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Racing Industry "Wellbeing" Campaign


Chief Stipe

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Racing industry launches wellbeing campaign

NZTR, HRNZ, GRNZ
27 September 2021

Coinciding with the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, a personal wellbeing campaign to make racing better for everyone, launches today. 

The #whenracingwins campaign is about making improvements in the working environment for everyone in Thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing, whether jockeys, drivers, trainers, stablehands or other employees.  

“It’s not about rules or sweeping policy changes, this campaign is built around achievable everyday moments that make racing a better environment in which to work” said Greyhound Racing NZ’s Michael Dore.

Among the areas of focus are to minimise workplace stress, harassment in various forms, abuse of alcohol or drugs, ensuring the racing community treats everyone with respect, and supporting and encouraging people who need help to speak up. 

Studies have shown that upwards of two-thirds of participants in racing believe there is a need for change. 

“Various stresses or negative incidents they face can impact on people’s wellbeing, and we risk losing really good participants from racing to other careers where they feel better appreciated and supported.  By being mindful of others and treating people with respect the whole industry can benefit.  It’s an important issue, that all three racing Codes recognise and are supporting” said Martin Burns of NZ Thoroughbred Racing.

The campaign has the support of a range of participants who have spoken their thoughts in video clips that will be shared in social media and, will have its own website whenracingwins.nz, as well as a presence on Facebook.

"That message of harden up might make tough people but it is not sustainable.  We aim to raise awareness and discussion of these issues within the racing community – and provide a clear pathway to report and support, for those who need it. The push for better standards, and better wellbeing needs to come from people at all levels within the industry” said Salvation Army's Racing Chaplin Andrew McKerrow who features in the campaign's videos.

The campaign starts today and will supported by the Codes and the Salvation Army on an ongoing basis. Social media will raise awareness of issues and allow people to share their stories or find assistance.  The website also provides information and avenues for those wanting help.  Posters reinforcing the campaign’s messages will also be displayed at racecourses around the country. 

“It’s appropriate that we are launching during mental Health Awareness Week, but we want this campaign to involve all aspects of wellness – the goal is to make racing a better workplace and industry for everyone, whether you are a big-time owner or a stablehand just starting out”, said Harness Racing NZ’s Natalie Gameson.

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9 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

That message of harden up might make tough people but it is not sustainable.

Well this is what people are having to do with the way the industry is being run . This is what they consider is a success for the industry . They are blind to what the real problems in the industry are .

Whilst the ship sinks the officers party .

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13 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

“Various stresses or negative incidents they face can impact on people’s wellbeing, and we risk losing really good participants from racing to other careers where they feel better appreciated and supported. 

Too little , too late .

Most of the good participants have left the industry , hence the current predicament of staff shortages .

They really are soooo far of the pace of change it's embarrassing .

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So instead of changing the things that are making people leave they are going to help people feel better appreciated and supported.

No no no we won't look at programming or apprentice training and retention or improving work conditions for stakeholders........

No no no we'll build 3 new AWT's and they will feel much better and the financial rewards will just come.

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More copy cat clap trap from this lot, incapable of coming up with anything even remotely or vaguely related to the actual product or even improving elements of it i.e programming, calendar, stakes distribution, better utilisation of assets , reducing costs etc etc etc - they just copy and put their name on it. Can't be long until they have some inclusion awareness campaign and change their name to ATR! - In short just embarrassingly hopeless!

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9 hours ago, Joe Bloggs said:

I can't comment on the red hots or the dishlickers but NZTR is bullshit central, headed by bullshit meister Saundry, bullshit is contagious though, and can end in disaster, just remember, ''There are none so dangerous as those that believe their own bullshit''.

NZTR , NZRB and RITA make the dole line at WINZ look great!🤣 That be their best achievement ever going to do.  Sack the lot and still get same old results!

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10 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Racing industry launches wellbeing campaign

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NZTR, HRNZ, GRNZ
27 September 2021

Coinciding with the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, a personal wellbeing campaign to make racing better for everyone, launches today. 

The #whenracingwins campaign is about making improvements in the working environment for everyone in Thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing, whether jockeys, drivers, trainers, stablehands or other employees.  

“It’s not about rules or sweeping policy changes, this campaign is built around achievable everyday moments that make racing a better environment in which to work” said Greyhound Racing NZ’s Michael Dore.

Among the areas of focus are to minimise workplace stress, harassment in various forms, abuse of alcohol or drugs, ensuring the racing community treats everyone with respect, and supporting and encouraging people who need help to speak up. 

Studies have shown that upwards of two-thirds of participants in racing believe there is a need for change. 

“Various stresses or negative incidents they face can impact on people’s wellbeing, and we risk losing really good participants from racing to other careers where they feel better appreciated and supported.  By being mindful of others and treating people with respect the whole industry can benefit.  It’s an important issue, that all three racing Codes recognise and are supporting” said Martin Burns of NZ Thoroughbred Racing.

The campaign has the support of a range of participants who have spoken their thoughts in video clips that will be shared in social media and, will have its own website whenracingwins.nz, as well as a presence on Facebook.

"That message of harden up might make tough people but it is not sustainable.  We aim to raise awareness and discussion of these issues within the racing community – and provide a clear pathway to report and support, for those who need it. The push for better standards, and better wellbeing needs to come from people at all levels within the industry” said Salvation Army's Racing Chaplin Andrew McKerrow who features in the campaign's videos.

The campaign starts today and will supported by the Codes and the Salvation Army on an ongoing basis. Social media will raise awareness of issues and allow people to share their stories or find assistance.  The website also provides information and avenues for those wanting help.  Posters reinforcing the campaign’s messages will also be displayed at racecourses around the country. 

“It’s appropriate that we are launching during mental Health Awareness Week, but we want this campaign to involve all aspects of wellness – the goal is to make racing a better workplace and industry for everyone, whether you are a big-time owner or a stablehand just starting out”, said Harness Racing NZ’s Natalie Gameson.

Type of thing needed to happen good 10-15 years ago. But hey! that's how far from reality leadership and coal face are! 

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15 hours ago, nomates said:

Well this is what people are having to do with the way the industry is being run . This is what they consider is a success for the industry . They are blind to what the real problems in the industry are .

Whilst the ship sinks the officers party .

Yeah,  spot on.

But - what happens in other industries?   While what has been said above is right, what agencies are available to folk in the world outside racing?   I guess, what I am trying to say in  rather clumsy way, is that help/counselling is supposed to be available in the wider community - although Mike King would no doubt dispute how much, and how well targeted, that help might be.

I've mentioned this before, wrt apprentice training and welfare.   Years ago, the racecourse D's would go around trainers and talk to all the youngsters.  Wages and living conditions were the main crux of this,  but any issues troubling the kids were also dealt with.  I realise that an older white male would not, necessarily, be the right vehicle to pour out one's woes to,   but they were there regardless, if needed.

Now we have apprentice 'mentors'  [ useless ]  and the Racecourse D's don't deal with this sort of stuff, although, depending on the personality of individuals,  some would no doubt help if they were asked.

Locally, we are very fortunate to have Salvation Army chaplain Andrew McKerrow,  he is now 'officially' sanctioned by NZTR, but -  that is mostly because of his own desire to help people.   He saw a need and put himself there,  and  has gone put of his way to be part of the scene,  putting on barbeques at the track, dishing out soup, always a cheerful presence raceday with his trolley of chocolate treats!    He is just the go-to person if anyone has a issue, and will facilitate professional help if asked - or just call in for a coffee and a chat, no strings attached.

We are so fortunate to have him around.

Other areas are the poorer, it seems.

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1 hour ago, Freda said:

Yeah,  spot on.

But - what happens in other industries?   While what has been said above is right, what agencies are available to folk in the world outside racing?   I guess, what I am trying to say in  rather clumsy way, is that help/counselling is supposed to be available in the wider community - although Mike King would no doubt dispute how much, and how well targeted, that help might be.

I've mentioned this before, wrt apprentice training and welfare.   Years ago, the racecourse D's would go around trainers and talk to all the youngsters.  Wages and living conditions were the main crux of this,  but any issues troubling the kids were also dealt with.  I realise that an older white male would not, necessarily, be the right vehicle to pour out one's woes to,   but they were there regardless, if needed.

Now we have apprentice 'mentors'  [ useless ]  and the Racecourse D's don't deal with this sort of stuff, although, depending on the personality of individuals,  some would no doubt help if they were asked.

Locally, we are very fortunate to have Salvation Army chaplain Andrew McKerrow,  he is now 'officially' sanctioned by NZTR, but -  that is mostly because of his own desire to help people.   He saw a need and put himself there,  and  has gone put of his way to be part of the scene,  putting on barbeques at the track, dishing out soup, always a cheerful presence raceday with his trolley of chocolate treats!    He is just the go-to person if anyone has a issue, and will facilitate professional help if asked - or just call in for a coffee and a chat, no strings attached.

We are so fortunate to have him around.

Other areas are the poorer, it seems.

My concern with this type of stuff is the people they bring in are likely to know little about racing , so you get a similar situation to what we have with regards to the running of the sport itself , it's something I would have thought needs to be looked after from within.  

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Really , who in their right mind is going to NZTR for help if they are feeling mentally fragile or being bullied , no one goes to NZTR for anything , industry participants on the whole know they are useless . Your likely to end up in worse condition .

On top of anything else this sort of thing should have been done 30/40/ years ago , far too late now , most employers that are left and serious have worked this out for themselves and make sure they're staff are looked after .

So yet again we stand looking at the stable door sitting wide open .

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30 minutes ago, Huey said:

#whenracingwins surely there was something more relevant than that ? 

Does anyone know if there is a number an owner can call when their horse runs down the track? #whenyourhorsedontwin 

I'm not really up with conventional social media but isn't the hashtag thing a Twitter thing?  But they don't have a Twitter account!

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The site is hosted on Amazon servers using Drupal.  Have no idea who their web developer is but why they have chosen Drupal is beyond me.  

Seems they have really spent large (sarcasm font) and are using this site to develop their website.

https://platform.sh/

Suspect they have gone with a small developer who really doesn't know what they are doing.

 

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