ELECTION PROMISES BULLETIN #4 – A Public Sector Mental Health and Wellbeing Charter
In October last year, the PSA wrote to all political parties to seek their position on issues important to our members.
One of the questions asked was, “Will your Party commit to establishing a Mental Health and Wellbeing Charter and roll out programs across the NSW public sector?”
The NSW Public Sector is “ground zero” for mental health hazards: While it makes up just 10% of the NSW labour force, it accounts for 60% of all mental health workers compensation claims across the State.
Mental health claims are expensive. Recent figures show that the NSW Coalition Government spent $200 million over three years on Public Sector mental health claims. This is equivalent to 3.5 times the average workers compensation claim cost, and sees workers off work for 34 weeks on average.
Both NSW Labor and the Greens have committed to establishing a Public Sector Mental Health and Wellbeing Charter.
Labor told the PSA that a Daley Labor Government would “deliver laws and programs to address workplace bullying, ensure the health and safety regulator is properly resourced to deal with matters of this kind, and as an employer ensure that across the public sector there is proper training, awareness and support to maintain good mental health and well-being of all employees”.
The Berejiklian Government committed $55 million to its Mentally Healthy Workplaces Strategy 2018-22 but it is yet to be delivered to public sector workers and we are already in the second year of the three-year commitment.
Under the Mentally Healthy Workplaces Strategy, the Government has failed to commence consultation with workers on a strategy or programs to reduce mental health illnesses at work, and SafeWork’s programs have been targeted at the private sector.
What have the Parties promised – PUBLIC SECTOR MENTAL HEALTH*
| Party | Will your Party commit to establishing a Mental Health and Wellbeing Charter and roll out programs across the NSW public sector? |
| Labor | Yes. |
| Liberals and Nationals | No answer. |
| The Greens | Yes. |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmer | Not sure. |
If you want the mental health of public servants to be a priority, you will need to change the government.
SAVE THE STATE. CHANGE THE GOVERNMENT.
WATCH THE VIDEO ON THE PSA MENTAL HEALTH CONFERENCE 2018 HERE.
