The Allan Labor Government is continuing to lead the nation on mental health reform with a new centre that brings together industry, unions and experts to support mentally healthy workplaces.
WorkSafe Victoria will become the first establishment partner of the National Centre for Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing, playing a key role in its development and contributing to several flagship projects in its first year.
The centre will bring together industry, unions, insurers, research academics, and service providers to develop real-world solutions that support mentally healthy workplaces and prevent work-related mental injury.
Professor Shantha Rajaratnam of Monash University will lead a consortium to coordinate the development of the National Centre for Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing.
In addition to WorkSafe, another 40 organisations have given an in-principle commitment of more than $50 million in support of the National Centre for Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing.
The Labor Government's $4.5 million contribution will support the establishment of the centre and help fund its first three years.
This investment in the centre is in addition to WorkSafe's $6.6 million WorkWell Respect Program, which provides funding to create industry-wide change to prevent mental injuries, including work-related gendered violence and sexual harassment.
The Labor Government has embarked on the biggest mental health system reform in Australia's history – with work underway on more than 90 per cent of recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System and an investment of more than $6 billion delivering better mental healthcare right across the state.
Quotes attributable to Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC Danny Pearson
"Workplace mental injuries are a challenge across Australia, and Victoria is leading the way to find solutions with our $4.5 million investment to establish National Centre for Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing."
"By bringing together industry, unions, regulators and other stakeholders, Victoria will gain access to leading researchers and cutting-edge technology to improve workplace mental health."
Quote attributable to WorkSafe Chief Executive Officer Joe Calafiore
"WorkSafe is excited to become the first establishment partner in a world-leading centre focused on delivering innovative, practical and evidence-based solutions to ensure that workplaces prevent mental injuries and their devastating impact on the lives and futures of injured workers."
Quote attributable to Monash University Professor Shantha Rajaratnam
"The National Centre for Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing will coordinate stakeholders across sectors to collaboratively develop impactful and integrated workplace mental health, safety and wellbeing innovation and research driven by Australian workplace and worker needs, now and into the future."
