Supporting health and wellbeing

The 2024 Australian Public Service Employee Census indicates that APS employees have a positive view of the ways their health and wellbeing are considered by their managers and their agency (Figure 11). The overall Wellbeing Policies and Support Index score for 2024 is 70, compared with 68 in 2023.

People who feel their health and wellbeing is supported at work are likely to be more engaged, productive and satisfied in the workplace. They are better equipped to manage stress, make sound decisions, handle challenges and conflicts, and maintain positive relationships with colleagues.

Figure 11: Wellbeing Policies and Support (2023 and 2024)

Bar graph showing results from the 23 & 24 APS Employee Census. My immediate supervisor cares about my health & wellbeing 86% 24, 85% 23; I am satisfied with the policies/practices in place to help me manage health & wellbeing 68% 24, 64% 23; My agency does a good job of promoting health & wellbeing 66% 24, 63% 23; My agency does a good job of communicating what it can offer in terms of health & wellbeing 66% 24, 62% 23; my agency cares about my health & wellbeing 64% 24, 61% 23

Source: APS Employee Census

On 10 July 2024, the ADDRESS APS Psychosocial Hazard Suite was launched by the APS Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. This practical, scalable model supports agencies in managing their work health and safety responsibilities and obligations. It delivers resources specifically designed for the APS context, to support identifying and responding to psychosocial hazards in the workplace.

The Australian Public Service Commission continues to support a service-wide approach to building and sustaining a positive and healthy work environment. Resources available to employees and agencies include:

  • APS health and wellbeing – resources for all APS employees and managers to support mental, physical and financial wellbeing, and provide suggestions on where to seek more information and support.
  • Compassionate Foundations – a program designed to help employees build interpersonal and self-care skills and be better equipped to provide early support to people before they become distressed and/or suicidal.
  • Connections – a program focused on the wellbeing aspects of workplace peer support, teaching interpersonal skills and ways to set up safe spaces where peers can connect.
  • The APS Mental Health Capability Hub – a blended program for human resource practitioners providing tools, practical guidance, resources and capability programs to help them align agency practices with the APS Mental Health Capability Framework. 

Working with agencies, the APS Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Unit promotes and drives the development of capability and expertise in mental health and suicide prevention. The unit aligns its work with the APS Mental Health Capability Framework.

Comcare is leading a Capability Reinvestment Fund initiative to build and strengthen integrity and psychological safety within the APS. This initiative started on 1 July 2024.

See also in this report

Integrity – Building psychological safety – whole-of-service approach

Capability and leadership – Capability Reinvestment Fund

APS agency benchmarking – Perceptions of wellbeing policies and support

Find out more

Australian Public Service Commission (2021) APS Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Unit, APSC website, accessed 26 August 2024.

Australian Government (n.d.) APS Mental Health Capability Hub, APS Academy website, accessed 28 August 2024.

Australian Public Service Commission (2021) ADDRESS Suite: An APS model for responding to psychosocial hazards, APSC website, accessed 24 August 2024.

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