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The Framework

The Framework includes guidance on foundational features, areas of focus, places to start and how to implement the Framework to build a mentally healthy workplace

Foundational elements

There are three foundational elements, which are all required to develop a mentally healthy workplace.

Promote

Three circles, with rings interconnecting them and icons inside representing 'Protect, Promote, Respond'. Promote is emphasised with colour, while the next two are greyed out.

Mentally healthy workplaces recognise and promote the positive aspects of work, including:

  • Seeking ways to support good mental health and wellbeing.
  • Identifying and building on ‘what is working well’.
  • Supporting workers and teams to use their strengths.
  • Providing learning opportunities.
  • Encouraging workers to collaborate to build a mentally healthy workplace.

Protect

Three circles, with rings interconnecting them and icons inside representing 'Protect, Promote, Respond'. Protect is emphasised with colour, while the other two are greyed out.

Mentally healthy workplaces take steps to prevent physical, environmental and psychological harm to workers, including:

  • Identifying and assessing risks to psychological health.
  • Evaluating and proactively managing psychosocial hazards.
  • Engaging in good work design, which involves workers having input into how they manage and complete their own tasks.
  • Reviewing the wider workplace environment to ensure safety. (e.g., worker and customer interactions and effectively managing any conflicts).

(Please see WorkSafe Victoria for additional guidance).

Respond

Three circles, with rings interconnecting them and icons inside representing 'Protect, Promote, Respond'. Respond is emphasised with colour, while the other two are greyed out.

Mentally healthy workplaces identify and respond early to any warning signs of distress, declining wellbeing and mental ill-health. This is to make sure that people are given appropriate support. This includes:

  • Being prepared to support workers.
  • Responding early to any warning signs to improve the likelihood of better health and wellbeing outcomes, which in turn may also lead to better workplace outcomes (e.g. reduced absenteeism).

All three features are related, interconnected and have a more positive impact on the workforce and workplace when considered together.


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Areas of focus

There are six areas of focus to drive and enable mentally healthy workplaces, which have a more positive impact when considered to be related and interconnected.

Six semi-curved rectangles in differing colours, which include the six areas of focus and a corresponding icon for each. The six areas are: leadership and accountability (green), Education and capability (light blue), culture (dark blue), inclusion (pink), Policies and practices (red) and risk prevention (purple)

External factors and specific industry circumstances will influence what areas of focus your workplace may consider.


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Where to start

In developing and implementing a mentally healthy workplace, start with these five priority actions:

  1. A Strategy / Action Plan
  2. Positive team and workplace culture
  3. Leadership capability development
  4. Aligned structures, policies and practices
  5. Proactive risk management

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How to implement the Framework

Implementation Principles

Implementation Principles

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