Page 488 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 19 February 2020
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Unfortunately, we know that Sabrina is not the only person to have experienced a situation at work that has impacted on her mental health. That is why the government has launched this new campaign to improve the mental health of working Canberrans. I would like to thank unions, including the United Workers Union, of which Sabrina is a member, as well as the Canberra Business Chamber, whose representative spoke on the day, and the team at WorkSafe ACT, who put this program together, for their commitment in ensuring that this campaign is a success.
MR PETTERSSON: Minister, how will the campaign improve the mental health of working Canberrans?
MS ORR: The mentally healthier workplaces campaign has six key action areas that will enable employers and employees to improve their own mental health and ensure that psychosocial risks at work are reduced. With the support of healthier work and WorkSafe ACT, employers will be encouraged to minimise harm, promote protective factors in the workplace, strengthen the resilience of managers and staff, intervene early when issues arise, support the recovery of people with mental health issues or illnesses and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. Initial resources, including fact sheets and informative videos, have been developed and more work will be undertaken to publish up-to-date tools and advice for participating workplaces to utilise.
With one in five employees taking time off each year because of mental ill health and the Australian economy losing around $11 billion per year to untreated mental health conditions, it is vital that all of us take action to improve our own mental health and the mental health of those around us. The mentally healthier workplaces campaign is just one way that this government is committed to protecting working people in this city, and I encourage all employers and workers to get on board and take the pledge.
MS CHEYNE: Minister, what else is this government doing to protect working people from physical and psychosocial risks at work?
MS ORR: I thank Ms Cheyne for her supplementary. The ACT government continues to support working people and protect them from both physical and psychosocial risks at work.
We are delivering on our commitment to establish a new independent WorkSafe ACT and we will be providing WorkSafe with a significant funding boost to enable them to undertake strong compliance and educational activity in workplaces across the territory. We are supporting young workers through the service agreement between the government and UnionsACT to provide a young workers advice line, which we know is providing a valuable resource for young Canberrans.
This government has strengthened legislation to make it easier for people to bring forward fair work complaints as well as our work health and safety laws to ensure that they are effective and respond to the needs of a modern workforce. The mentally healthier workplaces campaign is another initiative delivered by this government that will improve the work health and safety of people in the ACT.
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