A new resource details the optimal psychosocial conditions for public servants in the ACT. 

A new guide has been produced by the ACT public service (ACTPS) to assist agencies and managers in creating a safer working environment for staff by addressing psychosocial risks. 

The guide, which has been designed with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 in mind, features proactive measures to manage the psychosocial health and safety risks associated with workplaces, and also includes links to a range of resources, information and tools. 

The ACTPS definition of psychosocial health and safety is the “combined influence of psychological and social factors on physical and mental wellness at work”. 

The guide helps employers to identify psychosocial hazards and risks and outlines indicator data that can help agencies prevent these kinds of hazards. 

There is a particular emphasis on encouraging public sector employers to monitor psychosocial risks and identify gaps in their current approach. 

The guide complements the 2019-2022 'Healthy minds — thriving workplaces' strategy, which aims to prioritise mental health in all aspects of the business. 

ACT head of service, Kathy Leigh, says prioritising mental health and wellbeing in the workplace can positively impact and support the mental health of public servants.

“We need to prioritise mental health in all aspects of our business. [The strategy] will create this focus, coordinate our efforts to improve mental health and wellbeing, and hold us accountable for what we set out to achieve,” Ms Leigh said.

“We all have a role to play in improving the mental health and wellbeing of people in our workplaces. For us to change the way we think, talk and act about mental health, our workplaces must make peoples’ mental health and wellbeing a priority,” she said.