How we’re prioritising mental health and wellbeing

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Mental health matters.

In fact, according to the National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, nearly 1 in 2 (46%) Australians aged 16–85 have experienced a mental disorder during their lifetime.

And in today’s world filled with unprecedented challenges, prioritising mental health and wellness is more important than ever.

That’s why in Art Processors’ culture of diversity and inclusion, it’s not just OK for our people to talk about their mental wellbeing and get the support they need, when and how they need it—it’s encouraged.

Our Chief People Officer Vanessa Doake is always looking for new ways to support our team through robust, progressive policies.

“There’s an abundance of evidence that shows organisations can play an important and active role in maintaining the mental health and wellbeing of their team members,” says Doake.

“At Art Processors, we fully understand the legal and moral responsibility we have to provide a safe and fair workplace and we’ve focussed on ensuring we have the basics in place — an EAP, compliance training, policies etc.

“It’s clear, though, that covering the basics isn’t enough and we have strived to tackle the goal of creating a mentally healthy workplace by providing as many supports as possible for team members to prioritise their health and wellbeing.”

We’re listening and taking action

As part of Art Processors’ commitment to the wellbeing of our people, here are a few ways we are supporting our team’s needs:

  • We stopped work on Monday September 27 to have a Wellbeing Day off. With the majority of our staff based in Melbourne, we recognised that the extended lockdown was taking a toll. The long weekend was a well-deserved break, and a chance to slow down, recharge and do the things we love.
  • Our Employee Assistance Program, in partnership with The Mind Room, is available around the world for our employees to get the support they need. The Mind Room also recently ran a stress and resilience workshop for our team.
  • We offer innovative tools and resources such as free access to the HeadSpace meditation app, personalised health coaching, and access to ClassPass.
  • We recognise that balancing home and work life can be challenging at times, particularly for families. That’s why we offer meal and domestic support and access to Circle In, a platform that provides support and resources for every stage of the parenting journey.
  • We have established a Health and Wellbeing Committee that meets regularly to discuss and organise initiatives to best support our team.
  • We recognise that working from home is the best way of working for some but for others it can be isolating. We use the Donut app on Slack to help connect people serendipitously for virtual coffee catch-ups and sponsored/paid for lunches.
  • All People Leads are provided with the opportunity to complete a Mental Health First Aid Certification in their first six months in the role
  • Our CFO Amie Scruton recently sent care packages to all our staff filled with goodies from the Museum of Old and New Art. They were a lovely surprise for our team!

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Acknowledgement of Country

In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge the many Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and honour Elders past, present and emerging. We respect their deep, enduring connection to their lands, waterways and surrounding clan groups since time immemorial. We cherish the richness of First Nations Peoples’ artistic and cultural expressions.