Wellbeing strategy template

How to use this wellbeing strategy template

This template is designed to help not-for-profit organisations create a clear, practical wellbeing strategy. It aligns with the Institute of Community Directors Australia approach to board and organisational wellbeing.

1. Start with your vision

Define what wellbeing means for your organisation. This should link to your broader organisational strategy. For example: 'We want our people to feel safe, supported, and able to thrive so we can deliver better outcomes for our community.'

2. Use the six focus areas

The template is structured around six focus areas:
1. Safer foundations – preventing harm
2. Stronger safeguards – protecting wellbeing through governance and leadership
3. Shared knowledge – building awareness and skills
4. Everyday supports – strengthening daily work practices
5. Crisis care – responding to urgent needs
6. Better bounce-back – supporting recovery and return to work

3. Set goals and initiatives

For each focus area, agree on a clear goal (what you want to achieve) and identify key initiatives (the big steps that will help you reach the goal).

4. Add supporting actions

Break each initiative into specific actions. These should be practical steps your team can realistically take with the resources you have available.

5. Assign responsibilities

Decide who will be responsible for each action. This might be the CEO, a senior manager, or a board committee. Clear accountability makes it more likely the work will get done.

6. Define measures and outcomes

Decide how you will know if you’re making progress. This might include staff survey results, reduced absenteeism, feedback from volunteers, or progress reports to the board.

7. Review and improve

Review the strategy every 12 months (or sooner if needed). Adjust goals and actions based on what you’ve learned, new risks, and feedback from staff and volunteers.

Tip: Don’t try to do everything at once. Start with what you MUST do to meet your legal and governance obligations, then build on this with what you CAN do and COULD do over time.