Aged care workers target of mental health funding

BALLARAT’S residential aged care workers are set to benefit from a package of measures aimed at monitoring and improving their mental health.

Recently announced, the $1.27 million will go towards keeping track of 500 workers across 10 facilities in the Ballarat Health Services region, and subsequently providing a decision support system in the hope of preventing bad outcomes.

“Residential aged care workers look after our loved ones when they need it most – that’s why we’re looking after their mental health through this new program,” said Minister for Workplace Safety Jill Hennessy.

The Ballarat component of the Wellbeing Track and Change program, one of six sharing in $8.9 million statewide as part of the WorkWell program, is about promoting positive mental health outcomes by changing workplace cultures and practices.

If successful, the program’s results will be used by Prevention United, Federation University and BHS to expand the program to other residential aged care systems.

Dr Lisa Clinnick, Director of Aged Care Services at BHS said that greater support was needed for workers.

“We need to care for the people caring for our oldest Australians,” she said.

“The nature of their role can place great pressures on their mental wellbeing. Workloads are high and demanding, changing rosters and shift work are disruptive to their life, and they’re confronted on a regular basis with many of the hardships that ageing can bring.”

Wellbeing Track and Change involves project partners collaborating with BHS staff and management to identify workplace demands on mental wellbeing.

Employees will then use an online support system to aid decision-making on what actions need to be taken to better support worker mental wellbeing and prevent future negative outcomes.

The impacts of these actions on workforce mental health will be monitored for continuous improvement.

Prevention United Chair, Dr Stephen Carbone, said the program was about a shifting how we think about a worker’s mental health, especially in settings like aged care services.

“The traditional approach is to look at ways to support an individual worker once they become unwell. But clearly, the smarter way to work is to prevent these problems occurring in the first place by creating a working environment that supports mental wellbeing,” Dr Carbone said.

The program will run for two years.