About Us

History

Wellness Africa is born out of a mutual dream by its founders, Japie Lubbe and Tertia Putter. Their dream is to empower individuals and organizations to adopt a wellness workstyle and lifestyle with self-responsibility, balance and personal development in all wellness dimensions so organisations can become who the purpose to be. They found that by living a wellness lifestyle, individuals and organisations could reduce their risk and improve their productivity.

With their unique and extensive experience in consulting individuals and organisations within an African culture, they have developed industry leading wellness products, services and solutions.  These products & services are focussed on identifying the existing culture and enhancing it to a wellness culture for the individual and/or organisation.

Traditionally, individuals/organisations declared themselves as healthy when there is an absence of disease. Internationally and locally, the focus is shifting more and more to a preventative approach where we strive towards a state of total Wellness, and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity. Wellness is the holistic perception of the individual or the organization as a unity, it strives to release our full potential to live a life in abundance.

Vision & Values

Our vision is to empower organisations to develop and sustain a quality workplace wellness culture through:

The core values of Wellness Africa (Pty)Ltd are:

•       Provide quality service to clients
•       Ensure that there is transfer of knowledge and skills
•       Provide world-class products and services, customised for the people of Africa
•       Be ethical
•       Be transparent

Profile of Management

Dr. JPH Lubbe

Dr Japie Lubbe is a director and founder of Wellness Africa (Pty).  For the past 15 years he has been involved in consulting various corporate companies in adopting well work and lifestyle behaviours through a unique systematic culture change approach to create sustained behaviour change. One of the programs implemented in an electricity utility company has achieved groundbreaking results by creating a cost benefit of more than 770%. He has developed unique African based health & wellness material currently implemented in various organizations.  Japie completed his PhD in Human Movement Sciences at the North-West University, South Africa, with his thesis on Worksite Wellness Programs and Physical Work Capacity. Japie is registered with the Health Professional Council of South Africa, he is an Intrinsic Couch and a Certified Motivational Interviewing Trainer. Japie has presented at several national and international conferences and published almost 30 articles. He is passionate about encouraging people to live a quality and purposeful life. With this passion he has founded Sizabantwana Children Benefit Organization, a non profit organization caring and empowering more than 700 AIDS Orphans to live a life of purpose.

Mrs T Putter

Tertia Putter is a director and founder of Wellness Africa (Pty). For the past 13 years she has implemented various wellness programs in organizations – such as: Strategic Wellness Culture Change Programs, Shift worker Wellness Programs, Executive Wellness Programs, Wellness Coaching, Ergonomic Wellness etc. Tertia has been involved in developing unique African based health & wellness certification programs that is currently implemented throughout various organizations. Some of the most current certified courses that are being implemented include Certified Wellness Professional Training, Certified Wellness Leadership Training and Certified Wellness Coordinator Training. Training these top professionals in all levels of Wellness has become a passion to re-ignite the professional back to their initial purpose in serving others through the health industry.

Tertia is registered with the Health Professional Council of South Africa as a Biokienticist and she is a certified Intrinsic Coach, Executive Coach, Coach Mentor and Motivational Interviewing Trainer. Tertia Putter has presented the groundbreaking work of Wellness Africa at several national and international conferences.

Rev. F Mashego

Frank is an executive management member of Wellness Africa (Pty) Ltd. focusing on Social Development. He has been involved with the social development of children in South Africa for the past 20 years. Frank is a senior lecturer at PETRA College witch is a Children Evangelising Training Centre. He is also a founding member and manager of SizaBantwana Children Benefit Organisation. The organisation’s main objectives are to provide care and support to orphaned and destitute children due to the HIV/ AIDS epidemic and other diverse circumstances and empower them to reach for a dream. The organisation’s secondary objective is to raise and manage funds and contributions to the benefit of children. Frank is also a pastor of his own congregation and board member of the Dutch Reformed Church, Hazyview. Frank has been selected as a finalist in the American Chamber of Commerce Star of the Community Award for his outstanding work amongst AIDS orphans.

Presentations at National & International Conferences

The staff of Wellness Africa has established themselves as industry leaders and have been invited to several national and international conferences to present their experiences and share best practices.

Publications by the staff of Wellness Africa

1. LUBBE, J.P.H.  1996.  Die verband tussen lewenstyl gebruike, fisieke aktiwiteit en gesondheidstatus by dames.  Potchefstroom: PU vir CHO.  (Mini-dissertation – Hons. B.Sc.).  11 p.
2. LUBBE, J.P.H.  1997.  Wellness Workshop  (Workshop presented to all Eskom Distribution employees as part of the employee wellness program.).  Johannesburg: Eskom Holding (Pty) Ltd.  (Unpublished).
3. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2002a.  Impact of a work-site wellness program on African blue-collar workers productivity.  (In  WELCOSA.  Proceedings of the 2^nd Wellness Conference of South Africa, Port Elizabeth.).
4. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2002b.  Improving the physical work capacity of employees makes business sense.  Eskom distribution legend, 56:16-17, May/Jun.
5. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2003a.  Creating a wellness culture – the African experience.  (In Northwest University Work Wellness Unit.  Proceedings of the 2^nd South African Workwellness Conference, 24-26 March 2004, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus.)  [CD]
6. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2003b.  Die verband tussen fisieke vermoëns, veroudering en werkspesifieke taakprofiele van manlike werkers in `n elekterisiteitsvoorsieningsmaatskappy.  Potchefstroom: PU vir CHO.  (Dissertation – M.Sc.)  131 p.
7. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2004a.  Creating a wellness culture – the South African experience.  Wellness management, 20(2):6-8.
8. LUBBE J.P.H.  2004b.  Creating a wellness culture.  (In Wellness Africa (Pty) Ltd., & Nature Care.  Proceedings of the 1^st Botswana Wellness Seminar: developing and sustaining workplace wellness programmes in the private and public sectors, 4 July 2004, Gaborone, Botswana.)  [CD]
9. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2004c.  Creating a wellness culture – the African experience.  (In National Wellness Institute.  Proceedings of the 29^th National Wellness Conference, 11-14 July 2004, Stevens Point, USA.)  [CD]
10. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2004d.  Creating and sustaining a physical able workforce.  (In National Wellness Institute.  Proceedings of the 29^th National Wellness Conference, 11-14 July 2004, Stevens Point, USA.)  [CD]
11. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2005a.  Physical ability analysis reporting procedure.  (Eskom Distribution Biokinetics Procedure)  Johannesburg: Eskom Document Centre.  18 p.
12. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2005b.  Principles and strategies to create a wellness culture – the South African experience.  (In National Wellness Institute.  Proceedings of the 30^th National Wellness Conference, 9-14 July 2005, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, USA.)  [CD]
13. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2006a.  Creating and sustaining a physical able workforce through a physical work capacity management system.  (In Ergonomic Society of South Africa.  Proceedings of the 9^th conference of the Ergonomics Society of South Africa, 19-20 June 2006, Pretoria.  p. 50-61.)
14. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2006b.  The effects and management of poor ergonomics.  (In National Institute for Occupational Health, & South African Society of Occupational Medicine.  Proceedings of the Art and Science of Ergonomics Conference, 7-8 August 2006, Johannesburg.)
15. LUBBE, j.p.h.  2007a.  Physical ability considerations in selecting female workers for physical demanding occupations.  (In Ergonomic Society of South Africa.  Proceedings of the 10^th Conference of the Ergonomics Society of South Africa, 21-22 June 2007, Durban.  p. 50-61.)
16. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2007b.The relationship between age, gender, physical work capacity profile and a worksite wellness program for workers in an electricity supply company Potchefstroom: North West-University.  (Thesis – PhD.)  144 p.
17. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2010. Shaping up for the workplace: fire fighting. (In Emergency ServicesSA/Occupational Risk journal, 1(16):2-7
18. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2012. Improving workers’ health – the rise of worksite wellness programmes in South Africa. Leaders in Wellness, 1:47, March
19. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2013. Establishing a wellness culture. Proceedings of the1st Annual Corporate Wellness Conference and Training, 27-30 August 2013, Red Court Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. [CD]
20. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2013. Clarifying the wellness vision. Proceedings of the1st Annual Corporate Wellness Conference and Training, 27-30 August 2013, Red Court Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. [CD]
21. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2013. Obtain and maintain leadership support and accountability. Proceedings of the1st Annual Corporate Wellness Conference and Training, 27-30 August 2013, Red Court Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. [CD]
22. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2013. Conducting a personal wellness assessment. Proceedings of the1st Annual Corporate Wellness Conference and Training, 27-30 August 2013, Red Court Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. [CD]
23. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2013. Building a supportive wellness culture. Proceedings of the1st Annual Corporate Wellness Conference and Training, 27-30 August 2013, Red Court Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. [CD]
24. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2013. Monitoring and managing wellness data. Proceedings of the1st Annual Corporate Wellness Conference and Training, 27-30 August 2013, Red Court Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. [CD]
25. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2013. Establishing a wellness reward and recognition system. Proceedings of the1st Annual Corporate Wellness Conference and Training, 27-30 August 2013, Red Court Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. [CD]
26. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2013. The road to wellness. Proceedings of the Corporate Wellness and Benefits Conference 2013, 14 – 15 November 2013, Fairgrounds Conference and Exhibition Centre, Gaborone, Botswana. [CD]
27. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2013. Creating a supportive cultural environment. Proceedings of the Corporate Wellness and Benefits Conference 2013, 14 – 15 November 2013, Fairgrounds Conference and Exhibition Centre, Gaborone, Botswana. [CD]
28. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2013. Obtain and maintain leadership support and accountability. Proceedings of the Corporate Wellness and Benefits Conference 2013, 14 – 15 November 2013, Fairgrounds Conference and Exhibition Centre, Gaborone, Botswana. [CD]
29. LUBBE, J.P.H.  2013. ROI. Proceedings of Corporate Wellness and Benefits Conference 2013, 14 – 15 November 2013, Fairgrounds Conference and Exhibition Centre, Gaborone, Botswana. [CD]
30. Lubbe, J.P.H., Putter. T. 2002. Structure content and benefit of a wellness awareness program for top management. Proceedings of the 2^nd Wellness Conference of South Africa, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
31. Lubbe, J.P.H., Putter. T. 2004. From health to wellness. Botswana Wellness Seminar: Developing and sustaining workplace wellness programmes in the private and public sectors. Gaborone, Botswana
32. Lubbe, J.P.H., Putter. T. 2004. Benefits of a workplace wellness program. Botswana Wellness Seminar: Developing and sustaining workplace wellness programmes in the private and public sectors. Gaborone, Botswana.
33. Lubbe, J.P.H., Putter. T. 2004. Sustaining a wellness culture. Botswana Wellness Seminar: Developing and sustaining workplace wellness programmes in the private and public sectors. Gaborone, Botswana.
34. Lubbe, J.P.H., Putter. T. 2009. Integration of the occupational health team to enhance health and optimize productivity. (In International Congress on Occupational Health. Proceedings of the 29^th International Congress on Occupational Health, 22-27 March 2009, Cape Town, South Africa. Topic sessions p. 445.)
35. Lubbe, J.P.H., Putter. T. 2012. Improving workers’ health – the need to raise the bar on employee wellness programs. (In Africa Health Facilities. Proceedings of the 3^rd Annual African Health Facilities week 2012, 15 – 18 May 2012, Durban, South Africa.) [CD]
36. Lubbe, J.P.H., Malan, D.D.J. 2006. The relationship between physical ability, ageing and the work specific task profiles of male workers in an electricity supply company. Proceedings of the 9^th conference of ergonomics society of South Africa. Pretoria. 19-20 June 2006. p. 62-69.
37. Lubbe, J.P.H., Malan, D.D.J., Wilders, C.J. & Ellis, S.M. 2008. Effect of a worksite wellness programme on the physical work capacity profile of workers in an electricity supply company. Journal of occupational health South Africa, 14(2):3-9, March/April.
38. Lubbe, J.P.H., Malan, D.D.J., Wilders, C.J. & Ellis, S.M. 2008. Effect of a worksite wellness programme on the physical work capacity profile of workers in an electricity supply company. (In International Congress on Occupational Health. Proceedings of the 29^th International Congress on Occupational Health, 22-27 March 2009, Cape Town, South Africa. Congress program p. 28.)
39. LUBBE, J.P.H., MALAN, D.D.J. & WILDERS, C.J. 2009. Role of gender on the physical work capacity profile of workers in an electricity supply company. Journal of occupational health South Africa, 15(3): 14-20. May/June.
40. Lubbe, J.P.H., Putter. T. & Pillar, S. 2004. What is wellness? Botswana Wellness Seminar: Developing and sustaining workplace wellness programmes in the private and public sectors. Gaborone.
41. Putter, J.l. 2002. Wie wen…ek of my kind? Bloemfontein: Lapa publishers.
42. Putter, J.l. 2003. The heart of a champion. Bloemfontein: Lapa publishers.
43. Putter, J.l. 2004. The need to educate parents and coaches of young children in a world of increasing and often unreasonable demands for performance in sport. Proceedings of the 29^th National Wellness conference, Stevens Point, USA.
44.  Putter, J.l. 2005. Spirituality as a key ingredient to sustained personal and organizational wellness. Proceedings of the 30^th National Wellness conference, Stevens Point, USA.
45. Putter, T. 2004. A systematic multi-level Wellness program approach made practical within African diverse organisations. 29^th National Wellness Conference – Stevens Point, Wisconsin, USA.
46. PUTTER, T.  2013. The role of a HRA in building a business case for wellness. Proceedings of the Corporate Wellness and Benefits Conference 2013, 14 – 15 November 2013, Fairgrounds Conference and Exhibition Centre, Gaborone, Botswana. [CD]
47. PUTTER, T.  2013. Increasing employee engagement in corporate wellness programs. Proceedings of the Corporate Wellness and Benefits Conference 2013, 14 – 15 November 2013, Fairgrounds Conference and Exhibition Centre, Gaborone, Botswana. [CD]
48. PUTTER, T.  2013. The role of a health risk assessment in building a business case for wellness. Proceedings of the1st Annual Corporate Wellness Conference and Training, 27-30 August 2013, Red Court Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. [CD]
49. PUTTER, T.  2013. Map your personal road to wellness. Proceedings of the1st Annual Corporate Wellness Conference and Training, 27-30 August 2013, Red Court Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. [CD]
50. PUTTER, T.  2013. Coordinating wellness in the workplace. Proceedings of the1st Annual Corporate Wellness Conference and Training, 27-30 August 2013, Red Court Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. [CD]
51. PUTTER, T.  2013. Formulating the wellness program plan. Proceedings of the1st Annual Corporate Wellness Conference and Training, 27-30 August 2013, Red Court Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. [CD]
52. PUTTER, T.  2013. Establishing a cohesive wellness team. Proceedings of the1st Annual Corporate Wellness Conference and Training, 27-30 August 2013, Red Court Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. [CD]
53. PUTTER, T.  2013. Engaging in active recruitment of participants. Proceedings of the1st Annual Corporate Wellness Conference and Training, 27-30 August 2013, Red Court Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. [CD]
54. putter, T., Lubbe, j.p.h., & putter, j. 2006. Communication, Culture and Organizational Health and Performance. Proceedings of the 6^th International Health & Productivity Management Conference – Lake Las Vegas, Arizona, USA.