New resources aimed at reducing high rates of mental injury claims in aged care and disability service sectors
The Victorian State Government is investing $1.6 million to support the mental health of workers in the aged care and disability sectors in a bid to reduce the high rates of mental injury claims in the sectors.
Government data revealed that health care and social assistance workers account for more than a quarter of all WorkCover mental injury claims in Victoria in the past five years.
This includes 362 mental injury claims from workers in the residential aged care sector and 292 from workers in the disability assistance services sector, according to the state government.
Among the factors that contribute to mental injury at work are bullying, workplace violence, aggression, sexual harassment, trauma, high job demand, and fatigue.
Addressing high mental injury claims
To address the high number of claims, the Victoria government announced that it is investing $1.6 million in the WorkWell Communities of Practice program.
The program will support efforts from the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) and the National Disability Services (NDS) to prevent psychosocial hazards.
"Disability and aged care workers support some of the most vulnerable people in our community, so it's vital that employers support them by providing mentally healthy workplaces that actively prevent harm," said Deputy Premier and Minister for WorkSafe Ben Carroll in a statement.
The APNA will run workshops and coaching sessions with employers across 15 residential aged care homes.
"Leaders will participate in peer-to-peer workshops and tailored coaching sessions to build their capacity and help them embed psychosocial safety climate learnings into their workplaces," WorkSafe said on its website.
Project tools and outcomes will also be promoted across the industry to influence policies and standards.
Meanwhile, the NDS will be conducting workshops and seminars to educate employers about the current psychological health challenges in the industry.
"This initiative will bring together leaders in these key industries to collaborate on strategies and tools that they can share to help care for the carers – so that they can get on with the crucial job of looking after those in need," Carroll said.
Victoria's WorkWell Communities of Practice supports efforts of business leaders in creating psychologically healthy and safe workplaces.
Since its launch in 2017, the programme has engaged with more than 16,000 workplaces, providing them with support and guidance to reduce work-related risks to mental health.
