After what can only be described as rollercoaster ride over the past two years, wellbeing has become a topic of serious discussion. News articles on ‘The Great Resignation’, and the growing mental-health crisis in our community, have shone a spotlight on the importance of safeguarding the wellbeing of those close to us – both at work, and in our personal lives.
The Victorian landscaping community has not been immune to these challenges. While demand has grown for landscaping services, so too have the threats to business, with supply shortages, difficulties in retaining staff, and financial pressures from rising interest rates all placing added pressure on small-business owners. Awareness of the struggle within our industry has grown, and the conversations about wellbeing, self-care, and the importance of speaking up have come to the forefront.
As a progressive, member-centred association, LVML felt there was more work to be done to support its members as they weather these challenges – to not only survive this wave of change, but to make sure they are able to thrive and flourish in the long term.
Thanks to a grant from the Business Victoria Mental Wellbeing of Business Communities Grants Program, LVML recently launched the LVML Wellbeing Hub – an online resource designed to support and engage landscaping professionals on their journey to improved self-care.
Packed with evidence-based resources from The Wellbeing Lab by Michelle McQuaid, the LVML Wellbeing Hub is guided by the PERMAH theory, which suggests wellbeing is cultivated by the presence in our lives of positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, accomplishment, and good health.
LVML members and their teams can register and access the resources within the LVML Wellbeing Hub free of charge. Individuals who are especially passionate are also encouraged to become Wellbeing Champions, which will provide them with the skills to guide discussions around wellbeing within the workplace.
According to LVML CEO Megan Flower, the initiative is a first step in ensuring members have access to the right resources to look after themselves and check in on the wellbeing of their team.
“We’re immensely grateful for the support we received from the Business Victoria Grants Program in allowing us to make these resources available, for free, to our members,” she said. “Through this online hub, LVML hopes to not only enhance the individual wellbeing of its members, but to also drive a culture of support and awareness within the industry of the role that wellbeing plays in our everyday lives, and the value of prioritising wellbeing in the workplace.”
2022 Victorian Landscape Awards
Awards season is here. This month, Landscaping Victoria Master Landscapers will be holding its annual Victorian Landscape Awards, a yearly acknowledgement and celebration of excellence across landscaping design, construction and maintenance.
“The Awards are always a highlight for our association, and this year is no exception. “It is always a delight to see our members celebrating the achievements of their peers, but this year will be especially sweet given it will be the first time in two years we’ve been able to host the event in person,” explained Ms Flower, who sees the awards as an important opportunity for members to invest in themselves, and their team, and to gain valuable feedback on the quality and craftsmanship of their work.
“The Awards are not just about winning. They are a lot more valuable than that.
“As an association, we place integrity and professionalism very highly on our list of attributes that we value in our members. These awards are not only a measure of the quality of the workmanship, but they are also a terrific benchmark for business owners to measure progress and the quality of their business.”
Winners of the 2022 Victorian Landscape Awards automatically qualify for the Husqvarna Champion of Champions: Australian Landscaper of the Year awards, which see the annual winners of the State landscape association awards from around Australia battle it out for the ultimate title for the best in landscaping.
Erin Green of Nature’s Best Landscapes was a winner at the 2021 Victorian Landscape Awards and went on to win his category at the Australian Landscaper of the Year Awards that year.
“Erin is a terrific example of how entering the Association awards can lead to even bigger achievements,” said Flower, “and I’m looking forward to seeing this year’s winners, and hopefully watching them achieve similar success and recognition at a national level.”