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Mental Health First Aid Advanced Workplace Recognition Badge
Mental Health @ Work
Commitment to Mental Health and Wellbeing
At ECU, we recognise that our commitment to the mental health and wellbeing of our students and staff goes hand in hand with our success. ECU students and staff are supported to develop and maintain positive mental health and resilience. Our Mental Health Strategy 2021-2024 outlines all aspects of our university-wide approach to mental health and wellbeing.
Our commitment to mental health and wellbeing is also captured in our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint. Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint guides our endeavours and has been shaped by our staff and students to make sure it is a commitment shared across the university.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Advanced Workplace Recognition
ECU has been recognised as a Mental Health First Aid Skilled Workplace since 2018, and in late 2022 achieved Advanced Recognition.
The Advanced Recognition acknowledges ECU’s achievement and commitment to embedding MHFA training into the organisation’s culture and building mental health literacy to better support our students and staff;
Key achievements that contributed to ECU’s Advanced Recognition:
- Approximately 20% of ECU Staff are accredited in Mental Health First Aid. This is more than 6 times the program recommendation!
- Leadership engagement and participation: All University Executive members and most Associate Deans Discipline attended MHFA training in 2022
- MHFA training is incorporated into a broader framework: ECU’s commitment to MHFA training is noted as a measure of success in ECU’s Strategic Plan, Goal 4: Empowering the talent and potential of our staff, and as an action in our Mental health Strategy.
- Ongoing development and support for MHFAiders: ECU has a MHFA Community of Practice open to all accredited MHFAiders to provide opportunities for reflection, support and further development.
Staff are encouraged to sign up for Mental Health First Aid training.
Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing
Staff at ECU are supported with a range of services and programs.
- Access to the Employee Assistance Program which provides employees and their immediate family members access to free and confidential counselling for either personal or work related issues.
- The Supporting Students: A Staff Guide sharepoint site provides resources, contacts and information on the support that is available to our students.
- Coming soon! The Supporting Staff: A Staff Guide will provide guidance on the support available to our staff.
- Our Health and Wellness Program for staff, gives the opportunity to participate in activities that can help staff become healthier, reduce stress and enjoy life.
- The Crisis Support page provides a list of resources for those needing immediate help.
- The Supporting Staff: A Staff Guide provides guidance, referrals , and resources for staff who are seeking support for their mental health or who are supporting others with their mental health and wellbeing.