Online training program gives small business owners skills to take action on mental wellbeing

A national online training program is now available for Australian small business owners interested in promoting mental health and wellbeing in their workplaces.

The program, called Business Wellbeing, is an initiative of Everymind.

Business Wellbeing is tailored specifically for the needs of Australian small business owners.

Presented in four modules that take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete, the program delivers activities, case studies, information sheets and lived experience videos.

Topics covered include mental health, stigma, effective communication, and promoting mental health in a small business setting

To ensure the program is flexible for busy small business owners, the training can be done at any time between April 1 and 30 May.

Everymind project lead Yohana Franklin says the program encourages small business owners to support the wellbeing of their staff, and also to reflect on their own mental health and wellbeing.

“Now is a great time to gain more skills and knowledge in this area and enter the new financial year with a mentally healthy business.”

To gain access to the program, small business owners must complete a short eligibility check with five questions and a pre-training survey (5-10 minutes long). To be eligible for the program participants must be:

• A small business owner currently living and working in Australia
• 18 years or older
• Comfortable reading and writing in English
• Willing to complete a pre and post training survey (5-10 minutes each)
• Willing to dedicate between 1 – 2 hours to complete the program, but this does not have to be done in one sitting.

Business Wellbeing is an initiative of Everymind, funded by the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.