1. Mental Health Matters @ AV
Assoc Prof Tony Walker ASM
Chief Executive Officer

2. Our History Longstanding peer and psychological counselling services
A defensive culture – distracted by external noise
Normalised high rates of psychological and physical injury
Avoided conversations about paramedic suicide
Very low levels of workforce engagement and morale
Macho culture – you didn’t speak about your mental health

3. We had to change Psychological Health and Wellbeing Committee
Conversations with staff
Ambulance Performance & Policy Consultative Committee
Coronial Services report into Paramedic Suicide in Victoria
A shared commitment that we needed to improve
Openly speaking about and normalising mental health
Making it a priority and prioritising investment

4. Our Commitment
Ambulance Victoria will improve the mental health and wellbeing of our people by:
Promoting good mental health and wellbeing through supportive leadership at all levels.
Reducing stigma and isolation so that people feel safe to speak up and seek help
Preparing our people to meet the unique occupational mental health risks they may face at AV and supporting them to maintain their own mental health through the different stages of their career with AV.
Developing a culture that supports our people to recognise mental health issues in themselves and others and seek help early.
Making evidence-based treatment and recovery options available and encouraging their use.
Reducing suicide rates at AV.
Strengthening partnerships between our people, families, leaders, unions and health providers to reduce stigma and increase understanding of mental health support pathways.
Undertaking research that improves our understanding of mental health and wellbeing at AV.

5. Our Strategy
A key step in the promotion of a mentally healthy workplace.
Three-year roadmap to keep our people mentally fit and well for work and life through a focus on four strategic objectives.
Commits AV to providing a workplace that fosters the mental and physical health of our people, at all stage of the employee life cycle.
Based on comprehensive research
beyondblue 'Good practice framework for mental health and wellbeing in first responder organisations'
extensive consultation with staff, unions, families of staff and our Psychological Health and Wellbeing Consultative Group
Mental Health AV training for all staff and volunteers

6. Our model mental health and wellbeing model
Our model is based on six key principles:
The person-centred approach
Mental health is a shared responsibility
A whole of organisation approach
Building a strengths-based culture
Protecting mental health by modifying risk and protective factors
The needs of an individual change throughout their employee life cycle

7. Four strategic objectives
2. Promote mental health at all levels of Ambulance Victoria
3. Deliver comprehensive mental health interventions and training throughout the employee life cycle
4. Strengthen our mental health and wellbeing partnerships
1. Understand the mental health and wellbeing needs of our people

9. Mental Health Matters @ AV Program
Partnership between Ambulance Victoria and beyondblue
Supported by Victorian Government funding
Builds awareness and understanding of mental health conditions
Provides knowledge and skills to staff so they can better look after their own mental health
Develops understanding skills so we can better look after each other
Helps create a mentally healthy workplace, where safety is a priority
Extensive development with strong staff involvement
Blended learning approach (online and face-to-face)

10. Mental Health Matters @ AV program structure
Warm up
5 x 20-minute online modules
Work out
A 4 hour face-to-face CPD session
Cool down
6 x 15-minute online modules
Mental Health AV program structure
Anxiety
Depression
Psychological trauma
Substance use
Suicide prevention

12. Impacts of MH Matters @AV
Increased awareness and understanding of mental health issues
Significant improvement of AV staff in recognising and identifying mental health condition warning signs and symptoms, including suicidal behaviour
Increased knowledge of possible causes or risk factors of mental health conditions
AV staff are now much more aware of the treatments and support available within and outside of AV
AV staff are more likely to get help if they are experiencing a mental health condition
Formal evaluation of was conducted by Kantar Public and beyondblue (utilising survey and assessment methodology).
The following findings (as listed on slides) apply to both operational and corporate staff:
* Recognition of signs and symptoms of mental health
Staff can identify the warning signs that they or someone else may be experiencing a mental health condition:
Ops Pre-program 56%
Ops Post-program 89%
Corporate Pre-program 41%
Corporate Post program 88%
* Staff showed significant improvement in being able to identify the warning signs that they or someone else is showing suicidal behaviour:
Ops Pre-program 46%
Ops Post-program 83%
Corp Pre-program 28%
Corp Post-program 75%

13. Impacts of MH Matters@ AV
Improved confidence of staff to support colleagues who are experiencing a mental health condition
Increased likelihood for AV staff to seek support for themselves or support a colleague if they were experiencing a mental health condition
Improved understanding of self-care strategies to minimise the risk of experiencing mental health conditions.
The program has made considerable inroads into decreasing stigma in the organisation around mental health.
Increased likelihood for AV staff to seek support for themselves or support a colleague if they were experiencing a mental health condition
Calls to our 24 hour telephone support line have doubled in the16-17 FY
Peer support contacts have tripled in the FY
HIGHLIGHT this point and link back to aim of MHWS: The program has made considerable inroads into decreasing stigma in the organisation around mental health.
AV staff showed significant improvement in awareness about the mental health treatment and supports available within AV:
Ops Pre-program 64%
Ops Post-program 93%
Corp Pre-program 57%
Corp Post-program 89%
AV staff showed significant improvement in awareness about the mental health treatment and supports available outside of AV:
Ops Pre-program 47%
Ops Post-program 88%
Corp Pre-program 49%
Corp Post-program 87%

14. Next steps
Review progress against the AV Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy
Continue delivering and embedding mental health and wellbeing training programs including:
Mental Health AV to all staff
HeadCoach – online mental health training program for managers, developed by Black Dog Institute
Implement service review recommendations
Review and implement revised mental health and wellbeing training for our Graduates
Develop a family engagement plan
Participating in the beyondblue National Mental Health and Wellbeing Study of Police and Emergency Services Survey
Additional notes:
* AV has partnered with The Black Dog Institute to roll out HeadCoach, an online mental health training program for managers
* HeadCoach is an innovative, evidence-based program that is designed to equip managers with the skills to role model behaviours needed to create a mentally healthy workplace and support their team members, including having conversations about stress and mental health.

15. Each journey begins with the first step
We have started on our journey but still have much to do!
To be successful all of our people and stakeholders need to work together.
We all have a role to play in reducing stigma and creating a mentally healthy workplace
What are you going to do to look after your own mental health and that of your colleagues?

16. “If we don’t care for ourselves we can’t care for others”

17. Contact Details Email: tony.walker@ambulance.vic.gov.au
Web: