Workplace Pulse Check
The NSW Government has provided a short questionnaire that provides practical tips to improve your workplace and results you can use to set goals to improve your workplace:
Employee Assistance Program
An employee assistance program (EAP) is an employee benefit program that assists employees with personal problems and/or work-related problems that may impact their job, performance, health, mental & emotional well-being. EAPs generally offer free & confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, & follow-up services for employees & their household members.
Employment Assistance Program FAQs
Work Health and Safety Act 2011
Work Health and Safety (WHS), sometimes called Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), involves managing risks to the health and safety of everyone in your workplace, including volunteers and visitors. Particular WHS requirements are unique to each workplace depending on the purpose of the organisation, e.g. a Men's Shed workshop will have very different WHS procedures compared to an office environment.
It is important that your WHS obligations are met for the safety of your organisation and your workers. It is also important to note that WHS is not solely the organisations responsibility. Workers, including volunteers, must ensure they are performing their duties safely and not causing undue risk to themselves or others.
If you are unsure if your organisation meets WHS requirements, consult with a WHS Consultant.
Work Health and Safety Legislation
Psychological Health and Safety
Psychological health and safety is about protecting the psychological health of workers, in the same way that we protect their physical health. Psychosocial hazards are anything in the design or management of work that increases the risk of psychological or physical harm. This includes but aren't limited to, high and/or low job demands, low job control, poor support, and traumatic events.
Preventing Psychological Injury under WHS Laws.
Preventing Psychological Injury Fact Sheet
How to meet your psychological-health-and-safety duties including Psychological Injury Fact Sheet.
Workers Compensation - Psychological Injury Fact Sheet
Safework NSW Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work.
Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice
National Mental Health Commission’s Blueprint for Mentally Healthy Workplaces / National Workplace Initiative Jul 2022.
Blueprint for Mentally Healthy Workplaces
A systematic approach to meeting your duties can be helpful to determine what is compliant and what is best practise. Best practice is the ideal all workplaces should strive towards. The scenarios in Appendix 3 are an excellent example of the difference between compliant and best practice.
Work Related Psychological Health and Safety National Guidance Handbook
People at Work - Australian work health and safety regulators have jointly funded People at Work to provide free tools and resources.
People at Work Tools and Resources
Comcare: Reducing the Psychosocial Risks of Workplace Change.
Reducing Psychosocial Risks of Workplace Change Self Assessment Tool
Work Safe Qld’s Mentally Healthy Workplace Toolkit - whilst a different jurisdiction, still very relevant in other states.
Mentally Healthy Workplaces Toolkit
Return to Work
Return to Work Mental Health Resources
Guidelines for organisations. Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne.
Workplace Prevention of Mental Health Problems Guidelines
The Australian Human Rights Commission is an independent statutory organisation, established by an act of Federal Parliament. They protect and promote human rights in Australia and internationally. They publish various guides and articles covering many different areas.
Two of their guides are available:
Worker Mental Illness: a Practical Guide for Managers
Managing Mental Illness in The Workplace
The Australian Human Rights Commission Home Page
Corporate Mental Health Alliance
A business-led, expert-guided member organisation dedicated to providing mentally healthy workplaces for all people.
Corporate Mental Health Alliance
Wellness Action Plan - A guide for managers
Mental Health at Work
Make your workplace safer and healthier by learning about how to manage mental health, registering for free training and coaching and completing the Workplace Wellbeing Assessment.
https://www.mentalhealthatwork.nsw.gov.au/
Black Dog Institute
A mentally healthy workplace is achievable for all organisations, but requires a genuine, continuous commitment across all levels of the workplace. The majority of mental illness seen in the workplace is treatable and, in some cases, may be preventable. Employers and workplaces can play an active role in maintaining the health and wellbeing of their workers as well as supporting the recovery of staff with mental health problems and the caring role that so many people play.
Black Dog Institute has released a Workplace Mental Health Toolkit for employers to help improve Workplace Mental Health.
Workplace Mental Health Toolkit
As part of the Mentally Healthy Workplace Alliance, Black Dog Institue participated in publishing the Creating Mentally Healthy Workplaces Report. Performing literature reviews of mental health in the workplace and mental health interventions before offering practical recommendations for workplaces.
The full report is available for viewing.
Creating Mentally Healthy Workplaces Full Report
NSW Mental Health Commission
The NSW Mental Health Commission is an independent statutory agency responsible for monitoring, reviewing and improving mental health and wellbeing for people in NSW.
The Commission works with government and the community to secure better mental health and wellbeing for everyone, and availability of appropriate supports in or close to home when people are unwell or at risk of becoming unwell.
Mental Health Commission of New South Wales
NSW Mental Health Commission YouTube
Or have a look at their video Mental Illness, The Workplace, and Breaking Down Stigma
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