Flu Fighters Are Ready to Do Battle

Ahead of a predicted horror flu season and in a bid to protect clients, families and employees, Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT) announced a flu offensive called Flu Fighters. Launching ahead of Health Minister Greg Hunt and Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt’s call for “every aged-are provider to offer the flu vaccine to every single worker”, the campaign targets everyone who comes into contact with any Southern Cross Care home, Retirement Village or Home Care service.

The six-month long Flu Fighters awareness campaign, launched on the 10^th April with communications targeting their 2,000 plus employee’s to sign up to receive the flu vaccine. According to Head of People and Culture, Kalena Jefferson, employees are being targeted with a series of on-going educational programs aimed at encouraging good flu hygiene practices, detecting symptoms and caring for those with the flu. “Messages are appearing on payslips, posters, badges and through every communication we have with our employees, we want everyone to participate.”

Alongside ensuring their workforce is immunised, Southern Cross Care are also appealing to their Home Care customers as well as visitors to their aged care homes and villages. “We’re encouraging everyone to have the influenza vaccine this flu season and promoting that it is free for the over 65’s. We have correspondence going out to clients and families over the next six months, free personal hand sanitisers to take home, and signage requesting visitors and employees “Stay Away if you’re not OK.” Our message is that ageing is everyone’s business and we must protect our most vulnerable.”

Southern Cross Care wants everyone to be a Flu Fighter by receiving the flu vaccine, coughing into your elbow when you don’t have a tissue, cleaning your hands regularly and staying at home if you’re sick.

Find out more about Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT).