Manage Psychological Health and Safety with the Healthy Heads Roadmap Planner

Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds (Healthy Heads) is releasing a game-changing tool to help businesses of all sizes understand and manage psychological health and safety in the workplace. 

Healthy Heads has developed the Seven Stories. Seven Strategies Healthy Heads Roadmap Planner, as a ‘how to guide’ to encourage businesses to get started on their own workplace wellbeing plans. 

The Roadmap Planner has been funded through Round 6 of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI), supported by the Australian Government. 

With the April 2023 adoption of the Model Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work, under Work, Health and Safety laws, businesses must eliminate or minimise psychosocial risks as far as is reasonably practicable. 

Healthy Heads received feedback from industry stakeholders that understanding and responding to new legislation felt overwhelming, and in response, has worked with the industry to provide further support to increase understanding and the capacity of the sector to make a start towards implementing actions.  

Healthy Heads CEO Naomi Frauenfelder said managing psychological health and safety is very new to many in the industry.  

“To assist businesses, we have created a tool that explains mental health and psychosocial hazards through real-to-life stories,” Ms Frauenfelder said. 

“We have tried to make things as easy as possible for businesses in responding to the Model Code of Practice and the Planner offers ready-made policies, tip sheets, resource lists, training recommendations and information links, along with three example plans ready for implementation. 

“Importantly, the development of the Planner was informed by more than 13 participating businesses. 

“I encourage everyone in the sector to take a look at the Planner and reach out to Healthy Heads for additional information and support.”

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto OAM said, “Funded through our HVSI program, this initiative assists organisations in understanding where they are currently placed with regard to managing psychological health and safety.  

“I’m pleased to see Healthy Heads driving this safety initiative, providing an innovative solution to a key issue in the transport and logistics sector and ultimately helping reduce road trauma and save lives.” 

The Planner was developed in partnership with AP Psychology & Consulting Services who specialise in helping businesses create psychologically safe, healthy and thriving workplaces aligned with global ISO 45003 guidelines and occupational health and safety legislation for managing workplace psychosocial hazards and risks. 

AP Psychology & Consulting Services Founder and CEO Arthur Papagiannis said, “The Planner we have developed in partnership with the industry and Healthy Heads is an evidence-based approach that uses the framework of Prevention, Protection and Support along with the Seven Workplace Strategies.  

“This approach empowers workplaces and their leaders to build psychologically safe and thriving work environments through focus areas such as building better work cultures, smarter work design, early intervention and building resilience.” 

The Planner can be accessed for free, here.  

For further information, visit healthyheads.org.au 

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Media Contacts: 

Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds | Melissa Weller | 0409 249 919  | [email protected]