Case Study

Partners In Wellbeing – Small Business Support Program

Case Study in : Support, skills development, and capacity building at the individual and community level.

Kim Kleinitz, VTIC Member and Business Owner of Jetty Road Retreat, Nungurner VIC

Aim: This case study will showcase the benefits of one-on-one personal wellbeing support offered by PIW; the additional development of skills and knowledge building through opportunities and activities such as free mental health and wellbeing courses and workshops for participants; and highlight the flow on capacity building effect when it comes to mental health and wellbeing at the community level.

Kim Kleinitz, VTIC Member and Business Owner of Jetty Road Retreat, Nungurner VIC

Kim Kleinitz, shares her continuing story in 2023

“With the help of Partners In Wellbeing support I have been able to work through a difficult period of uncertainty to achieve a much more positive perspective on the future. The support I’ve received has helped me to step off the emotional rollercoaster with a renewed (and improved!) sense of self-belief. I’ve also been able to upskill through access to free courses and workshops. Having previously had little knowledge about mental health and wellbeing, it’s been really powerful to learn how to better support myself and others and normalise struggle as part of what it means to be human. Perhaps it’s a sign of the times, but it feels like “essential learning” for small business owners, in the face of continuing challenges associated with cost-of-living pressures and Covid 19.” – Kim Kleinitz, VTIC Member and Business Owner of Jetty Road Retreat, Nungurner (near Metung) VIC.

VTIC member and small business owner Kim from Jetty Road Retreat self-referred for wellbeing support in February 2022.  Kim reported at the initial assessment that she was struggling with stress, overwhelm, uncertainty, and anxiety.  Kim reported she was struggling with emotional distress and would frequently break down and cry (which wasn’t like her at all), experiencing sleeping problems, had partner and extended family relationship issues due to strain coming from the business issues, and described a sense of hopelessness and despair brought on by the current circumstances.  Kim also reported there was a possibility of losing the business which was a fear she was not able to process because the business “the business is my baby”, and she had fought so hard and survived two years of COVID-19 lockdowns only to be hit now with family disagreements about the future direction of the business which could, if taken away from her immediate family, have great effect on their livelihood.

Partners In Wellbeing has been working with Kim on a fortnightly basis providing wellbeing coaching support. The wellbeing coaching sessions are focused on practical strategies for managing psychological distress and anxiety to improve mental and emotional wellbeing and assist in preparing Kim to calmly and successfully navigate the difficult and challenging conversations happening with the extended family about the future of the business. Kim’s priorities were to ensure she remains calm, strong, clearly communicates her position, and not get emotionally heightened during these interactions and meetings.  Kim was also provided with tools to help her to manage stress, develop an improved growth mindset, practice self-compassion, and remain focused on what was in her circle of control.

Through her engagement with the Partners In Wellbeing program Kim had the opportunity to participate in additional free mental health and wellbeing training courses and workshops.  Kim is now an accredited Mental Health First Aider after completing the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certification.  She has also completed a mindfulness course by Mindarma which is a digital workplace wellbeing tool designed to enhance mental health and grow business and personal resilience.  As a result of these training courses Kim reports she has rediscovered her love of learning and discovered a newfound love in learning about mental health and wellbeing, and now would like to use this knowledge and new skills to help others.

Kim is currently involved in a community impact project as part of the continued learning opportunities with the Wellbeing Lab who are currently teaching small business owners the PERMAH (Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships Meaning, Accomplishment, and Health) pillars of positive psychology.  Kim has presented a wellbeing seminar called ‘Building Connections’ to a local group of business owners in her regional area which she reports was very well received.

Kim is now planning a series of 6 spotlight events at various tourism venues, inviting the regional businesses to build community connections and networks of support.  Kim will share her story of lived experience as a small business owner through times of struggle, and how it affected her mental health and wellbeing, and offer strategies to others she has learned through one-on-one wellbeing coaching, and the wellbeing courses she has completed through Partners In Wellbeing.  Kim reports she is passionate about using her lived experience and newfound wellbeing knowledge to help her local regional business community start to come together, open up and talk about wellbeing and to address and normalise mental health struggles because ‘wellbeing’ is such an essential and integral part of a healthy and successful business.

Kim continues to be supported by the Partners In Wellbeing program and engaged in one-on-one wellbeing coaching support.

Consent: Kim has consented to use of her name, business name, photo and story’s use in any Partners In Wellbeing, DJPR reporting & comms, and VTIC comms