Free toolkit promotes mentally healthy workplaces for small businesses

WorkSafe Victoria has released a free online toolkit for small businesses that provides tailored, step-by-step support to help them create mentally healthy workplaces. The WorkWell Toolkit for Small Businesses offers new resources focused on small businesses, including in-language support for Chinese and Vietnamese-speaking small business owners. It also proves access to tools and information such as case studies, policy templates, videos and tip sheets from organisations such as Beyond Blue and R U OK?

The resources cover topics including bullying, fatigue and gendered violence including sexual harassment, leadership, occupational violence and aggression, respect and role clarity. Work-related mental health injuries are expected to account for one-third of all workers compensation claims by the end of the decade. WorkSafe has accepted 633 mental injury claims from workers in small business since the start of 2021. WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Narelle Beer said mentally healthy workplaces benefit workers, their families and communities, and have a positive impact on workplace productivity.

“The free WorkWell Toolkit for Small Business provides tailored support and resources to small businesses to help them create safe and mentally healthy workplaces where workers can thrive. The toolkit will support small businesses to be better able to identify and manage risks to psychological health, which can be harder to spot but are just as important to address as risks to physical health,” Beer said.

The toolkit was developed in partnership with the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions and received $500,000 as part of the government’s Wellbeing and Mental Health Support for Small Business during COVID-19. The funding was used to repurpose the toolkit for small businesses, including consulting about their needs, providing in-language support, developing new resources and making the toolkit easier to use. The additional resources for small businesses will extend the reach of the toolkit, which has already supported almost 17,000 workplaces since it was launched in 2018.

WorkSafe’s WorkWell program includes learning networks to connect businesses and workers with mental health experts. The toolkit is part of WorkSafe’s Mental Health Improvement Fund, which offers investment to organisations and industry groups to prevent mental injury. To access the free WorkWell Toolkit for Small Business, click here.

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