The positive mental health and wellbeing of our industry peers is important to all of us.
AAWE has developed a Statement of Values highlighting respect, integrity, empathy, courage and collaborative leadership. We aim to raise awareness and provide practical support and monitoring of the mental health and wellbeing of our industry people.
As a member of AAWE, we ask that you uphold these values. If enacted, we will see an industry full of people who feel valued, supported and connected knowing it's OK to talk and ask for help.
AAWE STATEMENT OF VALUES
The Australian Alliance for Wellness in Entertainment believes all industry professionals have the right and capacity for, optimal physical and mental health and wellbeing. For many industry people, what they do is more than a job, it’s a lifestyle and therefore many aspects of their professional health and wellbeing impact their personal and social life away from the workplace. By acknowledging the intrinsic interplay between the physical, the social and the mental health of entertainment industry people, we believe that holistic healthcare and wellbeing is essential to a healthy, vibrant and sustainable Entertainment industry in Australia.
As a member of AAWE, I will strive to honour the following values at all times to provide advocacy, practical support and monitoring of mental health and wellbeing:
Respect:
Australian Entertainment Industry People (AEIP), as human beings, are worthy of respect with regard to their health, wellbeing and personal information offered in-confidence.
If this value is fully enacted we would see people who feel valued, supported, and comfortable to ask for help. Wellness will come first. Differences will be valued and problems acknowledged, regardless of circumstance.
Integrity:
Each member of the AAWE actively looks to ways to enhance the awareness of health and wellbeing challenges for AEIPs and seeks where practical to offer pro-active support.
If this value is fully enacted we would see industry people who feel cared for, connected and understood knowing the industry cares for them. Being vulnerable is ok – you are not alone.
Courage:
Locally and internationally, not all have welcomed the highlighting of deficits and shortcomings in health and wellbeing for AEIPs. Each member of the AAWE demonstrates courage by facing up to its duty of care and actively challenges industry ‘myths’ and the status quo, when the wellbeing of AEIPs is put at risk.
If this value is fully enacted we would see peer to peer support, wellness at the forefront of work health and safety, acceptance of new possibilities and the “de-glamourisation” of industry myths.
Empathy:
Working in the arts is an innately risky and vulnerable profession. AAWE members honour the injuries and hurts of both the present and the past with empathy and work towards restorative practices that reconcile workers to the industry.
If this value is fully enacted we would see the reconciliation of past hurts and injuries, empathy and understanding, and less judging and shaming of peers and self when acknowledging personal struggles.
Collaborative Leadership:
Shifting the culture of an industry requires strong and consistent leadership both in the workplace and in training institutions. AAWE members regard the health and wellbeing of all AEIPs as a priority for a vibrant and sustainable industry.
If this value is fully enacted we would see alignment, unity, transparency, and authenticity in our industry organisations.
Creativity:
It’s sometimes suggested that change is too hard, but AAWE members know the values of creativity better than most and so know that any challenges arising in the pursuit of health and wellbeing for AEIPs can be tackled in a creative and proactive manner.
If this value is fully enacted we would see support networks, trust & openness and confidence among industry professionals.
Reliability:
Many AEIPs have felt let down by the industry in the past. AAWE members demonstrate their reliability by proactively working towards a greater investment of what leads to ill-health and what can make a difference to greater wellbeing.
If this value is fully enacted we would see trust, consistency, confidence, commitment and authenticity in industry professionals and organisations.
Perseverance:
Industry people are known for their perseverance when it gets tough to stay true to one’s creative vision. AAWE members align themselves with that spirit of perseverance as they seek to turn around the troubling statistics that alerted the Entertainment industry to its crisis regarding its people’s wellbeing.
If this value is fully enacted we would see resilience, loyalty, commitment, optimism and empowerment in industry professionals and organisations.