The Office of Industrial Relations Queensland – Workplace Health and Safety, SuperFriend and WorkCover Queensland, have formed LeadingWell Queensland to support Queensland workplaces to build and maintain mentally healthy workplaces – for every worker, every organisation, every day. Safer Together has now linked to LeadingWell Queensland through our Health Matters web portal.
LeadingWell Queensland is working to improve corporate leadership advocacy for mentally healthy workplaces. It will engage senior business and industry leaders through various leadership forums and events designed to showcase organisations which are building mentally healthy workplaces and reducing the risk of psychological injury.
WorkCover Queensland CEO, Mr Bruce Watson believes the LeadingWell Queensland Collaboration is a fine example of like-minded partners working together to encourage business leaders to tackle workplace mental health issues head on.
In the financial year 2016/2017, WorkCover accepted 959 mental disorder statutory claims costing $48.1m in total compared to 944 claims costing $46m for the 2015/2016 financial year.
“This initiative is all about empowering Queensland business leaders to show their commitment to embracing best practice mental health and wellbeing in the workplace,” Mr Watson said. “Leaders of mentally healthy workplaces must demonstrate a unique blend of human-centred management skills and confidence to champion best practice behaviours at all levels of their organisations.”
On the 7th of August, delegates from Safer Together and our member companies were invited to attended the 1st Leadership breakfast hosted by LeadingWell Queensland. At this session delegates heard from a number of speakers. Notably, Mary Ann Baynton, a leading Canadian expert on mental health in the workplace shared her experience and expertise. Mary Ann identified the practical first steps to developing and integrating positive leadership practices that will minimise the risk of harm from psychological injury. She also discussed how this will enhance the total work environment and increase prospects for long-term success and sustainability.
Resources that are now available via LeadingWell Queensland include:
- Building Stronger Teams: A Leader’s Guide for Developing Resilience for You and Your Team.
- Promoting Positive Mental Health in the Workplace: Guidelines for Organisations.
- An Integrated Approach to Workplace Mental Health: Nine Priorities for Implementation in Australia
Safer Together’s Health Matters now provides links to LeadingWell Queensland resources. We encourage our members to follow these links and to register with LeadingWell Queensland to receive updates.
Health Matters also provides links to many other resources including:
- Queensland Resources Council Mental Health and Wellbeing Toolkit
- Working in a Hot Environment – CSG Common Practice
- Libraries of Toolbox Talks and Safety Moments about Health and Mental Health
For more information about Safer Together click here.
For more information about Health Matters click here.
For more information about LeadingWell Queensland click here.