2021 – 2022 ACT BUDGET SUBMISSION

JUNE 2021

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RECOMMENDATION OzHelp is pleased to provide a submission for the 2021-22 ACT Budget. OzHelp is a not-for-profit organisation providing evidence-informed workplace health and wellbeing programs designed to maximise wellbeing and reduce the risk of suicide in high-risk and hard-to-reach industries, most typically with a high proportion of males.

OzHelp is proposing that the ACT Government provide an additional $600,000 funding over three years to enable the existing apprentice mental health training (Life Skills Tool Box) program to be redesigned, updated and evaluated through a co-design approach with CIT, Skills Canberra, the Master Builders Association (ACT) and apprentices and employers of apprentices, as well as the development of a training module specifically for supervisors and managers on the importance of the mental health and wellbeing of their apprentices and how to support them. The OzHelp apprentice training program (Life Skills Tool Box) curriculum is tailored to high-risk male dominated cohorts and consists of six 3-hour sessions delivered over the first two years of an apprenticeship. OzHelp has been working with MBA for over a decade, to provide this training to their apprentices in life skills, mental health awareness and suicide prevention.

This project will make a significant impact on an “at risk population” who currently have access to training relevant to their trade, but very little formal support for their health and wellbeing as they progress through their apprenticeship.

With approximately 6,300 apprentices in the ACT, the proposed program would provide contemporary fit for purpose and effective training for a vulnerable cohort in our region.

Once redesigned and updated, the OzHelp Life Skills Tool Box training would be adaptable to any industry and would be an ideal evidence-based choice for expansion to all ACT apprentices and their supervisors.

INTRODUCTION OzHelp Foundation was established in 2001 in the ACT to develop and implement programs and services that would reduce the incidence of suicide in men regarded as a high-risk group for suicide. Since then, it has become a national not-for-profit organisation and leading provider of mental health and wellbeing programs targeting “at risk people” with a heightened risk of suicide. This is demonstrated by a nineteen-year track record in successfully delivering evidence-informed suicide prevention workplace training and support programs designed to reduce the incidence of suicide and mental ill-health and promote positive wellbeing. This has been predominately in the building, construction, and mining industries and, in more recent years applied to other largely male-dominated industry settings including transport, farming and agriculture industries.

Since established, OzHelp has developed a model that is effective in providing accessible, non-stigmatising, responsive and holistic services to employees in industries that have poor health outcomes and generally, poor help seeking behaviour. OzHelp has provided programs and services to approximately 300 organisations and over 40,000 participants per year.

The work of OzHelp contributes to the implementation of some of the key priorities outlined in the ACT Suicide Prevention Strategy 2019-24, the Productivity Commission’s Report on the Economic Impact of Mental Ill Health1 and the Final Advice Report of the Prime Minister’s National Suicide Prevention Adviser2.

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In particular, the focus on person centred care, prevention and early intervention, mentally healthy workplaces and stigma reduction are all aligned with the vision and mission of OzHelp in improving health outcomes for those working in high-risk industries which are typically male dominated.

OzHelp also supports the Master Builders Association (ACT) ACT Budget submission recommending the provision of “a mental health support subsidy of $1,000 per apprentice per year to cover the costs of mental health for any apprentice employed in the building and construction industry.”1

CARING FOR THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF CANBERRANS The ACT Suicide Prevention Strategy 2019-24 highlights the need for further investment in programs and services offering mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention. The Strategy found that “a recurring theme throughout consultations was the need for a holistic response that considers physical and mental health alongside a person’s social context such as their housing, employment, education and other factors”. OzHelp supports the social, emotional and physical wellbeing of its clients, and has a referral process linking people to the right supports for their individual needs coinciding with an outcome statement from the ACT Suicide Prevention Strategy 2019-24, that “people feel that their mental, physical and social wellbeing is well understood and supported”. Stakeholder feedback suggested outreach models were good solutions2. OzHelp works with an outreach model, using an evidence-informed approach that takes all aspects of our clients’ wellbeing into consideration when assessing their mental health.

The work of OzHelp supports organisations in high-risk male dominated industries to become health-promoting workplaces, contributing to many aspects of the ACT Government Wellbeing Framework, particularly the Health Domain. The Framework notes that each of its Wellbeing Domains are not independent of each other and community conversations showed “that outcomes in one area may depend on outcomes achieved in other areas”.3 OzHelp supports the mental health of its clients by providing a holistic view and reflecting on other aspects of the clients’ lives, which are also Wellbeing Domains listed in the Framework including, but not limited to, identity and belonging, living standards, social connection, financial, and safety.

OzHelp also contributes to the implementation of some of the key priorities outlined in the Productivity Commission’s Report on Mental Health and the Interim Advice Report of the National Suicide Prevention Adviser. In particular, the focus on person-centred care, prevention and early intervention, mentally healthy workplaces and stigma reduction are all aligned with the vision and mission of OzHelp in improving health outcomes for those working in high-risk industries which are typically male dominated.

The Productivity Commission report highlighted the need for a greater emphasis on prevention and early intervention to stem the tide of mental ill health and suicide. OzHelp’s programs focus on strengthening and maintaining wellbeing and identifying risk factors so that early intervention can be activated.

Place-based health and person-centred care are also priorities in the broader health reform agenda and OzHelp’s model is focused on providing people with the education, information, and services where they are most accessible and taking the services to them, rather than making them go to services. The research

1 https://www.budgetconsultation.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/1765503/063.-Master-Builders-ACT.pdf 2 https://www.chnact.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CHN-Mental-Health-and-Suicide-Prevention-Plan.pdf 3 https://www.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1498198/ACT-wellbeing-framework.pdf

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shows that it is vital in male dominated cohorts to take the service to them, in their time, and on their terms in order to be effective.

OzHelp’s evidence-informed programs and services are tailored to meet the needs of specific, traditionally male dominated industries. OzHelp takes a systematic approach to employee health and wellbeing aiming to positively impact the current psychological climate of workplaces across four key areas including, harm prevention, early intervention, supporting recovery and health initiatives. OzHelp offers confidential support services in wellbeing aspects that affect the overall mental health of our clients, including work issues, relationships, sleep problems, physical health, parenting or co-parenting issues, drugs and alcohol use, gambling and financial issues.

OzHelp training incorporates the “gatekeeper” model of suicide prevention. That is, training workers to understand the signs that a colleague might be struggling with mental health issues and knowing how to approach a mate who might need mental health support. Research on the contextual factors contributing to male suicide in the construction industry has found that work colleagues play an important role in each other’s lives prior to a suicide occurring, creating the potential for “gatekeeper” training to make an impact by building confidence and upskilling workers in male dominated workplaces4.

THE ISSUE Mental illness is a leading cause of burden of disease in the ACT. The Chief Health Officer’s Report 2020 states that “in 2019, the suicide rate for ACT males (19.4 deaths by suicide per 100,000 persons) was more than three times higher than that for ACT females (5.6 deaths by suicide per 100,000 persons)5”.

Research shows a long-standing link between male suicide and work culture. “The construction industry is characterised as having a culture dominated by traditionally held beliefs about masculinity with high amounts of stigma against suicide and mental health problems.”6 A higher level of stigma towards mental health issues in male dominated industries creates an environment less conducive to help-seeking behaviour. Evidence-informed programs delivered by OzHelp are designed as outreach services, taking the services to men making the services more accessible.

Supporting the mental health and resilience of apprentices has been proven to increase apprenticeship completion rates. On average, apprenticeship completion in Australia is a concern, sitting just above 55%, however MBA Group Training consistently demonstrates a completion rate above 90%.7 Providing training and support to new apprentices in life skills, mental health and suicide prevention can change attitudes in male dominated industries and assist men to build resilience skills earlier in their careers.

Studies on the harmful drinking levels in young apprentices recommend the need for targeted preventive work in the workplace and training institutions.8 OzHelp incorporate a targeted approach in the training we provide to apprentices however the content of the current Life Skills Tool Box program is outdated and in need of review.

4 https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12889-017-4500-8.pdf 5 https://health.act.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-05/Healthy%20Minds_CHO%20report%202021_4%20page.pdf 6 https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12889-017-4500-8.pdf 7 https://www.budgetconsultation.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/1765503/063.-Master-Builders-ACT.pdf 8 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1557988313479965#_i4

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Apprenticeship training facilities, such as CIT and MBA Group Training offer an ideal setting to access apprentices prior to them becoming fully qualified members of their chosen industry. A letter of support from MBA ACT is included at Attachment A.

THE LIFE SKILLS TOOL BOX PROGRAM OzHelp has been working with the Master Builders Association (ACT) for over a decade, providing training to their apprentices in life skills, mental health awareness and suicide prevention.

The OzHelp apprentice training program curriculum is tailored to high-risk male dominated cohorts and consists of six 3-hour sessions delivered over the first two years of an apprenticeship. The training includes life skills in areas such as:

• communication • resilience • beliefs and values • financial • nutrition • self-care • alcohol and other drugs • health and wellbeing • understanding emotions • anger management • preventing workplace bullying • workplace rights and responsibilities • conflict resolution • mental health • suicide prevention, including supporting your mates.

All apprentices accessing the program receive full OzHelp services, including training, outreach from a support worker and access to OzHelp’s counselling services. Apprentices complete a range of questionnaires throughout the training to assist in data collection and improvement of each session.

The Life Skills training course was designed over 10 years ago and requires redesigning and updating, using a co-design approach to ensure the content is underpinned by current best evidence and learning principles, relevant to the needs of apprentices of the 21st century, and takes an innovative approach to reaching apprentices with applicable content they can take ownership of and embed within their everyday lives.

As part of the redesign of the Life Skills training course, a separate training module will be developed for supervisors on the importance of mental health and wellbeing of apprentices.

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CONCLUSION The health and wellbeing of ACT apprentices is an issue of vital importance. Ensuring the health and wellbeing of our apprentices is not only important to them, but also an issue that impacts their families and friends, and the broader community.

This project will make a significant impact on an “at risk population” who are ay a heightened risk of suicide, who currently have access to training relevant to their trade, but very little formal support for their health and wellbeing as they progress through their apprenticeship.

We commend this submission to you and would welcome an opportunity to elaborate further on our recommendations.

Contact: Mr. Darren Black Chief Executive Officer Email: ceo@ozhelp.org.au Phone: 02 6251 4166

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Attachment A

Letter of Support – Master Builders Association (ACT)

Master Builders Association of the ACT 1 Iron Knob St, Fyshwick ACT 2609 | PO Box 1211, Fyshwick 2609

Tel: (02) 6175 5900 Email: canberra@mba.org.au Web: www.mba.org.au ABN: 52853376568

24 June 2021

ACT Government

Chief Minister, Treasury & Economic Development Directorate

Letter of Support for OzHelp proposal to enhance mental health support to apprentices

Dear Chief Minister,

Master Builders ACT in its budget submission has called for increased mental health support for

ACT apprentices. Regrettably, we know that apprentices are a vulnerable cohort and are over-

represented in the suicide statistics. We also acknowledge the importance of the health and

wellbeing of apprentices and hence we are strongly supportive of working with OzHelp, CIT and

other relevant RTOs and GTOs to improve mental health training and support to ACT apprentices.

There are currently over 6,250 registered apprentices across the ACT and around 2,800 of those

in traditional trade-based apprenticeships. We support OzHelp’s call for additional resources to

design and deliver contemporary best practice training and supports tailored specifically for

apprentices.

The OzHelp Foundation was established 20 years ago specifically in response to countering

suicide of young apprentices and tradespeople in the ACT Building and Construction Industry.

OzHelp continues today to work with the MBA and many businesses across the ACT to provide

preventive mental health training, health checks (Tradie’s Tune Ups) as well as wellbeing support,

crisis and counselling support services to workers in the Building and Construction industry.

OzHelp is ideally placed to design and deliver this training and the MBA proudly backs this call

for greater emphasis on targeted mental health training & supports for ACT apprentices who are

vital to the future of the ACT economy yet are one of our most vulnerable cohorts.

Yours sincerely,

Michael Hopkins

Chief Executive Officer