Supporting the wellbeing of employees is essential to creating safe, healthy, and productive workplaces across the South Australian public sector.

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Psychosocial risk management

Psychosocial hazards are factors in the design or management of work that can cause stress, poor mental health and physical harm. These hazards can arise from job demands, the work environment and the way people behave and interact with one other.

Our activities to promote good work design and manage psychosocial risk include:

  • Engaging with HR leaders and professionals across work health and safety (WHS), injury management (IM) and organisational development (OD) to build a shared understanding and common language for psychosocial hazards in public sector
  • Introducing the SMART work design concept, which can be applied at all organisational levels to manage psychosocial hazards
  • Including psychosocial hazards in the People Matter Employee Survey - Employee Engagement to help agencies better understand and assess their key risks
  • Building capability in psychological injury claim management.

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Mentally Healthy Workplaces Framework

Effective psychosocial risk management supports the creation of mentally healthy workplaces.

The South Australian public sector Mentally Healthy Workplaces Framework draws on leading research to support agencies in creating positive, safe and mentally healthy work environments.

The supporting toolkit provides practical information and evidence-based resources to help agencies:

  • raise awareness
  • build positive workplace cultures
  • prevent harm
  • supporting people experiencing mental illness.

Download the Mentally Healthy Workplaces Framework (PDF, 124KB)

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Where to go for help – wellbeing resources

All public sector employees are entitled to a safe working environment. Everyone plays a role in maintaining this and supporting the wellbeing of colleagues.

Agency heads and chief executives are responsible for setting and maintaining appropriate standards of behaviour within their agencies.

The following resources support mental health, wellbeing, and participation in the workplace.

Free 24/7 support

Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

  • 13YARN: 13 92 76 (Aboriginal crisis support)
  • Brother to Brother:  1800 435 799 (24-hour crisis line)
  • RUOK? Stronger Together: for help initiating conversations and supporting others
  • Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia: national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, and suicide prevention.
  • Find a local National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation for mental health support - NACCHO map, or visit the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia website for a list of available programs
  • WellMob: online resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander frontline health and wellbeing workers
  • The Healing Foundation: an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation promoting trauma-aware, healing-informed practice and useful fact sheets.
  • eSafety First Nations: Resources about staying safe online from the

If you require assistance to access these services

  • The translating and interpreting service on 131 450
  • The National Relay Service for hearing or speech assistance on 1300 555 727 or internet-relay.nrscall.gov.au

Other resources

  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides professional counselling through a contract with your employer. These sessions are confidential and no identifying information is reported back to the agency. Search EAP on your agency intranet or speak to your HR team if you are not sure who your agency provider is.
  • Procurement SA manages a panel of providers or EAP services. Agencies are not obliged to access services from the panel. Information including the mandatory and optional services available, and the list of providers is available on the Procurement SA intranet site.
  • A Mental Health Care Plan gives Medicare rebates to help people access mental health professionals such as a Psychologist, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist for treatment under the Better Access intiative. Speak to your GP about a referral.

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