Supporting mental health and wellbeing
The Connections: Core capabilities for workplace peer supporters’ program was launched in April 2023. Connections was launched by the Australian Public Service Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Unit, in partnership with the Department of Home Affairs, APS peer supporters and senior executives.
Investing in workplace relationships is important to overall mental health and wellbeing in the APS, particularly given that 2023 APS Employee Census results indicated a substantial proportion of employees find their roles emotionally demanding. Well-developed peer support networks can serve an important role in mitigating the impacts of emotionally demanding work as they create and harness valuable opportunities for staff to connect and share.
A growing contingent of APS employees – in addition to their regular roles – are choosing to put their hand up to support the mental health and wellbeing of their co-workers. A capability program that focuses on developing the skills and capability of peer supporters has the potential to achieve far-reaching benefits for all APS employees.
Connections is focused on the interpersonal and wellbeing aspects of peer support. It builds the relational capability of peer supporters in the workplace. The program uniquely embeds First Nations knowledge to provide a deep and holistic perspective on wellbeing and connection.
Since its launch, over 500 APS employees have enrolled in the course. Alongside Connections, comprehensive guidance is available for agencies on designing and implementing peer support programs.
Connections is an evidence-informed program. It was co-designed by peer supporters, First Nations employees, psychologists, and human resource practitioners across the APS. Connections is part of the broader systems transformation work being led by the APS Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Unit. This work is to grow mental health and suicide prevention capability in the service, through alignment with the APS Mental Health Capability Framework.
See also
Australian Government (n.d.) APS Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Unit, APSC website, https://www.apsc.gov.au/working-aps/diversity-and-inclusion/aps-mental-health-and-suicide-prevention-unit#aps-mental-health-capability-framework-, accessed 5 October 2023.
Australian Government (n.d.) Connections: Core capabilities for workplace peer supporters, APS Academy website, https://www.apsacademy.gov.au/connections-core-capabilities-workplace-peer-supporters, accessed 5 October 2023.