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The non-major bank has announced that it will be hosting a wellbeing workshop for brokers alongside the FBAA.
Suncorp has partnered with the Finance Brokers Association of Australia (FBAA) to host free health and wellbeing workshops to support mortgage brokers in Sydney and Melbourne as part of R U OK? Day.
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In association with A Higher Branch Success Academy, R U OK? Day and Beyond Blue, the workshops will be designed to help build brokers’ personal resilience.
The FBAA initiative involves a half-day workshop, in which brokers will receive practical and personalised techniques to become body fit and mind fit.
Brokers will also be given access to mental health tools, resources and specialists committed to supporting them, their families and clients.
The event will include a session provided by self-development coach Sam Makhoul, program director of A Higher Branch Success Academy.
FBAA managing director Peter White said the partnership builds on work he commenced in 2016 as an industry ambassador for the awareness and acceptance of anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses.
“We are honoured to partner with Suncorp for these wellness workshops, which are the beginning of a longer relationship between the FBAA and Suncorp to further support finance and mortgage brokers with their mental health and wellness – it’s such an important social issue,” he said.
Suncorp national partnerships manager Renee Blethyn said the bank is committed to supporting broker wellbeing, particularly in light of recent scrutiny placed on the industry.
“Providing brokers with the tools and resources they need to manage their own health and resilience more effectively is essential,” Ms Blethyn said.
“The past 12 to 18 months have been particularly challenging for brokers – both on a personal and professional level – as they have had to navigate change and a highly competitive lending environment.
“And we know this pace of change can take its toll. That’s why we fully support this FBAA initiative. The free, half-day workshops will give brokers a blueprint they can implement to help design a life and business that can lead to them being happier, healthier and even more successful.”
She added: “While many events focus on the craft of being a mortgage broker, we know that taking time out to think about your own health and wellbeing, and learning how to better manage stress levels, is critical and often neglected.
“We invite our valued broker partners to invest half a day to focus on themselves and learn from this high-calibre panel of experts.”
The initiative comes amid R U OK?’s 2019 national omnibus survey, which revealed that approximately two-thirds of people (63 per cent) are not confident they know the signs that someone might be struggling with life.
Further, 41 per cent hadn’t asked someone if they were OK because they weren’t sure they knew the signs.
However, nearly half (49 per cent) said they believe they’d be more confident starting a conversation if they knew the signs.
If you are suffering from depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts, or you’re worried about someone else and feel that urgent professional support is needed, contact your local doctor or one of the 24/7 crisis agencies, such as Lifeline: 13 11 14.
[Related: SME Broker Bootcamp 2019 dates announced!]
