Wise Group wins toughest smokefree award

Wise Group wins toughest smokefree award

Community-based support organisation Wise Group is just the fourth organisation in Auckland to be awarded an Auckland Regional Public Health Service Smokefree Award, as a smokefree workplace.

The driving force behind the achievement was Pathways, a Wise Group organisation that promotes a smokefree culture and provides stop-smoking services for the people the Wise Group supports.

Pathways’ Healthy Lifestyle Co-ordinator, Paul Emery, accepted the award on behalf of the group at its Manukau offices recently. “This award is recognition for several years of effort to create a smokefree workplace.”

He says that when the group started the drive to practise what it preached several years ago, some staff felt their smoking status was their own affair. But, as others around them quit and the benefits started to show, they became more open to getting the help the organisation offered.

Paul says the vast majority of the 50 staff at the site are now non-smokers, but some still smoke away from the workplace. He believes they will quit when the time is right for them. “Pathways will support them when they are ready.”

It is well placed to do so. Pathways delivers the Breakfree stop-smoking service for several non-government organisations in the Auckland and Northland regions. Breakfree helps people supported by those organisations, their staff and their family or whanau to quit smoking. Achieving award standard was always important to the group’s integrity, says Paul.

His top tip for others looking at creating a smokefree environment is to start with people’s attitudes. “Try to gauge where people are up to. Hounding smokers won’t work, but if people are on board you can find the right moment,” says Paul.

In presenting the framed certificate on behalf of the Auckland Regional Public Health Service, Medical Officer of Health Dr Brad Novak recognised the Wise Group’s commitment to being smokefree went beyond creating a more pleasant work environment, to improving the lives of its employees and their families.

“To get this award you are really signing up to helping New Zealanders reach the Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 goal,” says Dr Novak. “Wise Group is devoted to helping people improve the quality of their lives. Quitting smoking isn’t easy but being committed to a smokefree environment and helping people make that change is taking the biggest step forward to a better life – for them and their families.”

Public health service health promoter Lisa Jury says the Wise Group is just the fourth organisation to achieve the standard in three years.

“It’s not easy to attain, it’s a tough standard to reach. It’s not about putting up signs, it’s about how you follow through. Who owns the policy and who makes it happen?” says Lisa. “It’s about making people aware of the policy at reception, when they join the company, and being prepared to have the conversation with people who smoke on site.”

Health Promoter Catherine Manning says the public health service had no hesitation in conferring this award to Wise Group.

“You can see the pride they take in it right from when you enter reception, they own it. The Wise Group really is living and breathing it.”

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