A Workplace Built on Care, Not Pressure
Supported Care operates in environments that carry emotional and psychological weight. Every day, our staff support individuals facing trauma, mental illness, behavioural complexity, and crisis. The expectation to show up, stay calm, and offer support is constant.
We recognise that people cannot offer stability if they do not feel supported themselves. Emotional safety is not assumed. It is actively maintained.
Mental Health as an Organisational Standard
We have designed our workplace to prioritise wellbeing. Flexible rostering, scheduled clinical supervision, and peer support are built into our operations. These are not employee perks. They are foundations.
The Black Dog Institute reinforces this principle. In its national workplace guide, the organisation states,
“Mental health support must be embedded in the culture and day-to-day operations of an organisation. When it becomes business-as-usual, it becomes effective.”
This reflects our approach. Mental health is not something separate from performance. It is part of how we work.
Inclusion That Requires Action, Not Intention
We employ individuals with lived experience of mental illness. Their contribution strengthens how we understand and deliver support. Inclusion requires structure - that includes adapted onboarding, adjusted expectations, and a clear pathway for progression and recovery.
As Dr Karen Nieuwoudt writes,
“Inclusion becomes real when the system bends with the person, not when the person is expected to bend for the system.”
This mindset informs how we build teams and hold space for people to succeed.
Looking Ahead with Clarity
We are not interested in token efforts. Mental health is not a one-off initiative. It is embedded in our model and directly impacts how we retain people, deliver support, and uphold the values of our organisation.
We will continue to refine our systems based on staff feedback and operational needs. When people come first, mental health improves. That is the outcome we are working towards.
References:
- Black Dog Institute. (2021). Workplace Wellbeing Programs. https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/resources-support/workplace-resources/workplace-wellbeing
- Nieuwoudt, K. (2023). Inclusive Workplaces and Mental Health: Building Systems That Adapt to People. [Expert commentary in Australian HR Institute Journal]
