Thursday, 26 May 2022

Ministers statements: small business mental health support

Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (12:19): I rise to update the house on what the Andrews Labor government is doing to promote and improve the mental health and wellbeing of Victoria’s small business owners and their staff. While it appears that the worst impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are behind small businesses, challenges of course remain. For some there are debts to be paid off, rising business costs and changing consumer patterns presenting new challenges. Of course many businesses are flourishing now that the public health restrictions have eased, but the government is here to help those that are not doing so well.

We are achieving this via our nation-leading Wellbeing and Mental Health Support for Victorian Small Businesses services, including our flagship Partners in Wellbeing helpline, a free and confidential service offering one-on-one wellbeing support and access to financial counsellors and business advisory services seven days a week; the Partners in Wellbeing embedded consultants, providing mental health support to members and mental health training to staff in industry and business associations; Mindarma, a free online mental health support tool for small business owners and their employees; the WorkSafe WorkWell Toolkit to help small business owners prevent mental injury and create mentally healthy workplaces; and the mental wellbeing of business communities grants program, supporting business communities to develop and deliver dedicated programs to improve the mental health and wellbeing of their members.

I am delighted that the recent state budget provided another $2.9 million to maintain these services until the end of 2022. Victoria’s small business sector is growing, with the total number of businesses rising from around 620 000 just prior to the pandemic to nearly 640 000 as at July last year. The Andrews government will continue to ensure that every one of these businesses receives the backing that they need to thrive.