Ray White leads the way in workplace wellbeing

This recognition is a testament to the team’s ongoing commitment to supporting the wellbeing of its 300-plus corporate employees based across seven locations, including across Australia, New Zealand, and even Ireland.

“But beyond the certificate, this recognition reflects something deeper: a culture that values not just performance, but the people behind it,” said Natalie Hortz, Head of Organisational Development at Ray White.

“In a profession that thrives on energy, connection, and resilience, wellbeing isn’t a “nice to have” but an essential.

"The training has been facilitated by Kim Huckerby, founder of The Wellbeing Affect and certified Mental Health First Aid trainer.

"Kim was first engaged to support the build out of the Together Wellbeing Initiative, the Group's extended wellbeing program.

“At Ray White Corporate, wellbeing has become an integrated part of how the team works, grows, and supports one another, underpinned by our Together Program.”

The Together program was brought to life by Natalie and Ray White Special Projects Manager Samantha White. The Ray White Organisational Development team, created to align business units, processes, and strategy to achieve sustainable performance, has been the driving force behind the program, encouraging health, wellbeing and adaptability among teams.

The Together Program takes a holistic approach to employee wellbeing, built around several key dimensions: emotional, psychological, physical and financial wellbeing. Each element plays a distinct role in helping people feel their best both inside and outside the workplace.

Emotional and psychological wellbeing has become a sharp focus in recent years, with training in resilience, mindfulness, and mental health awareness. The rollout of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training has been a cornerstone of this effort, equipping staff with the confidence to support one another when it matters most.

Spurred on by growing isolation during the COVID-19 years of working from home, the Mental Health First Aid training has been essential in identifying burnout and mental health issues among team members.

“Being recognised as an Advanced Mental Health First Aid workplace means we’re acknowledged for our commitment to promoting positive change in mental health literacy and action,” said Joanna Chapman, Ray White Group HR Operations Manager.

“We’ve had over 100 team members go through Mental Health First Aid training across our six corporate offices, meaning there are more people equipped to identify and assist with colleagues who might be struggling with their mental health,” she continued.

“It’s not about being experts, it’s about knowing how to listen, how to support, and how to guide someone to the help they need.

“The training gives us the confidence to have real, caring conversations, and that’s made a tangible difference in how we show up for one another.

“We also have a robust EAP (Employee Assistance Program) that all corporate team members can access anonymously and at no cost to them. They have access to trained mental health professionals who are able to talk them through any struggles they may be facing - be it work or personal related.”

Physical wellbeing is supported through initiatives that encourage movement, energy, and health. The goal isn’t to prescribe one approach, but to help everyone find ways to recharge and care for their bodies.

Together offers teams professional classes like yoga, pilates and boxing, and they’re encouraged to participate in challenges like STEPtember and Dry July. ‘Together Curiosities’, presented by volunteer “Together Champions” ask questions about physical and mental health, and are recorded and shared with the wider corporate team.

“One of our Together Champions invited her father - a specialist physician - to join her on a webinar during Women’s Health Week to answer any questions the team might have had about their own physical health,” said Georgia Holden, corporate relations manager and member of the Organisational Development team.

“The engagement we had from the wider corporate team was so heartening. We want to encourage the belief that nothing is off limits when it comes to safeguarding your own health.”

“Our Together teams across Australia and New Zealand are constantly coming up with new ways to engage their individual corporate offices, and we couldn’t be more proud of the volunteers who formulate ideas that work for their teams and run with them.”

Finally, financial wellbeing recognises that money stress is one of the biggest contributors to mental strain. By offering access to education on budgeting, superannuation, mortgage brokering and long-term planning, the corporate team helps employees build confidence and security in their financial lives.

Now, the challenge and opportunity ahead is to inspire every Ray White office to do the same: to bring wellbeing into the everyday fabric of their own teams.