Geelong Cats has utilised its new partnership with mental health
training organisation, Pathways, to create a more understanding and
supportive work culture. The club administration staff participated in a
comprehensive two day Mental First Aid course, provided by Pathways, as
part its Health and Wellbeing framework.
"Mental Health is a silent illness and the more we understand how to
identify the issues, help and raise awareness, the better we will all
be," Geelong Cats General Manager People and Culture Rosie King said.
"The Mental Health First Aid course has provided our staff with a
framework and some practical tools to have greater understanding and
confidence of how to approach Mental Health issues in the Community.
"Feedback from the course has been extremely positive and this level of
engagement helps us drive our other Health and Wellbeing initiatives at
the club."
The wider benefits of mental health training in the workplace to the
club and our staff include:
·         Increased Club performance
·         Stronger connections with our stakeholders
·         Improved diversity of thought
·         Increased employee engagement and talent retention in the
workplace.
"The two day course was oversubscribed and we have a list of interested
people at the club who are waiting for the next opportunity which is
exactly the response we were hoping for," Ms King said.
Pathways offers a range of different Mental Health & Wellbeing supports
and support packages funded by either the National Disability
Insurance Scheme (NDIS) or the option of self-funding.
With 30 years of sector experience and a client base of over 300,
Pathways is the leading provider of mental health services in the
Geelong region employing approximately 150 staff.
Pathways came on board as an official partner of the Cats as sponsors
of the club's Community Education Sessions. The sessions target a wide
variety of audiences and provide them access to hearing from key figures
within the club including players, club doctors, coaches and CEO, on
topics that matter to the community.
"Mental Health impacts on individuals, workplaces and the community.
Organisations can play a pivotal role in providing a mentally healthy
workforce for all employees. 45% of the workforce between 16 ­and 85
experience a mental health condition at some stage of their working
life," Pathways CEO Adrian Buckley said.
"Workplaces who invest in creating a mentally healthy environment can
expect a significant return on investment via reduced presentism and
absentism, and improved health of their people.
"Simple measures such as speaking openly about mental health in the
workplace, making information about support readily available and
providing opportunities for staff to learn more about mental wellbeing
should be readily encouraged.
"We applaud the Geelong Football Club for taking up this initiative and
hope for the wellbeing of all Geelong workers, that this will open up a
pathway for more organisations to follow suit."