Australia Post has been recognised at the Comcare National Work Health and Safety Awards for its Early Intervention Mental Health Program, an initiative that addresses the complexity and cost of psychological injury claims.
Psychological injuries make up 7.2% of total injury claims and cost 1.3 times more than physical injuries. To tackle this, Australia Post introduced a dedicated mental health specialist role to transform early intervention processes.
The program takes a person-centred, biopsychosocial approach, supporting team members from the moment an incident is reported through to claim determination. Key features include:
- tailored care services matched to individual needs,
- simplified communication and leader training, and
- a focus on sleep, nutrition, physical activity and social connection to build resilience and recovery.
The impact of the program has been significant. Analysis of 137 cases show a:
- 55% reduction in unfit-for-work certifications, and a
- 152% increase in team members returning to full duties.
Australia Post Executive General Manager People & Culture, Susan Davies, said the organisation is striving to embed care into every stage of the process.
"This award recognises the commitment of our Workplace Recovery and Health team and the wider organisation to support our people when they need it most.
"By prioritising early intervention and holistic recovery, we're building a safer, healthier workplace that prevents issues before they escalate, rather than simply treating them after the fact," said Ms Davies.
The Comcare National Work Health and Safety Awards recognise and reward excellence in workplace health and safety, recovery at and return to work. Comcare is Australia's national authority for work health and safety and workers compensation.
