Released 05/04/2016
Five Canberra businesses have been recognised for their work to create a more mentally healthy workplace at the Heads Up Canberra Business Breakfast at the National Convention Centre today.
Developed by the Mentally Healthy Workplace Alliance and beyondblue, Heads Up is an initiative that supports Australian businesses to create more mentally healthy workplaces. The breakfast was a joint initiative between Healthier Work ACT, beyondblue and the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC), to raise awareness about mental health in the workplace.
Healthier Work Recognition Certificates were presented to Goodwin Aged Care, Early Childhood Australia and ArrowFM for their commitment to a 12 month health and wellbeing plan. The Master Builders Association and Wizard People Recruitment were presented with a Silver Status award for committing to implement their second consecutive 12 month health and wellbeing plan.
“Working people can spend about half their waking hours at work, so our workplaces play a critical role in our health and wellbeing. It is estimated that mental health conditions have a substantial impact on Australian workplaces through lost productivity worth about $10.9 billion each year,” Assistant Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris said.
“Workplace health and wellbeing programs not only have real potential to positively influence the health of our workforce, they also make good business sense with potential to increase employee engagement and productivity and reduce absenteeism from illness.”
Healthier Work is a free service that sits within Access Canberra under the ACT Government’s Healthy Weight Initiative and aims to build the capacity of the Canberra business community to develop health and wellbeing initiatives for their employees.
“It’s great to see more Canberra workplaces taking on healthy initiatives and seeing the benefits of participating in initiatives like the Healthier Work program, and I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate each of these businesses for committing to and providing their employees with a healthier place to work.
“I also encourage other local businesses to check out the Healthier Work ACT website to see how the initiative can support them,” Minister Fitzharris said.
More information is available on the Healthier Work ACT (www.healthierwork.act.gov.au) and Heads Up (www.headsup.org.au) websites.
- Statement ends -
Meegan Fitzharris, MLA | Media Releases
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