches healthy and your on-the-go snacks smart.
You’ll hear from Dana Segal, Accredited Practising Dietitian and Teladoc Health's lead nutrition clinician with an embedded honours Nutrition and Dietetics degree from the University of Wollongong. Dana will help you discover secrets to gut health, beat the 3pm slump, and get inspired with delicious lunch ideas. Plus, learn how MetLife’s 360Health service can support your nutrition journey.
Register here for the session on 16 October, 1:00-2:00pm. Everyone is welcome – even if you aren’t a UniSuper member.
Demystifying Suicide: A Guide for All University Staff
Headspace have launched a new program based on the Responding to Suicide Toolkit for Australian Universities. This program helps university staff better understand suicide and their role in supporting community wellbeing. Through clear, practical guidance, it breaks down myths, explores risk and protective factors, and outlines what staff can do, and what they’re not expected to do. Whether you're academic, professional, or casual staff, this session empowers you to respond with confidence, compassion, and clarity.
Register here to attend Demystifying Suicide: A Guide for All Uni Staff.
Looking to learn in bite sized sessions? Register here for a short lunch and learn as part of the Headspace university support program. Sessions include:
- Understanding Postvention vs Prevention vs Intervention (30 mins)
- Communicating About Suicide Safely
- A Suicide Has Occurred: How and When Should I Tell My Students?
Training and information sessions - Professional Staff
The following four development sessions are available to professional staff, and registrations are via the Staff Learning Portal.
Getting things done – for leaders – 22 October
Do you feel like you are fighting fires all the time? That you work hard, fast, and smart every day but still never seem to get everything done?
Leading in a complex, matrixed environment like Flinders is both exciting and challenging, working with multiple stakeholders, high stakes and competing priorities.
In this interactive and engaging workshop, delivered by Tracy Maxted from The Missing Think, learn practical strategies to:
- Remain calm, clear and focused through change and challenge
- Reduce time spent fighting fires and increase strategic decision-making, prioritisation and communication
- Get the important things done each day and bring others along with you
- Align individual and team goals and activities with University and Portfolio strategic priorities
Register here and invest in your skills today.
Ways we are Thriving@Flinders
"It doesn't have to be all or nothing. All or something is where the real shift happens - because even two minutes can change your energy, focus and connection"
- Lizzie Williamson
What is one thing you can do differently to improve your wellbeing, even if it is only two minutes? It might be that you go for a walk in your lunch break, spend two minutes booking into one of the thriving@Flinders events, or practice some mindfulness.
It's up to you!
Finacial Wellbeing: Make Work (and Money) Work for You - 21 October
In this empowering conversation, financial educator and entrepreneur Betsy Westcott shares how aligning your personal and professional financial goals can transform the way you work and live. Drawing on her extensive career—from leading private banking teams and scaling digital banks to founding her own financial coaching platform—Betsy introduces her CLEAR framework, blending psychological insights with practical financial strategy.
Key takeaways include:
✅ Clarify Your Financial Vision – Align goals with the life you truly want.
✅ Build Sustainable Systems – Manage money, set boundaries, and create rhythm.
✅ Shift Your Money Mindset – Release limiting beliefs to build lasting freedom.
Click here to register
Leading the Future of Work: Reimagining Work for Healthier Human Workplaces - 30 October
What if the future of work wasn’t five years away but five minutes from now?
In this live session you’ll hear from Katelyn Reddin, Head of People Strategy at Medibank, and Reanna Browne, award-winning strategic futurist, as they unpack what it really takes to reimagine the future of work.
Hosted by Olympic gold medalist and wellbeing advocate Lauren Burns OAM, together they’ll explore how leaders can create healthier, more human workplaces.
Previous editions of Thriving@Flinders
If you missed out on any previous editions, you don’t need to worry. All past editions can now be found on our website here!
Contact Us
For any queries, or to promote your staff wellbeing initiative, please contact us on: thriving@flinders.edu.au.
Flinders University
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park South Australia 5042