PROGRAM

DATE

TIME

SESSION TOPIC

LOCATION

Tuesday 31 August

7PM - 8:30PM

Preparing to Drive Change

Online

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Understand how change happens.
Demonstrate ability to identify solutions and overcome organizational barriers.
Demonstrate ability to summarise and present what needs to change for agencies to be able to lead for better mental health mindful of organisational context.
Be inspired to make and drive change.

WORKPLACE PRACTICE TASKS

Prepare for discussion with sponsor.
Meet wellbeing manager to engage and test recommendations.
Check in with facilitator regarding recommendations and approach.
Meet with agency sponsor to share what they have learnt as a leader and present a case for areas of improvement identified.

REFLECTION - INDIVIDUAL

Reflect on the change management process & experience of change - positive & negative.
Reflect on experience of trying to be a better leader for mental health and how that has exposed organizational barriers.

REFLECTION - PEER GROUP

Discuss how you plan to present your case and test with group for feedback and refinement.
Minimise the risk in your presentation through practice with the group.

Tuesday 10 August

7PM - 8PM

Promoting Mentally Healthy Oragnisations

Online

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

WORKPLACE PRACTICE TASKS

REFLECTION - INDIVIDUAL

REFLECTION - PEER GROUP

Demonstrate an understanding of the range of factors that contribute to promoting mentally healthy organizations.
Describe the leadership practices that promote mentally healthy workplaces.
Understand how your leadership can be positive impact.
Identify possible workplace mental health champions or allies.

Identify three things in your work environment that help to promote a mentally healthy workplace.
Listen to podcast interview with Greg Dean VicPol re what he does to improve wellbeing at his station.

After listening to Greg’s podcast and speaking with the team reflect on what you are doing as a leader and identify what you could do better to lead for better mental health.
Did the perspective of the team differ from your own?
How are you creating a culture where it is safe to talk?

Compare and contrast the areas for improvement you identified.

Tuesday 13 July

7PM - 8:30PM

Day to day & performance conversations

Online

Tuesday 20 July

7PM - 8:30PM

Identifying & addressing workplace conflict

Online

Tuesday 27 July

7PM - 8:30PM

Identifying & discussing mental health problems

Online

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

WORKPLACE PRACTICE TASKS

REFLECTION - INDIVIDUAL

REFLECTION - PEER GROUP

Demonstrate the ability to initiate and engage in conversations with staff in challenging workplace situations.
Demonstrate skills in developing scripts appropriate to engage team members in conversation.
Discuss effective methods for exiting conversation.
Understand the importance of follow-up after a conversation.
Identify barriers to engaging in conversations around mental health.
Identify ways to reach out to staff on leave due to mental health.
Demonstrate understanding of the unique mental health needs of recently returned-to- work staff.
Build confidence to deal with under- performance when mental health issues are involved

Develop personal scripts for conversation starters to help deal with:

- Assessing and managing workload and performance

- Identifying and addressing workplace conflict

- Identifying and discussing mental health problems

Practice having conversations with staff in each area.
Complete your plan for improving team wellbeing.
Complete planning for personal behaviour change.

How did you feel having the conversations?
Refine scripts for different situations.
How could you improve next time?

Discuss how the conversations are going. Is it easier? What has been difficult or challenging? What could you do better? How did team members respond?

Monday 12 July

8:30AM - 4PM

Leading with integrity:

becoming an authentic leader

South Melbourne

WORKPLACE PRACTICE TASKS

Think about how well you know your volunteers and staff and write down what you know about them and what Think their life stressors might currently be?
Choose a couple of people you know less well and engage in a conversation to find out more about them.
Download ‘powerful conversations worksheet’ to help start conversations.
Identify three specific actions you will take to improve the mental health and wellbeing of your team and each team member. Suggested actions:

- ACTION 1 (for ONE specific team member)

- ACTION 2 (for your team)

- ACTION 3 (for yourself)

REFLECTION - PEER GROUP

As you implement the actions (i.e. the three actions developed as part of your workplace practice tasks), discuss your progress, and obstacles with your peer reflection group.
Discuss what you discovered when compiling your team list?
Discuss what might be helpful for your team to know about you?
Discuss what you learnt from listening to Rob Gordon’s podcast?

REFLECTION - INDIVIDUAL

Think about how well you know your volunteers and staff and write down what you know about them and what their life stressors might currently be.
Choose a couple of people you know less well and engage in a conversation to find out more about them
Download resources to help start conversations

Tuesday 25 May

7PM - 8PM

Organisational factors and mental health

Online

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

WORKPLACE PRACTICE TASKS

REFLECTION - INDIVIDUAL

REFLECTION - PEER GROUP

Understand the impact organisational-related factors on mental health in emergency services.
Consider the key ways frontline managers can support workplace wellbeing.

Make a special effort to let team members know individually what a good job they are doing, and how much you appreciate their work. Do this with a number of staff (as appropriate) and note their reaction.
Talk to you team about the purpose of this Leading for Better Mental Health pilot program.

How do people respond when you give them positive feedback and recognise staff?
Consider the three major factors of workplace wellbeing (organisational, task & individual) and the ways a frontline manager can influence these to improve workplace mental health.
What are some areas where you can make a difference as the manager
Which of the three major factors of workplace wellbeing (organisational, task & individual) do you feel most comfortable to act on now to improve wellbeing in your work place / team?

In the organisational domain, what are some things you could each do to better support your team members.
If you decide to take action, how can you engage your team and more senior leaders so they come to support you in pushing for change?

Tuesday 11 May

7PM - 8PM

Trauma, stigma and help-seeking

Online

If you haven't already done so, please complete the survey for this session by clicking the button below.

SURVEY

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Understand the short-term and longer-term impacts of trauma exposure, including vicarious trauma.
Understand the types of stigma and how they can impact help-seeking and recovery
Understand the role of leaders in mitigating the impacts of trauma.
Understand the role of leaders in promoting help-seeking.

WORKPLACE PRACTICE TASKS

Talk with a few colleagues who have been in the job a long time about their thoughts on the impact of trauma.
Speak with at least two colleagues in support roles about how they can be exposed to trauma.
Listen to ESF Impact conversation on vicarious trauma

REFLECTION - INDIVIDUAL

Think about which people in your team / organisation might be affected by any sort of trauma.
Based on what you have learned, are these people currently appropriately supported?

REFLECTION - PEER GROUP

Discuss how leaders can help reduce the stigma around mental health?
Discuss how leaders can support people who might be at risk of vicarious trauma?

SURVEY

Tuesday 20 April

7PM - 8PM

An overview of how mental health effects

people in the emergency services sector.

Online

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Understanding the prevalence of mental health conditions among Australian emergency service personnel.
Understanding the cost to business of a mental health claim
Understanding the cost to individuals of a mental health claim
Understanding the management challenges and best practice ways of managing a volunteer or employee who is off duties because of mental health

WORKPLACE PRACTICE TASKS

Read the Beyond Blue Answering the Call Foreword
Consider the Beyond Blue high level statistics
Via your Agency Sponsor:

1. Speak with your agency claims manager to get a sense of how many mental health claims your organisation is currently managing and what are the challenges of managing such claims

2. Get a list of resources and tools available to support staff with mental health concerns – internal & external to the organisation

REFLECTION - INDIVIDUAL

Think about what findings from Answering the Call resonates with your own experience.
Download ESFs mindfulness tapes from https://esf.com.au/programs/early-intervention/ and try doing at least two.

REFLECTION - PEER GROUP

Discuss the Answering the Call findings and how they reflect your workplace experience?
Discuss if there is anything you find surprising from Answering the Call?
Discuss your challenges of staying connected to people who are off work and thinking about what you have learned, reflect on new ways of staying connected and helping them get back to work

SURVEY

If you haven't already done so, please complete the survey for this session by clicking the button below.

SURVEY

Tuesday 30 March

7PM - 8PM

Understanding mental health -

the lived experience perspective

Online

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

What are the key mental health conditions experienced by Australians?
What is it like to live and work while experiencing mental ill health?
How can emergency services leaders improve the work experiences of staff with mental ill health?
What are the key enablers of assisting staff?

WORKPLACE PRACTICE TASKS

The following are all found in the Resources Hub.

Listen to four podcasts – in order from number 1-4 - with Victorian emergency service personnel describing lived experience with mental ill health.
Listen to James Maskey This Working Life ABC interview.
Read the Beyond Blue Answering the Call high level statistical summary

REFLECTION - INDIVIDUAL

Reflect on your own mental health. Complete the K10 mental health check (in the Resources Hub)

REFLECTION - PEER GROUP

What have you learned about your own mental health in the K10 checklist?
Discuss how James could have been better supported by his manager?
Discuss how your organisation could potentially include the sharing of lived experience as a tool to promote understanding about MH conditions.

SURVEY

If you haven't already done so, please complete the survey for this session by clicking the button below.

SURVEY

Tuesday 23 March

7PM - 9PM

Introduction to Leading for

Better Mental Health Program

Online

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

To understand the structure of the program, how it was developed and why, who the facilitators are and get to know one’s peer reflection group.

WORKPLACE PRACTICE TASKS

Meet your Executive Sponsor. Your Agency Sponsor is making arrangements for this to occur and will be in touch soon
Complete WAVE survey [40 minutes]
Make an appointment with Rachel Davidson for feedback

REFLECTION - INDIVIDUAL

Complete self-efficacy questionnaire and learning outcomes questionnaire

REFLECTION - PEER GROUP

Get to know your peer reflection group – who are you and what is your role.
Discuss mental health issues that you have noticed or had to manage in the workplace.
How did that make you feel as a leader?

SURVEY

If you haven't already done so, please complete the survey for this session by clicking the button below.