Darwin student Ben Bilefield was presented to His Majesty The King this week, at a celebration for Civil Service Award recipients. Ben, who has taken a career break from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to pursue an MPhil in Environmental Policy, received a Developing and Supporting People Award in recognition of his mindfulness sessions, Zen with Ben.
Zen with Ben began as a informal wellbeing and mindfulness session led by Ben for his team in September 2021, but has now expanded to reach over 1,500 people across 25 government departments, as well as occasional sessions in Darwin.
“Ben fosters a sense of community, creating a safe and open space for colleagues to honestly share their feelings and improve their mental health by developing their mindfulness practice,” a tribute on the Awards website states. “Participants describe the sessions as ‘friendly,’ ‘invaluable,’ and ‘transformative’ for their mental health, even calling them an ‘essential part of their weekly schedule.'”
The Civil Service Awards is a cross-government programme intended to recognise and celebrate inspirational individuals and innovative projects within the Civil Service, helping to spread best practice while sharing innovation, learning and leadership.
“I was honoured to receive this recognition,” says Ben. “Building a community where we could pause, reflect, and grow together has been incredibly rewarding.”
