Funding boost to improve workplace mental health

Funding Boost to Improve Workplace Mental Health

Eight organisations will receive more than $350,000 through the NSW State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) Recovery Boost grants to improve workplace mental health. This funding has been made available to support organisations across several sectors of industry, giving employees and workers greater access to tailored recovery initiatives.

The Recovery Boost program provides up to $50,000 to organisations to implement initiatives that prevent mental distress or aid recovery. Sound workplace mental health and psychosocial management practices remain central to these outcomes, particularly for industry sectors where stress-related risks are common.

Part of a Long-Term Mentally Healthy Workplaces Strategy

The program forms part of NSW Government's Mentally Healthy Workplaces Strategy 2018-2022, a long-term vision to create mentally healthy workplaces across NSW industry. Consistent management of psychosocial risk sits at the heart of this strategy, ensuring recovery support extends well beyond a single grant round.

Who Benefits from the Recovery Boost Grants

SIRA said, "the funded programs include tailored assistance for rural sole traders, yarning circles for First Peoples, support for deaf and hard of hearing workers, and targeted intervention for police officers with stress disorders."

These initiatives demonstrate how management of mental health recovery can be adapted to suit diverse industry needs, from regional workplaces to specialised emergency services roles.

Building an Evidence Base for Recovery

"Benefits and lessons from these projects will help broaden the evidence base of what works to support mental health recovery at work," SIRA noted. This evidence will help guide future management decisions across NSW workplaces, informing how similar programs are designed and funded going forward.

Organisations seeking further guidance on managing psychosocial hazards may find it useful to review a bullying policy template or a dedicated workplace bullying policy, both of which support broader mental health management frameworks.

For more insight into how mental health is being prioritised across various regions, see our coverage of a grant program targeting workplace mental health in WA and how Victoria is championing workplace mental health on a national scale.

To learn more about integrating mental health considerations into daily operations, read our blog on emphasising mental health in the workplace, which explores occupational health management beyond the basics.

Safety professionals attending the Workplace Health and Safety Show can also gain further insight into effective management strategies shaping mental health support across industry sectors nationwide.

For more on this story, go to the SIRA website.